green wash

Grassroots vs. Astroturf: The Climate Spin Machine Goes Into Overdrive

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:59:32 -0500

by Leslie Berliant

Grassroots - adjective of, pertaining to, or involving the common people, esp. as contrasted with or separable from an elite.

Astroturf - trademark used for an artificial grass-like ground covering.

In the lead up to next month's climate negotiations in Copenhagen and the possibility of the U.S. Congress voting a climate bill, many groups are claiming to "represent Americans" and their views on energy and climate legislation.

Climate Change Sceptics and Lobbyists Put World at Risk, says Top Adviser

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:30:53 -0500

by David Adam

Climate change sceptics and fossil fuel companies that have lobbied against action on greenhouse gas emissions have squandered the world's chance to avoid dangerous global warming, a key adviser to the government has said.

Boxer-Kerry Climate Bill Greenwashes Nuclear Power

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:11:33 -0400

by Jim Riccio

Bowing to pressure from the pro-nuclear lobby, Senators Boxer and Kerry have included nuclear power into their bill to address climate change. In their proposed legislation, the Senators claim that "nuclear energy is the largest provider of clean, low-carbon, electricity...." Funny we've heard that before. In fact, the bill's nuclear section reads like it was lifted off the Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI) website, despite its lack of veracity.

Gag Me with Clean Coal

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:58 -0400

by Karyn Strickler

Take a revitalizing breath of those clean coal emissions from the average coal plant, filled with carbon monoxide, mercury, arsenic and lead - all deadly toxic to humans in high amounts. Breathe deeply the pestilence that is clean coal.

If coal's impact on climate change weren't so serious, the public relations campaign that asks us to choke down "clean coal" would be farcical. "Clean coal" is a dirty joke that won't wash.

Time For Renewable Energy

Sat, 16 May 2009 07:39:45 -0400

by Ralph Nader

After years of opposing or ridiculing renewable energy, the giant oil companies are using a new approach. A recent ExxonMobil advertising campaign puts it this way:

Paint It Green—with Recycled, Phony Rhetoric

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:07:44 -0400

by Mark Kastel

Market researchers seem to have decided that promoting the "green" attributes of your company or products will resonate with consumers.

There was certainly an overabundance of promotions in the lead-up to Earth Day this year. And, in terms of marketing, Earth Day alone is not enough. We now celebrate "Earth Week!"

Greenwash: Shell Betrays 'New Energy Future' Promises

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:09:16 -0400

by Fred Pearce

Shell, I have to report, is the new Exxon. The company that back in December was filling this and other newspapers with double-page adverts promoting its conversion to a "new energy future" of wind farms, hydrogen fuels, fuel made from marine algae and much else, has pulled the plug.

Coal Industry Tries to Hide Dirty Facts Behind 'Clean' Claims

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:57:29 -0500

by Fred Pearce

The fightback begins here. Well, we can hope. The misleading and downright duplicitous ads against clean coal chronicled here are now being contested by - you guessed it - an ad.

A Line in the Green Sand

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:20:51 -0500

by Paul Kingsnorth

Last week the government published a shortlist of five schemes for harnessing the tidal power of the river Severn, to provide renewable electricity. It is no secret which is favoured in Whitehall - the biggest one, as ever: a 10-mile mega-barrage that would cost £14bn, and could generate 5% of Britain's power.

How "Green" Are Your Gadgets?

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:10:20 -0500

by Anupreeta Das

LAS VEGAS - Green is in like never before at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, with 3,000 square feet of dedicated floor space and companies touting the energy-saving, earth-friendly attributes of their gadgets.

On display are "eco-buttons" that reduce your computer's power consumption, e-lanterns that produce an hour's worth of light if you crank them for a minute, luminous TV screens that use far less energy than standard TVs and even mercury-free batteries that are 94 percent recyclable.