brought to you by www.energyboom.com
 
“An imperative read for a successful future.”
~LEONARDO DICAPRIO  
 
Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

Desmog Video

You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.


 



Junkman Milloy spins himself into corporate caveman

In a recent diatribe on Fox News, the tall hog at the spin-doctoring trough took aim at Ford Motor Co.'s Bill Ford, BP's Lord John Browne and General Electric's Jeff Immelt for recognizing the risks of climate change and advocating corporate policies to combat it. Utilizing logic only the "junkman" could spin, well-heeled corporate lackey Steven Milloy tells us environmentally aware chief executives and business don't mix, then gives examples that illustrate why business needs more green CEOs.
 
Milloy, it may be recalled, is a so-called "adjunct scholar" at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a pressure-group advocate for out-of-control petroleum consumption funded by industry. In Ford's case, Milloy shredded him for declaring the company's most profitable vehicle -- SUVs -- degraded the environment. Predictably, he also took issue with Ford's call for higher gas taxes to reduce fuel consumption.

Browne's sins were advocating for global-warming regulation (unpardonable in Milloy's view), and perspicaciously branding gasoline in television commercials as "a necessary evil." Said Milloy: "Gasoline is a miracle product upon which our civilization depends." Immelt was criticized because "he apparently sees being green as GE's path forward."

Unlike Milloy, the three afore-mentioned CEOs appear to have dabbled in the ever-growing body of scientific evidence telling us that global warming is happening and humans are causing it. It may even have dawned on them that their businesses aren't sustainable and need to change in order to survive. While the likes of BP move forward they are leaving corporate cavemen like Milloy in the dust of a bygone old-boys club era.

Poor Milloy. Well, he's certainly not "poor" by a long shot, but he is pathetic in his inability or unwillingness to comprehend the science of climate change. But hey, Milloy isn't paid to confuse the climate-change issue with the facts.
What's next?

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
#479
John Lefebvre. +1; Tue, 2006-09-12 04:54; Advertising coincidence ...

I'm sure it's entirely unrelated that the ad accompanying Steve Milloy's column is from Citgo, "one of the worlds strongest (??), most reliable suppliers of fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, asphalt and specialty products." Total coincidence.

About the climate cover-up

About the climate cover-up

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.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Like what you read here? Get our top five stories in your inbox every week. » here's a preview
Enter your email and subscribe now!



DeSmog Tip Jar

DeSmog Tip Jar

Flickr Photos

Flickr Photos
Hoggan, Robertson, HarcourtClimate Cover-Up Book CoverJames Hoggan - ColourRichard Littlemore

Member of the Progressive Bloggers Network

MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE BLOGGERS NETWORK

Progressive Bloggers