Environmental hate groups take swing at Gnats
When the Washington Nationals’ season opened in March, the team unveiled a stadium any environmentalist could love — the country’s first certified green major professional sports stadium, with energy-conserving lights and water-conserving plumbing.Environmental hate speech toward energy companies is not new, but it is still something that should be criticized. You don't see the Sierra Club buying advertising to support a new stadium, but you can see these hate groups try to piggy back on the ads by being critical of one of the best companies in the world. These hypocrites are like the PETA punks demonstrating in their leather sole shoes. They could not even get to the park without companies like Exxon providing fuel.Now, the team is the focus of protests from environmentalists who say their issue is not with the stadium, but with the Nationals’ advertising relationship with the oil giant ExxonMobil.
The company’s logo appears prominently on the left-field wall and is frequently featured on the stadium’s scoreboard.
Despite the stadium’s recognition for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the U.S. Green Building Council, ExxonMobil’s involvement has erased any good will, say the leaders of Strike Out Exxon, a combination of environmental, civic and religious groups.
The groups want the Nationals to end their advertising arrangement with the company.
ExxonMobil’s involvement in the park “burnishes the image of the worst environmental company on the planet,” said a leader of Strike Out Exxon, Mike Tidwell, who is also director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
“The more environmental the Nationals make that park seem, the stronger the payday for Exxon,” Mr. Tidwell said. “It’s an amazing perversion.”
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It is time to fight back against the holier than thou environmental wackos. The Washington Gnats need to stand up to this extortion by environmentalist.
These guys would be much more effective if they would work toward greater efficiency rather than trying to demonize companies who provide services that people want and need.
But don't we need to make sure that Exxon isn't getting a free ride here with the inflated environmentalist image they are buying at the park? Their powerful lobbying efforts secure billions in tax breaks and incentives, keeping the market artificially tilted toward oil consumption and the pollution entailed. And this role in perpetuating the status quo consumption of oil makes them responsible in part for the fiasco of global warming. Allowing them to get away with the sort of green-washing they pursue at the park helps them get off the hook.
ReplyDeleteAlso, hate speech? Really? I always thought it wasn't hate speech unless it was intended "to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action." The campaign against Exxon is primarily a campaign to educate the public about Exxon's actions with the goal of pressuring them to act as responsible stewards of the environment we all depend upon.