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Saturday, September 23, 2006
Exxon and Global Warming
The worst revelation this week that has filtered trough to me is (and I quote) that the oil giant ExxonMobil gives money to scores of organisations that claim the science on global warming is inconclusive – which it isn’t. It’s a strategy that has set back action on climate change by a decade, and it involves the same people who insist that passive smoking is harmless. This is revealed in Heat a new book by George Monbiot and quoted in The Guardian newspaper. The article is to be found at The Guardian and I won’t quote more of it here, just saying Shame on you Exxon.
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2 comments:
Hello sir. I was directed to your site by a friend who is a fan of your blog. Even at first glance, I can see why she likes it.
I did want to comment, however, on your ExxonMobil entry.
Forgive me if you are already familiar with this information, but I did want to present another side to this argument.
Back in the mid-90's when the United States pulled out of negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol, fingers started pointing. Everyone wanted someone to blame. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People and Planet decided that ExxonMobil or Esso as they termed it (another name for ExxonMobil)was responsible for the doomed Kyoto Protocol and was doing harm to the environment.
As such, these groups imposed a "Stop Esso" campaign with the intention of boycotting ExxonMobil or Esso.
This campaign accused ExxonMobil of refuting global warming, undermining the Kyoto Protocol and more.
What, you are wondering, does this have to do with the information you presented in your blog?
The author, George Monbiot, you mentioned has ties with Greenpeace and the other organizations involved in blaming ExxonMobil for turning the tide of positive environmental action.
In other words, this author has something to gain by putting the heat on ExxonMobil again. As for the exxonsecrets.com website referenced in the article: AHA! It's a Greenpeace site. I had to dig pretty far into the site to figure that out. In other words, they certainly aren't announcing who's doing the accusing.
The information presented is severely one-sided and does not present an accurate representation of the facts.
Now may I direct you to another website:
http://www.exxonmobil.com/UK-English/Newsroom/UK_NR_VP_Viewpoint_StopEsso_july2005.asp
This page refutes the allegations against ExxonMobil one-by-one.
I am not taking a position either way on this issue. I do feel that the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. I think Greenpeace can be overly radical and unthinking and I think big oil will be big oil.
My only point is to point out that the information you read was one-sided. There's more to that story.
Oh, and did I mention that my husband works for ExxonMobil — and I don't like to slap the hand that feeds my babies. Know what I mean? :)
I hope you will take this response in a good spirit because that is how it's intended.
I really like your blog. :)
Thank you for your comment Leisa. I have read it with interest and have taken in your points in a good spirit. However! In view of the fact that the influential British Royal Society has seen fit to write to the Exxon chairman pleading for restraint. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0920-04.htm
I urge you to read the letter and take note of its comments. George Bernard Shaw wrote "Old men are dangerous; it doesn't matter to them what is going to happen to the world." I inclule myself as an old man but personally disagree with Shaw - I do passionately care about the world, but some it seems do not care enough.
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