Saturday, June 18, 2016

Conservative groups, including the Koch brothers, spending millions of dollars on media to spread misinformation about climate change.

Charles and David Koch
Courtesy of Desmog: 

Millions of dollars have been pouring into conservative media outlets and student journalism projects from the same groups funding climate science denial, a DeSmog analysis has found. 

Analysis of IRS tax filings shows the funding groups, including some linked to the oil billionaire Koch brothers, are trying to combat a perceived left-wing bias in media with cash to ideologically-aligned projects. 

Many of the funded journalism projects also produce stories that claim human-caused climate change is either a liberal hoax or that policies to mitigate it, such as promotion of renewable energy, are an unnecessary drag on the economy. 

DeSmog found that two linked funds — Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund — have been a key source of cash for organisations attacking climate science and opposing policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

DCF and DT have been described as the “dark money ATM” of the US conservative movement.

Not really a surprise, just a reminder that much of what is broadcast by Right Wing news outlets is propaganda paid for by one conservative group or another. And usually the misinformation is potentially damaging to this country and in this case even to the planet on which we live.

17 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:31 AM

    One thing that I will never understand (probably because I have a conscience), is how wealthy people such as the Kochs, even though they are close to the ends of their lives, still strive for greater wealth and power, even to the detriment of future generations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 66gardeners8:56 AM

      What I can't understand is how someone this wealthy and this close to the end of life can be so greedy they don't care enough about their remembered contribution to humanity but more about the financial worth. May they rot in hell.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous6:37 AM

    Doesn't really matter now it's too late.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6:43 AM

    I was just thinking of happy regions of the country. I've been to all but 2 states intimately (sorry Montana and ND) and the happiest places are rural/country/backwoods. Alaska definitely is up there on the list. Having been there a dozen times, it really is remarkable that so many of the residents built their homes themselves. Most homeowners may design their custom homes, but Alaska is a DIY state for sure. The average college degree is pretty useless there and a waste of money considering high cost (unless you're a professional who needs a degree.) I wish liberals wouldn't trash country folk, though it's likely out of jealousy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:32 AM

      Liberals trash country folk? Jealousy? You are a delusional kook no matter where you are. Surely there is something (lithium?) that can help you.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:36 AM

      Many "country folk" are ignorant of the damage they cause. As for building their own homes and living in the back woods, unless they are vegetarian and leaving no footprint on their environment, they are taking away increasingly small animal habitat. If it weren't for "liberals" (whether Republican or Democrat) putting aside land for conservation, there wouldn't be a single "backwoods" left in the lower 48, or even Alaska for that matter.

      Delete
    3. Bullfucking shit! If the country is so nice how come no one lives there?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:40 AM

      6:43am

      As a 30 year resident of AK I have to tell you that your version of our home is highly irregular. Yes, there are a few people in the road and rail corridor that build their own homes, but by and large that is the exception, even in roadless bush Alaska, where organized construction is the rule.

      I guess it depends which side of the fence you are on but 90% of the people that I know are college educated; they have jobs that require a degree. Some of them even work in the petroleum industry, where all but roughnecks, mechanics and housekeepers are college educated, and even some of the aforementioned have degrees.

      You seem to want to propagate the notion that we're some "wild frontier" where people live very differently than the rest of the lower 48, but truly we are not. We hire contractors to build our homes and we shop at grocery stores.

      What your statement tells me is that you've never really spent any appreciable amount of time here, or perhaps you only met the few that actually build their own homes, but really, we live just like anyone else, at least those of us in the road/rail belt.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:23 AM

      Well, Levi Johnston is building his mother a house so why does he need Shakespeare or philosophy? He's smart in his own way!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous7:26 AM

    Two faces of sociopathic greed. Too late as noted by another poster. As it plays out, climate change is going to be devastating for generations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous7:31 AM

    I don't understand how these billionaire types think they and their descendants are going to escape what they have done, are doing, and will continue to do to destroy the environment of planet earth.

    When these parasites are long gone Mother Nature will reclaim the planet. But in what form?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:00 AM

      Their tombstones should read:

      "Here lies someone so dangerous and destructive, the planet is better off without EM."

      Delete
  6. Anonymous8:53 AM

    In this day and age of science and technology, debating that the existence of pollution and its causes is suspect sounds preposterous. Take em down when that happens.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous11:07 AM

    There's a lot of sayings about money. Money makes the world go around. Whoever said money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop. Money, money, money, it's a rich man's world. Paul Allen bought a nasty big boat and then someone came along and bought a bigger one than his, and so on and on. The Kock brothers are on a gigantic money high. When they die, their children will squander it. Seen this many times with people who value crap and their children inherit it and don't value it. Their legacy will not be a good one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Connie1:57 PM

    Per Scientific American the headline reads:
    Antarctic CO2 Hit 400 PPM for First Time in 4 Million Years
    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antarctic-co2-hit-400-ppm-for-first-time-in-4-million-years/

    So tell me again, RWNJ, how we humans are not leaving a footprint on the planet? I am beyond angry.

    Also - does anyone remember the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant in Japan that is still leaking?
    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fukushima-dai-ichi-nuclear-plant-leaking-radioactive-japan-earthquake-tsunami/

    There have been several posts on facebook about "new" species that have not been seen before now. Well, considering all the water is connected perhaps there is a reason.

    I hold no hope for humans. We very richly deserve the buttwhooping the planet is getting ready to deliver. We've done this to ourselves, funded by the Koch Brothers, may they receive what they so richly deserve.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anita Winecooler4:36 PM

    Imagine these two with a basic education in science, geology and how everything effects everything else (science) and the good they can do for future generations with their money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Connie5:17 PM

      If a gleam of hope does exist, it is in this next generation. I know and know of an array of young ones who understand much more than their elders.

      I do imagine, just as John suggested. For the good of all and may it harm none, after all. :)

      Delete

Don't feed the trolls!
It just goes directly to their thighs.