Thanks, Bronwyn. I hadn’t seen that. There’s more of a link between big tobacco and climate change denial than you might think. Here’s an article which explains how Philip Morris created an astroturf (fake grass roots) organisation in the early 90s called The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition. As well as placing doubt on the science linking smoking with cancer they had other objectives which included aspects of global warming, nuclear waste disposal and biotechnology.
The language the tobacco giants used is also very similar to those adopted by climate change denialist groups. From the same article, here’s a quote taken form an internal memo from Brown and Williamson:
Doubt is our product since it is the best means of competing with the ‘body of fact’ that exists in the mind of the general public. It is also the means of establishing a controversy.
Very clever. Did you happen to see this in the Guardian a few days back?
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/20/conservative-groups-1bn-against-climate-change
History is repeating itself except, this time, it isn’t the cigarette companies or asbestos miners. Depressing stuff.
Thanks, Bronwyn. I hadn’t seen that. There’s more of a link between big tobacco and climate change denial than you might think. Here’s an article which explains how Philip Morris created an astroturf (fake grass roots) organisation in the early 90s called The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition. As well as placing doubt on the science linking smoking with cancer they had other objectives which included aspects of global warming, nuclear waste disposal and biotechnology.
The language the tobacco giants used is also very similar to those adopted by climate change denialist groups. From the same article, here’s a quote taken form an internal memo from Brown and Williamson:
How appallingly disturbing.
Cute
That’s a beaut. Had to repost that, linked of course.
AV
Thanks for the link back. It is a great song.
Links help the blogosphere go round.
AV