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Tagged ‘Fossil Fuel Divestment‘

Privatized Progressives: A Green Country Club

A Culture of Imbeciles

September 9, 2014

liar

 

Wall Street’s capture of the environmental movement via foundations and dependent NGOs has been so absolute and all-encompassing, that consumers of “green economics” don’t even think about it. It’s as though corporate-sponsored green illusions — like fossil fuel divestment — are divinely inspired truths, rather than clever marketing ploys, thought up by Mad Men to keep progressives focused on capitalist-created shell games.

As Cory Morningstar illustrates in her article A Glimpse of Truth in a Sea of Liars, these shell games have lethal consequences, especially for the Third and Fourth World. While privileged Whites in Europe and the US eagerly endorse the new, supposedly green economy, Blacks in Africa suffer horribly as a result.

In the Never-Never Land of First World progressives, however, real-life consequences of their gluttonous consumerism — from cell phones to air mile rewards to electric cars — is merely what Morningstar calls, “unfortunate collateral damage for the things we deserve and must have.” With CO2 rising exponentially from First World consumption, these consequences will soon come home to roost; when they do, privatized progressives will have only themselves to blame.

Queen of Con | Comrade Klein: Queen Klein

Public Good Project

August 22, 2014

by Jay Taber

RAN Klein

Above: REVEL 2011 Awardee Naomi Klein with Michael Kieschnick. Michael Kieschnick is a founder  (1 of 3 individuals)  and president of Credo Mobile. Prior to co-founding Working Assets, he served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as an economic advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown of California (1980–1982), and helped create several “socially responsible” investment funds. [Image: Rainforest Action Network via Flickr. Rainforest Action Network’s ultra white and ultra elite,  annual benefit REVEL event : “It was a gorgeous affair.”] Both Klein and 350.org counterpart Tom Kruse (Rockefeller Brothers Fund) are utilized to promote the illusion that “philanthropy is an engine that drives activism” when in truth, philanthropy is an engine that protects capital interests. Kieschnick (“eco” capitalist extraordinaire) and  Bill McKibben (Klein’s counterpart: 350.org/1Sky),  go back to at least 2007 during the days of Step It Up.

 

If Naomi Klein’s colossal con sets the standard for mesmerizing the infantile, then we might want to investigate how stating the obvious makes one a celebrity. When we examine Klein’s claim to fame, what is it that makes her such an iconic cult figure? Did she uncover some deep, dark secret? Reveal some sinister conspiracy? Unveil some magical alchemy?

The threat of climate change has been documented for over a decade; the causes are well-known. Any school child knows fossil fuel consumerism is the culprit, and that capitalism is the driving force.

So what new insight did Naomi Klein bring to the discussion? That ecological and social collapse means This Changes Everything? How trite can you get?

Nevertheless, as the queen of climate change, Comrade Klein has considerable influence, helped immensely by the capitalists sponsoring her royal float (350.org) in the upcoming parade of imbeciles. Her innate ability to mesmerize the infantile is undoubtedly her biggest asset, certainly a reason for Wall Street’s support for her charlatan charade.

Deceiving the despondent by celebrating silliness (i.e. fossil fuel divestment) is but one of Queen Klein’s devious skills; manipulating the credulous into marching behind her logo of false hope is the envy of Mad Men everywhere. At this rate, her brand recognition is right up there with the king of con, Barack Obama–master of Hope and Change!

 

[As an associate scholar of the Center for World Indigenous Studies and a contributing editor of Fourth World Journal, Jay Taber has assisted indigenous peoples seeking justice in such bodies as the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations. Since 1994, he has served as the administrative director of Public Good Project.l

 

Wasted Energy: Fossil Fuel Divestment

nyu-divest

Intercontinental Cry

June 16, 2013

By Jay Taber

In my comment on the campus fossil fuel divestment campaign, I noted that divestment won’t change a thing environmentally. It will only change ownership of some shares from public institutions to private ones–like the banks we bailed out with our tax dollars. Given the money to be made on the booming fossil fuel industry, I’m sure the banks will be delighted to acquire these shares, and in turn leave the public with no voice at future shareholder meetings.