Happy Friday Kibitzers! Please feel free to kibitz at will.
Speaking of kibitzing, 350 Silicon Valley has an email chat group with many members kibitzing about all issues environmental. Everyday they generate numerous emails containing discussions on current news and issues. When news of Google’s fundraising for Senator Jim Inhofe came out the group was not happy. How could a company like Google with their motto of “Don’t be Evil” help raise money for a climate change denier?
How do you go from saying this:
You can lie about the effects of climate change, but eventually you'll be seen as a liar.
~ Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (’13 comment on Climate Science Deniers)
… then just a month later help raise campaign funds for one of America’s biggest climate science deniers?
It kind of reminds... I could use the Third Reich, the Big Lie... You say something over and over and over and over again, and people will believe it, and that's their strategy...
~ Sen. Inhofe (’06 comment on the Environmental Movement)
What would the notoriously young and intelligent employees think of their bosses helping somebody that makes statements on climate science such as:
Well actually the Genesis 8:22 that I use in there is that ‘as long as the earth remains there will be seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night,’ my point is, God’s still up there. The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is to me outrageous.
~ Sen. Inhofe (’12)
In the chat group kibitzing turned to kvetching as the absurdity sunk in. One member suggested we should ask the Google employees what they thought as they arrived to work on the dozens of commuter buses Google sends around the Bay Area to pick-up employees. Soon kvetching turned to action as people jumped in to help turn this vision into a reality. Slogans, signs and flyers were created and emails were sent to other groups. 350 Bay Area offered to help promote by using their member’s list and calling the media. Brad Johnson (
ClimateBrad) of
Forecast the Facts brought their petition with 50,000 signers to deliver to Google.
About one week later approximately 135 people gathered to greet the buses. While handing out flyers to the employees it became apparent that many employees already knew of Google’s fundraising event and in the words of one employee, they were “horrified.” It was no surprise to anyone that Google’s own scientist wrote a letter questioning the idea of funding science deniers:
Google has earned its reputation as one of America’s most innovative and forward-thinking companies, and has shown climate leadership by improving its own environmental performance and investing in clean energy technologies. That’s why it was deeply troubling for us, as Google Science Communication Fellows, to learn about Google’s July 11, 2013 fundraiser supporting Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe’s 2014 re-election campaign.
Given Google’s commitment to educating the public about climate change, why would the company align its political efforts with Inhofe? In responding to criticism, a Google spokesperson acknowledged “while we disagree on climate change policy, we share an interest with Senator Inhofe in the employees and data center we have in Oklahoma.”
But Inhofe’s assault on the scientific community is not a difference in climate policy; it’s a strategy designed to promote dysfunction and paralysis; to destroy the reputation of scientists and the legitimacy of their institutions; and to undermine our ability to find common ground.
~ Google Science Communication Fellows
While most at the rally were against funding climate science deniers, this guy seemed to think it was a good idea…
But Sophia would not be deterred, she thinks scientist are the best. Of course she might be biased, her dad is part of a Noble Peace Prize winning team of scientists at the IPCC...
This kid's dad is a plumber, but she knows what floats down hill...
And here she explains to a Mother Jones reporter just what Inhofe is floating...
"He's against science." ~ TLO™
~~~
After greeting the Google workers, we headed over to Google's headquarters to deliver the petition. But security informed us only one person would be allowed...
But for some reason they allowed this guy to stay...
Brad came back out after about 15 minutes to tell us, "They will not accept the petition..." But they would gladly accept a business plan if we had one to offer. Hmmm ...how about you don't fund people that deny science. Something on which much of your business is based.
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