Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
Although all public relations professionals are bound by a duty to not knowingly mislead the public, some have executed comprehensive campaigns of misinformation on behalf of industry clients on issues ranging from tobacco and asbestos to seat belts.
Lately, these fringe players have turned their efforts to creating confusion about climate change. This PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business.
I've got a much better impression of coal after watching that ad. :)
I noticed the NBC peacock among other logos at the end of the GE ad. Tim Russert avoids AGW on his show -- coincidence? A very quick google returns some results indicating that GE is thought by AGW-deniers to make a lot of money from emissions reductions, and that NBC is a vehicle promoting emissions reductions. Looks like opposed opinions on GE/NBC is old news....
...like this in "Zoolander"? Oh, right. That was a parody.
"This "coal-is-so-clean-its-sexy ad" was pulled by General Electric a while back, but it goes to show just how far some will go to sell clean coal."
Yeah, imagine that! Someone actually making a TV commercial, of all things -- just to advertise something?
Tsk-tsk. What is the world coming to?
Someone should make a TV ad that sells nukes.
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http://frankbi.wordpress.com/ International Journal of Inactivism
"Al `Fat Al' Gore [is fat]" -- Harold Pierce