Last Tuesday, I was set to give a talk on 'climate change in the Northeast' at a retirement home but had to cancel due to hourly job threats.
After nearly two weeks of overwhelming uncertainty, today it happened. I was fired from my dream of working at NOAA. I'm so sorry to everyone also affected.
The reasons I was given: --> I did not demonstrate that my work was in the public interest, and my ability, knowledge and/or skills did not match NOAA's needs.
I hope so for you personally. But before things can get better for everyone, things will probably have to get so bad that the people overthrow the tyrants.
Kia Kaha from Aotearoa/New Zealand. FWIW your posts are great - authoritative but easy to digest. Only bad people shoot the messenger, and I'm sad that your once great country is run by bad people.
they don't have a clue what the public interest really is. Whatever doesn't fit their fascist agenda is what they consider not to be in the public interest. Over 8 billion people are affected by climate change, this is by far the topic with the highest level of public interest these days.
I am so, so sorry. This is awful. Thank you for your service. I use so many of NOAA’s public tools in my training of cultural heritage workers including archivists and librarians on understanding climate change. This is so worrying for the NOAA workforce but also for our greater public understanding of climate change.
So, they are using a generic formletter to fire people. That's cowardly. And, I'm sorry they used wording saying you were the problem. Obviously, they are the problem. I hope you land on your feet.
Had the source of your firing the authority to do so? If it's not coming from your superior but from some DOGE goon it quite possibly was unlawful and even if it was it still can be it was not in following the chain of command. Making the one responsible liable for damages.
you’re one of the standard-bearers for great SciComm, Zack. Your work is the definition of “in the public interest.” I know you will land on your feet, and hope we see you back analyzing and visualizing soon.
I’m very sorry that this happened to you! I sure hope you land on your feet. I know Pro Publica is hoping to interview fired federal workers, in case you’d be interested in participating.
Zack, I'm so sorry. I remember how excited you were when you first got that job. It may be hard now, but there's almost no likelihood that your skills had anything to do with this. Don't let them put you down. All of us who are your friends on Mastodon have your back.
I’m so sorry 😢. I wish there were a parallel universe for all these competent federal workers who lost their jobs (illegally) who can utilize their skills for the America we used to know
so sorry to hear this. What’s happening is devastating. I really hope, for the benefit of all of us, and for you that you quickly resume your dream job.
Been following for awhile and your informational graphics were always stellar. Hope you'll land somewhere great and keep informing the public about climate change.
oh no, I am so sorry to hear this. My deepest sympathies. So many of us are furious that they are dismantling services that help Americans and the world, and treating federal workers so callously.
What a shame ! I guess the real problem is that your work is not in the interest of the capital. I wish you all the best in these difficult times. #standupforscience
Hi Zack. Well, they are very wrong and it sucks. Sorry that this happens to you and many others.
You have obviously been (still are) an inspiration for fact-based #climate information. I believe more people get their #seaice information from your SoMe posts than directly through #nsidc, #osisaf, and #c3s combined. That's how effective you have been, and why they are so wrong in their letter.
Let us know if there is something we can do to help.
You were one of the people I missed from Twitter who I was so glad to find over here. I have shared your graphics with my classes for years. The value of your work to our nation and our world is clear.
I'm very sorry to hear this. And you work definitely of public interest. Your social media accounts show this. I'm not sure how much effect the letter will have. But it's better than remaining silent.
@trimaris Nobody in still democratic countries can be surprised if it happens there, too. When autocratic take over started in Hungary, we didn't pay so much attention. Now, after Poland, Slovakia and the US, it should be clear to everyone: Oligarchism is on its goal straight. And it brings war, fascism, corruption and poverty with it.
I’m seriously concerned that the Republican administration is going to succeed in hiding the truth, simply by doing things like this and getting rid of all of the information and data.
I have really appreciated seeing your updates here!
