Fact Check

Global Warming Activist Freezes to Death in Antarctica

A global warming activist froze to death in Antarctica?

Published March 29, 2010

Claim:

Claim:   A global warming activist froze to death in Antarctica.


FALSE


Example:   [The Fox Nation, 2010]


Famed global warming activist James Schneider and a journalist friend were both found frozen to death on Saturday, about 90 miles from South Pole Station, by the pilot of a ski plane practicing emergency evacuation procedures.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing", recounted the pilot, Jimmy Dolittle. "There were two snowmobiles with cargo sleds, a tent, and a bright orange rope that had been laid out on the ice, forming the words, 'HELP-COLD'."

[Rest of article here.]



 

Origins:   The above-referenced ironic tale of a global warming activist's freezing to death in Antarctica was presented on the FOX Nation web site as a straightforward news story on 29 March 2010. However, the original source for the story (which is linked from the FOX site) was a 2006 article from ecoEnquirer.com, a satirical site featuring spoof articles such as "Court Orders Fisherman to Apologize to Eagle" and "Penguins 'Fed Up' with Media Attention." Additionally, the site's disclaimer notes that all the content on the ecoEnquirer site is satirical, not real news:



All content on this site, being a mixture of parody, satire, and lame humor, is for entertainment purposes only. If any content is found to be offensive or objectionable in any way, please accept our apologies ... but we also suggest that you get a life.

Last updated:   29 March 2010

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.

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