<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Nearly $200 million spent on energy ads since Obama’s inauguration]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by sindark http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:39:15 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/1 For a number of reasons, the American political system is a very expensive entity (among them, the continuing opinion of courts that spending money is a form of free speech). In some ways, the $200M figure represents just how active and important the dialogue is, though I agree that it is somewhat offputting given the urgent need to invest in low-carbon technologies.

Some of the corporate greenwashing has certainly been absurd. For instance, this Lockheed ad.

]]> For a number of reasons, the American political system is a very expensive entity (among them, the continuing opinion of courts that spending money is a form of free speech). In some ways, the $200M figure represents just how active and important the dialogue is, though I agree that it is somewhat offputting given the urgent need to invest in low-carbon technologies.

Some of the corporate greenwashing has certainly been absurd. For instance, this Lockheed ad.

]]> Comment #2 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:05:21 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/2 Actually, it's in the interest of the megalith businesses to increase the barriers to entry to small and midcap businesses with such artificialities as "Global Warming".

 

Because the big guys can afford to pay for "environmentalism" and the little guys can't...environmentalism, like expensive health care, restricts people from starting and running their own businesses instead of folding into the big corporations.

 

]]> Actually, it's in the interest of the megalith businesses to increase the barriers to entry to small and midcap businesses with such artificialities as "Global Warming".

 

Because the big guys can afford to pay for "environmentalism" and the little guys can't...environmentalism, like expensive health care, restricts people from starting and running their own businesses instead of folding into the big corporations.

 

]]> Comment #3 by erinrichie http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:37:54 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/3 i wonder if that money could have been spent better?????

]]> i wonder if that money could have been spent better?????

]]> Comment #4 by Scott G http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:59:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/4 Wow. This is nuts. I still can't get my head around: "most TV ad spending was directed toward energy and the environment..." Most! The quality/sincerity/agenda of these ads are up for discussion, but just the fact these issues are on the table-- in the mainstream-- is amazing to me. Would we have seen this 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Say what you want about these ads, but damn we're living in some interesting times.

The way public conciousness of ecological issues has ramped up is fascinating, I think.

 

]]> Wow. This is nuts. I still can't get my head around: "most TV ad spending was directed toward energy and the environment..." Most! The quality/sincerity/agenda of these ads are up for discussion, but just the fact these issues are on the table-- in the mainstream-- is amazing to me. Would we have seen this 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Say what you want about these ads, but damn we're living in some interesting times.

The way public conciousness of ecological issues has ramped up is fascinating, I think.

 

]]> Comment #5 by Scott G http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:04:25 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/5 And I wonder what that spending figure would be if print ads were factored in. I remember counting something like 11 sustainability-themed spreads in a recent New Yorker. It's getting to the point where I could wallpaper my apartment with tear-outs of renewable energy ads.

]]> And I wonder what that spending figure would be if print ads were factored in. I remember counting something like 11 sustainability-themed spreads in a recent New Yorker. It's getting to the point where I could wallpaper my apartment with tear-outs of renewable energy ads.

]]> Comment #6 by Bill Harris http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:26:34 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/6 Anders: I’m hoping to get a breakdown on who did the spending from CMAG. Unfortunately, the author is traveling this week. It’s safe to assume that the gas & oil breakout is entirely API/oil company advertising. The “good guys” are helping shift the political climate but they’re also working for massive subsidies to support their interests — on top of the benefits they would rightly gain from being leaders in a clean energy economy.

http://www.Start-an-Internet-business.net

]]> Anders: I’m hoping to get a breakdown on who did the spending from CMAG. Unfortunately, the author is traveling this week. It’s safe to assume that the gas & oil breakout is entirely API/oil company advertising. The “good guys” are helping shift the political climate but they’re also working for massive subsidies to support their interests — on top of the benefits they would rightly gain from being leaders in a clean energy economy.

http://www.Start-an-Internet-business.net

]]> Comment #7 by brookehughs http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/ Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:59:14 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-20-industry-groups-energy-ads/7 Talk is cheap. so to speak. Action is much better then words. That money could have made real wonders in R&D into new energy resources. But the deed has been done and what has been gained from it nothing. what a waste

]]> Talk is cheap. so to speak. Action is much better then words. That money could have made real wonders in R&D into new energy resources. But the deed has been done and what has been gained from it nothing. what a waste

]]>