I think they gave the same reason to everybody, however undeserved. I hope that those claiming unemployment are not denied it as a result as it is clearly untrue.
i am so extremely sorry, for the world, for all of us, but mostly you. I was made redundant too last summer (in UK university meltdown), and i feel it all with you so much and every other person losing their job in these crazy, crazy circumstances. The very best people
Extremely sorry to hear this. Be strong! Let’s hope this unprecedented period insanity passes as quickly as possible. Thanks for all your information. All the best for the future.
Je vous apporte tout mon soutien. La tournure que prennent les événements aux USA est terrifiante. Le refus de la réalité par l'administration Trump ne l'empêchera pas d'arriver. La glace fond, les océans se réchauffent, les terres également, les incendies et événements climatiques extrêmes continueront aussi d'arriver. Le rapport Meadows de 1972 ("The limits to growth") nous alertait pourtant sur l'urgence de changer notre "consommation" de la planète.
So sorry you have to go through this. But know your skill set and knowledge are very important even as we struggle through this dark age of ignorance and thuggery. Hang in there.
Oh no! You matter, you help people understand climate and more. Sadly, climate is not what the current government wants discussed. So, people are sacked for this & other reasons that contradict the current president's idea of how the world should be.
So much is being written on the current situation, but personal stories are the ones we need to keep us resisting and fighting.
You lost your dream job. You may get it back, and in the mean time know people are working to turn the tide.
The current dynamic in USA is highly worrying. EU is a far more welcoming environment for scientists for the coming years. Would you consider to come ?
Astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva needs data on Earth’s climate to accurately observe space. Earlier this month, she discovered that crucial climate datasets had disappeared. When DOGE cuts accelerated, more data vanished.
Last month observed widespread warmer than average sea surface temperatures surrounding the #Arctic Ocean ice edge. Some of the largest anomalies were along the coast in the southeastern Barents Sea.
The NOAA 1/4° Daily Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) is a long term Climate Data Record that incorporates observations from different platforms (satellites, ships, buoys and Argo floats) into a regular global grid.
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
Zan bulle? Zambulle quoi? Non Les Z'Ambules comme ambulant! Des commerces, des lieux d'accueils ou simplement d'échanges et de partages, le tout mobile!
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
All data are referenced at My visualizations: Arctic Climate Seasonality and Variability Arctic Sea Ice Extent and Concentration Arctic Sea Ice Volume and Thickness Arctic Temperatures Antarctic Se…
Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data)
• about 570,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,140,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,670,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,040,000 km² below the 1980s mean
Was it Cory Doctorow who noted that the only way to stop a system being corrupted is to design it to be impossible to corrupt from the outset? AI involves surrendering a HUGE amount of power, and expecting no operator ever to surrender to the temptation to tweak it for their own benefit is ludicrous
Yes I believe it was indeed Cory Doctorow @pluralistic who noted this. As I recall, he called building in those restraints "Ulysses Pacts" to prevent #enshittification.
The first post I can find in which he coined the term is this:
Midweek ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 690,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,330,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,910,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,330,000 km² below the 1980s mean
For the past two years, Radio Free Fedi has held a special place in my heart. The community operation started as a small experiment, but quickly grew into a Fediverse institution. In the time that it
We should as always continue to do our best to as directly as possible support our creative siblings as amiably as we can wherever we as artists can manage to be.
Seek change to build voices, don't shout them down.
We don't have to and shouldn't agree with every single platform and tool out there. Minimise harm where you can and do demand and celebrate good attribution and support paths.
Together we've proven it makes a huge difference being as direct and durable as possible.
Being positive in this timeline and tech climate is brutally hard.
Although the hamster is retiring from positive instigator, please continue where you can in your circles to support and uplift one another.
Same goes for advocacy, research, quietly testing of all the things out there competing for oxygen. We can be vigilant for each other and offer assists to those who ask AND warn when things smell off.
Last month was the 2nd warmest December on record globally. The largest anomalies were found this month across portions of the Arctic, which also observed the lowest December sea-ice extent on record.
