The ExxonMobil Agenda on Global Warming
It's pretty easy to spread your version of the truth when you have billions of dollars to throw around. It's not surprising then, that an ExxonMobil campaign to misinform the public would gain traction. The campaign in question? Convince the public that there is no global warming. To this end, they spend millions of dollars each year on misleading propaganda related to global warming. I will say that again: millions of dollars each year.
It's pretty obvious that a company who makes money through the consumption of fossil fuels would benefit by convincing people that there is absolutely no harm in continuing to do so at an ever-increasing pace. It's the same motive the tobacco companies had in lying to congress (and the world) about the harm in tobacco smoke.
The idea that global climate change is a myth or is nothing to worry about sure seems to carry some weight when you hear it said by organizations with names such as American Council on Science and Health, Science and Environmental Policy Project, Air Quality Standards Coalition, American Council on Science and Health, National Council for Environmental Balance, World Climate Report, and Science and Environmental Policy Project. But every one of these organizations are funded by ExxonMobil or have top executives with direct ties to ExxonMobil.
And that's just a few of the fronts put in place by this company. Want a more complete list? Try this: http://exxonsecrets.org/html/listorganizations.php . There's about 130 organizations on there that help ExxonMobil push their story. If you want to follow the money trail, just click on the name, and take a look. Example:
ExxonMobil Funding for American Council on Science and Health
2000 - $25,000
2001 - $25,000
2002 - $10,000
2003 - $25,000
2004 - $15,000
2005 - $25,000
ExxonMobil Funding for The Advancement of Sound Science Center
2000 - $10,000
2001 - $10,000
2002 - $10,000
These are the public numbers taken from both IRS reporting and ExxonMobil's own yearly Worldwide Giving Reports. If you haven't already guessed, these organizations all support big oil's agenda to some degree or another by casting doubt on climate change.
So you don't believe in climate change? You've heard science that has convinced you otherwise? I understand... but do yourself a favor and check the source of that information. Are your sources tied to one of these 130 organizations, or any of their execs? It's extremely likely that they are. And if you find them there, shouldn't you perhaps question the underlying motive of a scientist taking money from big oil when speaking on the effects of big oil consumption? Does the term "conflict of interest" mean anything at all to you?
All I'm asking is that you look at this yourself. Don't let billionaire oil execs form your opinion for you. As in every other matter, they are in it for themselves.