John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO: I Don't Believe In Climate Change

[mod mom]

John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO: I Don't Believe In Climate Change

Waylon LewisFounder of elephantjournal.com and the Walk the Talk Show
Posted: January 3, 2010 05:34 PM

-snip
I've talked with him twice on behalf of my elephant journal, and he's agreed to an interview (which would sit nicely along our "Walk the Talk Show" videos with Deepak Chopra, Michael Pollan, Dr. Andrew Weil, Alice Walker, Arianna Huffington, Amy Goodman). I've defended WFM and Mackey through WildOatsGate, wherein Mackey denigrated the value of his rival on an online forum (while cloaked beneath a pseudonym, and throwing in a flattering comment about his own new haircut "he looks cute!")

I urged the FTC to stop blocking WFM's purchase of Wild Oats--though the consolidation was sad, Whole Foods had plenty of rivals left in the mainstream grocery chains who were, even then, selling more and more organics. I posted articles re: how Whole Foods no longer deserved its moniker Whole Paycheck. I gave Mr. Mackey kudos for honesty when he railed against Whole Foods' own offerings, calling much of their offerings "junk." And then, in an article that sat upon the home page of HuffPost for the better part of a week (traffic Mecca of the wwworld) and was picked up by the NY Times and Atlantic, I was a lonely "green" voice defending Whole Foods against progressive cries for a boycott after Mr. Mackey took on "Obamacare," arguing in an infamous Wall Street Journal editorial that health care was not a right.

But I'm finally losing it, and he's finally losing me.

The below excerpt is from a riveting profile in the January 4th New Yorker. It represents Mackey's latest foot-in-mouth jaunt through self-delighted devil's-advocate frankness:


...One of the books on the list was "Heaven and Earth: Global Warming--the Missing Science," a skeptical take on climate change. Mackey told me that he agrees with the book's assertion that, as he put it, "no scientific consensus exists" regarding the causes of climate change; he added, with a candor you could call bold or reckless, that it would be a pity to allow "hysteria about global warming" to cause us "to raise taxes and increase regulation, and in turn lower our standard of living and lead to an increase in poverty." One would imagine that, on this score, many of his customers, to say nothing of most climate scientists, might disagree. He also said, "Historically, prosperity tends to correlate to warmer temperatures."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/waylon-lewis/john-mackey-whole-foods-c_b_409842.html

""no scientific consensus exists" "Historically, prosperity tends to correlate to warmer temperatures." WHAT AN ASS!

[Don Caballero]

1. This man is a disgrace

I shop at my local co-ops. Whole Foods will never regain my business.

[G_j]

2. more reason not to shop at Whole Foods nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Historically, prosperity tends to correlate to warmer temperatures.

That is clearly evidenced by the wealth of central Africa, Central America and South Asia.

[Gregorian]

4. But he believes in coronary artery disease.

And there's less consensus on what causes that then there is the cause of global warming.

I can never figure people out who trust their doctors, yet who don't trust the entire scientific community on the cause of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.

Why would they be stupid on purpose?


On edit- I think I know why. One means taking personal responsibility. And one means taking collective responsibility. And that means cooperating with other people. I believe I have an answer.

[mod mom]

5. BTW He resigned as chairman but still sits on their board:

Mackey resigns as Whole Foods chairman
Published: Dec. 26,

-snip

"Despite this shift in responsibilities, Whole Foods, along with many other companies with combined CEO/chairman roles, has been targeted by corporate governance activists for several years now seeking a separation of these roles," Mackey said.

Mackey said Elstrott would assume the post of chairman of the board, while he will retain his position as the company's chief executive officer.

Mackey also confirmed he would remain a member of the Whole Foods Market board.



http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/12/26/Mackey-resigns-as-Whole-Foods-chairman/UPI-41171261857943/



I started re-shopping there after a friend said he resigned, but just discovered it was just a technicality. :mad:

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, PERHAPS THE BOYCOTT IS WORKING "STOCK HAS FALLEN 30% OVER PAST 5 YEARS":

But in August, CtW raised the stakes by calling for the CEO's removal. The activist group said an editorial by Mackey opposing President Obama's health care plan damaged the company's reputation, especially among its left-leaning customers.

The group said Mackey "attempted to capitalize on the brand reputation of Whole Foods to champion his personal political views but has instead deeply offended a key segment of Whole Foods consumer base."

CtW said Mackey has become a "liability" because of his "indiscretion."

The shareholder activist has wanted Mackey to relinquish his chairman title because it believes an independent chairman could improve the company's stock price performance. CtW noted the stock had fallen 30 percent over the past five years ending Sept. 30, 2008 compared with a 14 percent gain in the S&P 500 Index.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/25/whole-foods-ceo-john-mack_n_403665.html

[newtothegame]

6. We're not going to shop at a store because one of the employees doesn't believe in global warming??

:shrug:

It ain't like he's going to be passing climate-change legislation himself anyways.

[mod mom]

8. this was just the latest. Did you read his diatribe on HC reform? Or how

he was caught trying to undercut the price of Wild Oats by misrepresenting who he was? The point is there are many small independent businesses to support instead of a corporate bully such as Mackey.

[Johonny]

9. He's the CEO

If he gets the big check then he should do things that make consumers want to shop at his company not repel them from his company with dumb statements.

Do I want to buy food from a company that doesn't believe in science. For all I know he think the germ theory of medicine is false too and mercury is good for me and 5 second rule is valid...

[newtothegame]

13. "5 second rule is valid..."

Good one :)

[freeplessinseattle]

12. not just an employee, a main benificiary of our $$$

and he knows full well who his customer base consists of so why is he so outspoken about spitting on their values? he has the right to his opinion of course, but he is using his position to get people to listen, which is just warped. If he wasn't the face of WF he'd be just another net voice howling in the wind, like us.

[Ratty]

17. He uses his position as CEO of Whole Foods, it is therefore fair game. nt

[pissedoff01]

7. Well, I don't believe in paying 2X for Whole Foods

[arcadian]

10. Whole Foods = Green washing on an epic scale.

The contradictions are astounding.

[blindpig]

11. Just another capitalist asshole...

what do you expect?

[Rebubula]

14. He is an Idiot

Climate change is occurring...the question is whether or not we can change our actions enough to influence the planet.

You can count me in as a AGW skeptic. Or Denier if you are in to the whole 'denigrate those that think differently' approach

[Happyhippychick]

15. And I do believe Trader Joe's is cheaper, tastier, friendlier, and will receive every dime of my

Whole Foods business.

[gratuitous]

16. Does he believe in gravity?

Could he fly if he just believed hard enough that gravity is just a theory? Nitwit.