Are you sure that you want to use this to attack Moore? It chimes in exactly with what I have been saying about climate change and environmental lunacy as opposed to commonsense balanced solutions. Read on…
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Patrick Moore was a leading figure with Greenpeace Canada and subsequently with Greenpeace International between 1981 and 1986
. In 1991 he established a consultancy business, Greenspirit Enterprises, “focusing on environmental policy and communications in natural resources, biodiversity, energy and climate change.”[1] Moore began working for the Nuclear Energy Institute front group, the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, in 2006. He has worked for the mining industry, the logging industry, PVC manufacturers, the nuclear industry and in defence of biotechnology. In October 2008, Greenpeace issued a statement distancing itself from Moore, saying he “exploits long gone ties with Greenpeace to sell himself as a speaker and pro-corporate spokesperson, usually taking positions that Greenpeace opposes.” [2] Moore describes himself as “chairman and chief scientist” of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd., a PR company that "work with many leading organizations in forestry, biotechnology, aquaculture and plastics,
developing solutions in the areas of natural resources, biodiversity, energy and climate change."
He is also a Board Member of NextEnergy, a Canadian energy services company.[3] "In 1990, Dr. Moore founded and chaired the BC Carbon Project, a group that worked to develop a common understanding of climate change. "Dr. Moore served for four years as Vice President, Environment for Waterfurnace International, a manufacturer of geothermal heat pumps
for residential heating and cooling with renewable earth energy
. He is now a Director of NextEnergy Solutions, the largest distributor of geothermal systems in Canada. "As Chair of the Sustainable Forestry Committee of the Forest Alliance of BC from 1991 -2002,
he led the process of developing the “Principles of Sustainable Forestry” which were adopted by a majority of the industry…
He obtained a Ph.D. in Ecology, Institute of Resource Ecology, at the University of British Columbia in 1974, and was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship (1969-1972). [4][/quote]
Specifically, there are many many areas for further discussion. I am going to choose two…
[quote]In December 2007,
Moore slammed “anti-PVC activists” for “pushing retailers toward untested, less affordable and potentially riskier materials” with a “fear-mongering campaign.”
His comments came two days after “Sears Holdings Corporation, parent of the Sears and Kmart retail chain stores, said it will work to phase out use of PVC in its packaging and merchandise,” reported ICIS. [9] Moore’s resume states that in 2001, he was “retained by IPEX, Canada’a largest manufacturer of PVC, to intervene in the environmental policy of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid.” [10 In a December 2007 press release from his Greenspirit firm, Moore was quoted as saying, “It’s completely unacceptable for these activists to call PVC ‘toxic’ when PVC’s effects on health and the environment have been investigated at every stage from manufacture through use and on to final disposal – in all cases vinyl has been shown to be safe and environmentally sound.” The release did not disclose Moore’s or the firm’s financial relationship with the PVC industry. [11] Moore used similar language in a July 2006 letter to the San Francisco Chronicle: “Vinyl is one of the most sustainable, flexible and cost-effective materials available. Alternatives are more expensive, less versatile and often pose unknown health or environmental risks.” [12][/quote]
So this wink wink nudge nudge (didn’t disclose his firm’s financial relationship as opposed to all the pronouncements and peer-reviewed haha papers that discuss climate change without discussing funding? grants?) is supposed to be enough to get rid of the core precept of his argument which is so often true in environmentalism… PVC is proved to be safe. Alternatives are often more expensive, do not work well and may cause unknown risks themselves. Think of all the effort in the area of biofuels as a “green” solution and how it led to massive deforestation and burning of swamps and forests (all those carbon emissions) to increase the land for oil palms because some idiotic environmentalists without thinking (as always) deemed them to be “greener.” Likewise, look at ethanol and then wonder whether it is really better to burn gasoline and oil or corn? especially given how it raised food prices for the poor and also dollar for dollar was probably not as green as the gas used in the first place. So these are many areas where “caring environmental activists” don’t think.
[quote]At the May 2007 “New York Hard Assets Investment Conference,” Moore was a keynote speaker. He told attendees, “Since my entry into the global environmental movement in 1971, mining has contributed significantly to a more sustainable world economy, and key beneficiaries of this progress are mining workers, families and communities,” according to Resource Investor. [6]
Moore said that mining companies in third world countries must deal with “corruption among environmental groups and local governments compounded by yellow journalism. Greenspirit Strategies partnered with Newmont as a leader in mining sustainability to dispel such false reports,” reported Resource Investor. Moore also accused “environmental extremists” of being “anti-human,” “anti-science and technology,” “anti-globalization,” and “anti-civilization.” [7[/quote]
Gosh how outrageous of him to do so!!!
Now, looking over this link, I cannot help but notice that all the wink wink nudge nudge stuff is hardly what you would see if I were to say do a search on Al Gore now is it?
Again, I completely agree with Moore. There are practical ways for development and environmental sustainabililty to go hand-in-hand but NOT when a bunch of whacked out radicals are out to fight ANY progress or development. I think that it is most telling that the aboriginal groups of British Columbia want the radical environmental activists GONE. Now, why would that be do you think?
Final comment: This is becoming a discussion of Patrick Moore. The original discussion was whether communist idiots were moving into environmental activism. This is the key concern for my point. I believe that Patrick Moore’s comments are still relevant. They are. He is quite right to push for a balance between corporations and let’s face it for all the hyper anti-capitalist rants, they still husband resources far better than the alternatives.
AFter all, is it soooo wrong of committed activists like Moore to work with corporations and other organizations to improve the environment? Is this the ultimate sin? that means that his views are NEVER to be accepted?
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