Tell Congress to Get Real About Global Warming

This one comes from the Union of Concerned Scientists:

On January 3, the Union of Concerned Scientists released Smoke, Mirrors, and Hot Air: How ExxonMobil uses Big Tobacco Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science. The report documents how ExxonMobil has underwritten one of the most successful disinformation campaigns since the tobacco industry’s 40-year effort to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking. In recent years, ExxonMobil provided close to $16 million in funding to 40 groups that question the urgency of global warming. This web of organizations disseminates the views of a dwindling group of climate change contrarians. Through this sophisticated effort, ExxonMobil has manufactured uncertainty about even the most indisputable scientific evidence on global warming. Disturbingly, ExxonMobil has drawn on the same tactics, and even some of the same organizations and people as Big Tobacco.

The report also reveals how ExxonMobil’s extraordinary influence over key officials in the White House and Congress has fueled the disinformation campaign and helped to forestall federal action to reduce U.S. global warming emissions. As the new Congress convenes in 2007, it’s time to tell our senators and representatives to reject ExxonMobil’s misleading campaign.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has taken an important first step by calling for the immediate elimination of tax breaks for ExxonMobil and other major oil companies. The Senate should embrace this commitment as well, and the money saved should be redirected to support clean energy programs.

You can read the UCS report on Exxon/Mobil here (PDF). You can write Congress through the UCS website here or, to be more effective, contact them through Congress.org.


mole333's picture

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SteamGeek's picture

Kind of neat actually

When the truth sees the light of day, folks might actually have a chance to be informed.

What's the difference between a Left-Wing-Nut and a Right-Wing-Nut? As far as I can tell they both like to point fingers and pretend false Superiority.

(Perhaps there's a 3rd category of participants)


Teacher With a Tude's picture

Thank you for the link. I

Thank you for the link.

I think there is a greater problem than confusing the public.
I think that the vast majority of the public doesn't really know ANYTHING about it, other than the key words.

I certainly do not think that the vast majority of Americans are willing to do/pay for the changes necessary to put a dent in our emissions.

Again, it boils down to making actual PRODUCTS more accessible and attractive to consumers (energy efficient homes, vehicles, better public transportation, etc).

We are a spoiled people, rather intent on driving our SUV's and keeping our homes and businesses cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

In some ways, Europe and Russia are better suited to making these changes because there is a history of economy and thrift driven by the costs associated with rebuilding. Certainly their citizens are much more accustomed to "discomfort" than Americans are.


SteamGeek's picture

Perfect example of competing interests

I am against purposeful spreading of false information in order to mislead. When it comes right down to it, who can we trust if people are willing to blur the lines and stretch the truth in order to win a favorable position over others?

Terrorist wackos justify their actions to themselves also.

The oil companies are no different than any other business in that they have a responsibility to society to on the one had earn profits so they can not only pay employees but also make a fair return on investment of stakeholders, and on the other hand operate with ethics not only RE worker safety, tax code, but also environmentally. They like any other business are entitle to both the benefits and costs of the free market system.

An interesting aspect that relates to the cost of fuel is because of dozens and hundred of differing fuel blend requirements at the pump, driven by in-cohesive local and state and regional environmental regulations, the refinery and pipeline distribution systems have built in inefficiencies. The result is higher cost to consumers. Folks who operate industrial facilities know that frequent shut downs of production for change over, as well as the increased inventory and distribution of products drive up the cost of goods.

It might be worthwhile that while we advocate "fair and balanced tax law" as well as expect responsible environmental and safety behavior, that we take a look at how our national / regional / state regulatory process builds in artificial barriers to efficient supply of fuels to consumers who need to get to work.

It's odd that a guy who's earned his living in the business of environmental management for over 20 years would "sound" like he's pro oil company, actually I'm pro common sense. We could improve environmental quality, reduce the cost of manufactured goods, probably use less energy for the same amount of output, and also reduce the cost to consumers - if we only had some common sense in DC. Of course when the Vice President fires Science advisers who object to his political and scientific opinions, there's very little chance for common sense leadership.

We might also take a look at why I can buy a (very low tech) inexpensive VW Turbo Diesel that gets 45 to 50 mpg, and yet Detroit doesn't build them?

KISS is such a lost art in the law making process.


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