Oil giant 'paid groups to mislead public' on warming

[Tellurian]

January 3, 2007

Oil conglomerate ExxonMobil paid interest groups to "mislead the public" on climate concerns, a science advocacy organization alleges.

"ExxonMobil Corp. gave $16 million to 43 ideological groups between 1998 and 2005 in a coordinated effort to mislead the public by discrediting the science behind global warming," says the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), according to an Associated Press article.

The oil giant "has manufactured uncertainty about the human causes of global warming just as tobacco companies denied their product caused lung cancer," a spokesman with the watchdog group said during a telephone news conference announcing the assertions, Reuters reports.
A press release by the UCS lists multiple charges against ExxonMobil as outlined in its extensive report. It accuses the oil giant of, among other things:

# Raising doubts about "indisputable" scientific evidence;

# Funding various "front organizations" to give the impression of a "tight-knit group of vocal climate change contrarians";

# Using its ties to the White House to "block federal policies and shape government communications on global warming."

The UCS press release and full report can be read at this link.

http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/ExxonMobil-GlobalWarming-tobacco.html

[underpants]

1. Don't blame the enviromentalists

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/45

[Tellurian]

2. Contemplating how many 00000's should be added to their fines and punitive damages

Is there a FINE Big enough to repair the damage done by BIG OIL?

[acmavm]

4. PFFFFFFT! Any fine against them will end up just exactly

like the fine against EXXON for the Valdez oil spill. Cut in half so far, and I bet they won't end up ever paying the other half.

[Tellurian]

6. $$$$ Long gone...

The other half is earmarked for the Judge's pocket...

[Toots]

16. They are still fighting it and have not paid one thin dime yet.

How many years ago was that, 20 or so? Not one thin dime

[leftchick]

3. Greenpeace has exxonssecrets.org

I am glad to see they are not so secret anymore. This is a great interactive map of the Oil giant and the front froups set up. Also note the connections to that crazy Inhofe. Maybe he isn't so crazy and will be paid handsomely for his loyalty to Exxon.

http://www.exxonsecrets.org/

[papau]

5. LOL - 'paid groups to mislead public' I thought was the standard GOP/Corporate/Rich procedure - our

media certainly has no problem treating the planted mis-information as if it had the same validity as truth - heck - it is just he said/she said isn't it??????

In politics it is not lying - it is just "handling" the media well - per Chris Mathews.

[tabasco]

13. Hell yes it's their SOP, same damn thing they did with ANWR !

The corporate masters spend billions on propaganda because it works on stupid gullible republican voters.

[fasttense]

7. I wonder if they paid Michael Crichton to write that stupid book -

State of Fear? I tried to read it but it was patently absurd. It was as if he was trying to argue against evolution. Luckily, I got it from the library and didn't have to pay for it. ExxonMobile could have helped the stupid book along by buying it up in certain markets making it move up on the Best Sellers list. I'm sure Michael Crichton enjoyed the money and boost to his sales.

[Mikey929]

8. ??

What is the Union of Concerned Scientists? I don't think I've heard that designation before.

[texastoast]

10. Smart scientists with a conscience

Real pedigreed thinkers who can't be bought. Terrifying group.

[Tellurian]

11. hmmm...

Been renamed?

Previously, The Union of Commie (Pinko) Scientists.

Don't forget to watch "Living With ED" on Sunday nights..

Featuring Ed Begley, the ULTRA environmentalist.

tease:

Ed's breakfast routine. Ed attaches his exer-cycle to his toaster.

[texastoast]

18. Now, if we could all be so creative

Nah, I'll be damned if I'm going to give up MY convenience. Plug that toaster in!

[Mikey929]

9. Duh!!

Ooops. I should have checked the link first. A collection of citizens and scientists, it says. I thought it was a collection of scientists only, based on the name. I wonder the percentage breakdown of citizens versus scientists.

[texastoast]

12. Individuals support the work of the group

http://www.ucsusa.org/ucs/about/

[Tellurian]

14. Doesn't the USA stand for:

Unsourced Social Alliances?

[lpbk2713]

15. OxyRush would certainly be among the $$$ recipients.

He consistently takes Big Oil's side on any given issue.

[Tellurian]

17. Rush is Dub's "boy.".

Limpy gets a hefty payck for spewing propaganda to the masses
and worse, insulation from prosecution for illegal drugs.