Barely a week before scientists from 113 countries issued the long-awaited IPCC report; Exxon Mobil Corp. of Texas announced its record windfall to a storm of protest and accusations of using those profits to fund a campaign denying climate change and protesting efforts to reduce petroleum consumption.
In addition to Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, an Anglo-Dutch company, and US-run ConocoPhillips Co., Marathon Oil and Valero Energy also have posted best-ever annual results.
In a year of rising global temperatures and record gasoline prices, combined profits at the five companies totaled $91.1 billion.
The 21-page IPCC report, meanwhile, has blamed man-made emissions of greenhouse gases for fewer cold days, hotter nights, killer heat waves, floods and heavy rains, devastating droughts, and an increase in hurricane and tropical storm strength - particularly in the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
It’s been over five weeks since ExxonMobil’s Pegasus pipeline burst beneath a Mayflower, Arkansas subdivision, spilling diluted bitumen born of tar sands throughout the neighborhood. Five weeks later, and still the air carries noxious fumes. Residents complain of headaches, nausea, and worse.
Meanwhile, these residents of Mayflower are getting mixed signals from various state agencies, as well as the EPA and...
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