The ExxonSecrets website graphically shows the links between Exxon money, phony science, and pro-oil lobbying.
With names like "The Cato Institute", "The Heritage Foundation",
"Frontiers of Freedom Institute" and "Tech Central Station" you
might think these groups are independent organisations. You would
imagine their opinions are unbiased and impartial. You might assume
they are balanced and neutral.
But if you did, you'd be wrong. These and many other think
tanks, which have names designed to hide their real agenda, are
putting forward opinions denying or debasing the science behind
global warming. And they are getting funding from the fossil fuel
industry which is causing the problem.
When these groups talk to media they don't like to mention who
funds them. They want the media to believe that they are
independent commentators. So journalists are often left with the
wrong impression - and so is the public.
ExxonMobil, also known as Esso or Mobil, is the world's biggest
oil company. It has plenty of money and is not afraid of using it
to fund pseudo-science and front groups to shoot down anyone
speaking out about global warming. Since 1998 ExxonMobil has spent
more than US$ 12 million on climate sceptics.
Greenpeace, with the assistance of the web monkeys who developed
www.theyrule.net, has
developed a site that shows the links between Exxon money and some
of the loudest climate sceptics being quoted in the media: www.exxonsecrets.org
The website includes dossiers and fact sheets for each
organization and person with a description, history, staff bios,
quotes, deeds and hidden affiliations.
Designed as a tool for journalists, researchers, policy makers
and anyone who wants to get down to the facts, this freely
accessible site can be used to research the links between climate
sceptic groups and how much funding they get from ExxonMobil.
Searches can be made on organisations and individuals, cross
referencing automatically with other groups and individuals. If you
thought the Six Degrees of Separation game was fun, have a go at
tracing the money trail from the sceptics back to Exxon. It doesn't
take long to get there.
Of course you don't have to take our word for it. The site is
fully referenced so anyone can cross check our sources - existing
websites and downloadable documents, Exxon annual reports and other
publicly available materials.
The next time you read a story in the press or on line that says
climate change is all smoke and mirrors, visit www.exxonsecrets.org and
search for the organisation or person being quoted. There's a good
chance that ExxonMobil is paying for their microphone.
Take action!
Don't buy ExxonMobil. Don't
buy Esso.
Expose the money: If you find articles that quote groups or
individuals denying or dismissing the concept of global warming,
visit www.exxonsecrets.org and do a search on that organisation
or person. If you get a match, you´ll see in the "info" section
just how much money ExxonMobil has paid that group. Post your
findings at the cybercentre.