The NOAA Merged Land Ocean Global Surface Temperature Analysis (NOAAGlobalTemp, formerly known as MLOST) combines long-term sea surface (water) temperature (SST) and land surface (air) temperature datasets to create a complete, accurate depiction of …
Unlike just about every other year in the satellite-era record of sea ice by early January, the Hudson Bay (Canada) still hasn't frozen over... Not good.
First daylight of 2025 stretching across the planet [GOES-West Satellite]...
A #HappyNewYear to all of my @Mastodon followers! Thank you for a year of thoughtful interactions and the privilege to communicate science here. Honestly, my advice is to just leave Twitter behind. Anyhoo, cheers to 2025!
BakersRelay
in reply to Zack Labe • • •noplasticshower
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Weltzeitgeist
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Thomas Wassermann
in reply to Zack Labe • • •FoxyLad
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Kia Kaha from Aotearoa/New Zealand. FWIW your posts are great - authoritative but easy to digest. Only bad people shoot the messenger, and I'm sad that your once great country is run by bad people.
Any #NGO need a good communicator?
rednikki
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Jay Nash
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Morten
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Karel Brits 🔻
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dave MacDonald (admin)
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Data Quine
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Strider Uwe 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Tino Eberl
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Forum Erneuerbare Energie
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Anthony David
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Oregon Wine Woman
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Kinene⭐🐻
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Play Ball and Fight Fascists
in reply to Zack Labe • • •I'm so very sorry for this, and everything that is being done to our civil servants.
I know you know this, but that "justification" is just AI generated bullshit because they have no idea what NOAA actually does.
Eira Tansey
in reply to Zack Labe • • •The Flight Attendant
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Colin from Edinburgh.
in reply to Zack Labe • • •The Lady (La Donna)
in reply to Zack Labe • • •I hope you land on your feet.
Prof. Sam Lawler
in reply to Zack Labe • • •MsMerope
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Ottermarie
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Stephen Sekula
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Shirley Eugest
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dean F.
in reply to Zack Labe • • •U.Lancier
in reply to Zack Labe • • •If it's not coming from your superior but from some DOGE goon it quite possibly was unlawful and even if it was it still can be it was not in following the chain of command. Making the one responsible liable for damages.
Eli Wallach's favorite Bass
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Ken Butler has moved
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dreaming of dad jazz.
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Rosie and Susie
in reply to Zack Labe • • •AW 🏳️🌈✊☮️🇧🇪🇺🇦
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Quark Maker
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Marjolein Soederhuizen🍉
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Ben Toh
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Alan Bucknam
in reply to Zack Labe • • •stevenray
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Jimi Jakes
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Rocky
in reply to Zack Labe • • •If you have good performance evaluations it's worth a shot.
Perspective
in reply to Zack Labe • • •nothing coming out of the Whitehouse makes sense any more.
Looking forward to hearing that they've finally rounded up the crazies and stopped them from hacking holes through the bottom of the ship.
Hopefully, that happens sooner rather than later ...
Claire Barnes
in reply to Zack Labe • • •oldfartjmb says FREE PALESTINE
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Jon [🇺🇦,🏳️🌈]
in reply to Zack Labe • • •DoNotPunchDown
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Wow. I'm so sorry. That's just horrible. I wish i had some answers for everyone.
I'm sorry to ask but was this due to that email telling all federal workers to list what they did last week? I think a judge just stopped that.
I'm so sorry
Marcus Jenkins
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Huskify has moved
in reply to Zack Labe • • •jcmortreux
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Will
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Neil Eriksson
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Michael Müller
in reply to Zack Labe • • •AMonkeyInSilk 🇺🇦🇵🇸
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Words cannot capture the distress I feel for humanity.
Your situation is an indication of how very lost we are. The personal impact on you must be almost overwhelming.
I hope you make it past this very sad time and can continue to give us the information and tools we need to survive.
Mike Bloomfield
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Hi Zack,
This is NOT ok. It is deplorable and it weakens the USA. Ignorance is not strength.
Good luck in your future endeavors which I hope will include unselfishly helping others. Thank you for your past service.
