Noted climate activist Bill McKibben says the DNC's newly-passed resolution indicates the "social license of big oil is being steadily revoked." (Photo: Takver/flickr/cc)
'This Is What Winning Looks Like': DNC Bans Donations From Fossil Fuel Companies
Resolution cites climate crisis's "existential threat to civilization" and fossil fuel industry's chokehold on democracy
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution to ban campaign donations from fossil fuel companies.
Author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben called it a sign that the "social license of big oil is being steadily revoked." 350.org Action, for its part, declared, "This is what winning looks like, folks."
The development, first reported by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, is thanks to a resolution submitted by DNC committee member Christine Pelosi, who is also the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The text cites the climate crisis's "existential threat to civilization," and asserts that "fossil fuel corporations are drowning our democracy in a tidal wave of dark oily money; they have deceived the public about the impacts of climate change, fought the growth of clean renewable energy, and corrupted our political system."
It goes on to note that hundreds of individual candidates in the party have already vowed not to take money from the dirty industry.
Hailing the decision as "big step," the youth-led Sunrise Movement also called on the DNC "step up further and refuse all donations over $200 from fossil fuel execs to prove they value young people's futures over oil and gas profits."
According to Huff Po, that could happen in two months as the DNC may vote in August on a resolution that would ban donations above that amount from individuals working for the fossil fuel industry.
Huff Po also notes that oil and gas companies dumped $7.6 million into Democratic races in 2016.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just four days to go in our Spring Campaign, we are not even halfway to our goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution to ban campaign donations from fossil fuel companies.
Author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben called it a sign that the "social license of big oil is being steadily revoked." 350.org Action, for its part, declared, "This is what winning looks like, folks."
The development, first reported by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, is thanks to a resolution submitted by DNC committee member Christine Pelosi, who is also the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The text cites the climate crisis's "existential threat to civilization," and asserts that "fossil fuel corporations are drowning our democracy in a tidal wave of dark oily money; they have deceived the public about the impacts of climate change, fought the growth of clean renewable energy, and corrupted our political system."
It goes on to note that hundreds of individual candidates in the party have already vowed not to take money from the dirty industry.
Hailing the decision as "big step," the youth-led Sunrise Movement also called on the DNC "step up further and refuse all donations over $200 from fossil fuel execs to prove they value young people's futures over oil and gas profits."
According to Huff Po, that could happen in two months as the DNC may vote in August on a resolution that would ban donations above that amount from individuals working for the fossil fuel industry.
Huff Po also notes that oil and gas companies dumped $7.6 million into Democratic races in 2016.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution to ban campaign donations from fossil fuel companies.
Author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben called it a sign that the "social license of big oil is being steadily revoked." 350.org Action, for its part, declared, "This is what winning looks like, folks."
The development, first reported by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, is thanks to a resolution submitted by DNC committee member Christine Pelosi, who is also the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The text cites the climate crisis's "existential threat to civilization," and asserts that "fossil fuel corporations are drowning our democracy in a tidal wave of dark oily money; they have deceived the public about the impacts of climate change, fought the growth of clean renewable energy, and corrupted our political system."
It goes on to note that hundreds of individual candidates in the party have already vowed not to take money from the dirty industry.
Hailing the decision as "big step," the youth-led Sunrise Movement also called on the DNC "step up further and refuse all donations over $200 from fossil fuel execs to prove they value young people's futures over oil and gas profits."
According to Huff Po, that could happen in two months as the DNC may vote in August on a resolution that would ban donations above that amount from individuals working for the fossil fuel industry.
Huff Po also notes that oil and gas companies dumped $7.6 million into Democratic races in 2016.