Mike
Julescelt
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Been following for awhile and your informational graphics were always stellar. Hope you'll land somewhere great and keep informing the public about climate change.
I'm so sorry you lost your dream job.
VHG 🇪🇺🇩🇪
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Kat O’Brien
in reply to Zack Labe • • •My deepest sympathies.
So many of us are furious that they are dismantling services that help Americans and the world, and treating federal workers so callously.
JJ Blue
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dr. Jürgen Knödlseder
in reply to Zack Labe • • •justus
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Georg Kury
in reply to Zack Labe • • •I am so sorry - I liked your graphs very much.
How about coming to Europe?
cc @daniel_huppmann @ccca
Thomas Lavergne
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Hi Zack. Well, they are very wrong and it sucks. Sorry that this happens to you and many others.
You have obviously been (still are) an inspiration for fact-based #climate information. I believe more people get their #seaice information from your SoMe posts than directly through #nsidc, #osisaf, and #c3s combined. That's how effective you have been, and why they are so wrong in their letter.
Let us know if there is something we can do to help.
Zack Labe
in reply to Thomas Lavergne • • •tijeoortwijn
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Gabriele Franzini
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Tim Schofield 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺🗺
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Bart Janssens 🇧🇪
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Clive Thompson
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Elizabeth Sudduth
in reply to Zack Labe • • •EOMasters
in reply to Zack Labe • • •I'm very sorry to hear this. And you work definitely of public interest. Your social media accounts show this.
I'm not sure how much effect the letter will have. But it's better than remaining silent.
mastodon.green/@EOMasters/1140…
Knud Jahnke
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Hagen Domaška
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Nobody in still democratic countries can be surprised if it happens there, too. When autocratic take over started in Hungary, we didn't pay so much attention. Now, after Poland, Slovakia and the US, it should be clear to everyone: Oligarchism is on its goal straight. And it brings war, fascism, corruption and poverty with it.
John_Loader
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Paul Kuyper 🇺🇸
in reply to Zack Labe • • •this is so awful!
I’m seriously concerned that the Republican administration is going to succeed in hiding the truth, simply by doing things like this and getting rid of all of the information and data.
I have really appreciated seeing your updates here!
Jay
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Bloody hell.
Stay strong mate.
Raglan Niall
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
in reply to Zack Labe • • •HapHazard
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Such is life with Leon "Space Karen" Musk & the Mango Mussolini.
Hang in there, Zack. ❤
Wulfy—Speaker to the machines
in reply to Zack Labe • • •I am so sorry.
I hope you land on your feet and continue your important work.
Maybe one day sanity will return to the US.
Hikarii
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Sue Nethercott
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Marcel
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Pauline von Hellermann
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Karakteristika
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Alex P Roe
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Heleen
in reply to Zack Labe • • •JyhemDerrick
in reply to Zack Labe • • •SellaTheChemist
in reply to Zack Labe • • •KatQ
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Gwenaël Le Bras
in reply to Zack Labe • • •HeatherMJ
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Dagnabbit, Pascaline ! 💥
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Oh no!
You matter, you help people understand climate and more. Sadly, climate is not what the current government wants discussed. So, people are sacked for this & other reasons that contradict the current president's idea of how the world should be.
So much is being written on the current situation, but personal stories are the ones we need to keep us resisting and fighting.
You lost your dream job.
You may get it back, and in the mean time know people are working to turn the tide.
Alexander Diemand 💚
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Foxle
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Good luck to you from Germany. 👋
Colas Hennion
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Zack Labe
in reply to Colas Hennion • • •Vasily "Vaz" Différence
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Sebastián Nowenstein
in reply to Zack Labe • • •Purging Scientific Datasets to Fight “Wokeness” and “Waste”
jacobin.comJanov Pelorat
in reply to Zack Labe • • •SimonBornAt318ppm
in reply to Zack Labe • • •shit - absolutely gutted for you, your colleagues and for the future of us all
Scientific inquiry is, it would seem, now for the scrap heap in the land of neofascist theocracy