Big Oil’s Disinformation Campaign.

[xcel]

ExxonMobil - Same story, different day …

Richard Martin - New West/Boulder - Jan. 5, 2006

When it comes to global climate change, there are oil companies that have been relatively upfront with the public -- BP and Shell come to mind. Then there's ExxonMobil.

The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report this week saying that over the last eight years the energy giant has provided an array of ideological groups with a total of $16 million to fund efforts to "mislead the public" by discrediting the science behind global warming. The UCS assertion echoes similar claims by Britain's Royal Society, which actually contacted ExxonMobil directly, according to USA Today, to ask it to halt support for groups that "misrepresented the science of climate change."

Responding predictably, ExxonMobil called the UCS report "yet another attempt to smear our name and confuse the discussion of the serious issue of CO2 emissions and global climate change." This raises a question: If the predictions of widespread economic upheaval due to the greenhouse effect come true, will ExxonMobil find itself liable, a la Big Tobacco, for billions of dollars for its "tobacco-like disinformation campaign" (as the Union calls it) to distort and suppress scientific findings on the subject?

Thanks go to DiamondLarry for this find!

[AshenGrey]

Yes, but you must remember that Red State folk don't trust any of this newfangled "science".And since global warming isn't mentioned in the King James Bible, the Red State people won't be convinced until Florida is under water.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

Yes, but you must remember that Red State folk don't trust any of this newfangled "science".And since global warming isn't mentioned in the King James Bible, the Red State people won't be convinced until Florida is under water.

This is true but being Blue in a Red State, thankfully I have some new elected representatives that are going to try to promote education and may break a cycle or two of discrediting Science. There will always be fools who discredit reason, tho. But...

Even in the Red-States, we aren't helpless. Solution: Boycott ExxonMobil and its products (including Mobil 1 oil -- tough change for me, but over a year streak thus far ). For the greater good, it may be worth driving further to a competitor to fuel-up.

RH77

[xcel]

Hi RH77:

___This is business as usual for an oil corporation making the Billions that they do although the “Inconvenient Truth” has gotten out so to speak

___ Also, I love that TSX w/ the 2.2 iCDTi avatar

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[RH77]

Originally Posted by xcel

Hi RH77:

___This is business as usual for an oil corporation making the Billions that they do although the “Inconvenient Truth” has gotten out so to speak

___ Also, I love that TSX w/ the 2.2 iCDTi avatar

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks! I saw it and had to have it -- the avatar needing freshening. Since they're already making TSXs (Euro Accords) with the iCDTi engine, why not just ship a few over with the Acura badge?

Before we got the TSX, I seriously toyed with the idea of importing an Acura CSX from Canada -- smaller, and hopefully more efficient:



...(basically the Civic with cool stuff), but the red-tape was horrendous. It exceeded the requirements for emissions but the rest was not easy.

Cross your fingers for Honda Diesels stateside...

RH77

[xcel]

Hi RH77:

___A bit OT but

Originally Posted by RH77

Before we got the TSX, I seriously toyed with the idea of importing an Acura CSX from Canada -- smaller, and hopefully more efficient.

(basically the Civic with cool stuff), but the red-tape was horrendous. It exceeded the requirements for emissions but the rest was not easy.

Cross your fingers for Honda Diesels stateside...

RH77

___I loved the Acura CSX myself although I wish they would have used the R18 instead of the hopped up 2.0 in the new one. I actually wanted the TSX to use the latest Gen R18 in fact! I was thinking about bringing in a Canadian MDX in as well given it was $7,000 + less then the US version for the exact same car other then the gauge cluster 3 years ago but the red tape and loss of US warranty made the transaction impossible for me as well. NAFTA works for the auto manufacturers to build products outside the US and ship them in but the average citizen gets the shaft when it comes to NAFTA helping the average Joe

___And I bet the next gen Acura TSX receives the iCDTi vs. the Civic just to add more differentiation w/ another $10K + added to the price of the package. Unfortunately, Honda is going to nail whoever purchases them first simply because that is Honda’s MO 2 years of Ody, MDX and HCH-II price markups and who knows what they will do on the next go around with the release of the iCDTi in whatever here in the states? With GM and Toyota running PHEV’s by that time, maybe Honda won’t have the pricing power they have had in the past on new models that turned hot and supply was severely curtailed to keep them hot? It will be interesting but like you, I would have loved to own that iCDTi in an Accord, Civic or TSX these past 2 years because the numbers that would come from it just scream a huge lmpg for a compact/mid-sized sedan for a mostly highway driver in particular.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[Pravus Prime]

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

Yes, but you must remember that Red State folk don't trust any of this newfangled "science".And since global warming isn't mentioned in the King James Bible, the Red State people won't be convinced until Florida is under water.

LOL! I had a good laugh at that comment. My grandparents don't belive that we will ever run out of oil, experience any effects of Global warming, that all the worlds ice could melt and make no difference, and that dinosaurs don't exist. They do believe that the bible was written in english originally though.

However, they do believe in hybrid technology now.

Anyway, the point is that change never happens overnight. Or at least usually. Though if it happens in time is another question/problem.

[Delta Flyer]

I might have a chance in a week to hear Bono at a church next week - might go see him. I have a pretty good idea of his views of Global Warming.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by xcel

___I loved the Acura CSX myself although I wish they would have used the R18 instead of the hopped up 2.0 in the new one. I actually wanted the TSX to use the latest Gen R18 in fact!

Same here. When we vacationed in Calgary last year and saw CSXs and "EL"s all over the place, it turned out we really liked the idea of a luxo-Civic. But yes, the 2-liter ended up in there. I looked into the 1.6EL from around '97, but used cars were tougher to import and service. Again, I agree that the TSX needs the 1.8 as the base engine, with the K20 as an option -- but I guess we're lucky they didn't shove a V-6 in there (the whole Acura mentality of teaming a full-feature package with a minimum of options would be countered). With 0-60 in the low 7-second range, top efficiency isn't easy. With the colder weather, the 30+ FE average is slipping.

Originally Posted by xcel

___And I bet the next gen Acura TSX receives the iCDTi vs. the Civic just to add more differentiation w/ another $10K + added to the price of the package. Unfortunately, Honda is going to nail whoever purchases them first simply because that is Honda’s MO 2 years of Ody, MDX and HCH-II price markups and who knows what they will do on the next go around with the release of the iCDTi in whatever here in the states? With GM and Toyota running PHEV’s by that time, maybe Honda won’t have the pricing power they have had in the past on new models that turned hot and supply was severely curtailed to keep them hot? It will be interesting but like you, I would have loved to own that iCDTi in an Accord, Civic or TSX these past 2 years because the numbers that would come from it just scream a huge lmpg for a compact/mid-sized sedan for a mostly highway driver in particular.

If they do offer a Diesel in the TSX, I would seriously consider a trade for the lower emissions and huge FE potential. The TSX holds its value extremely well, and the premium would be worth it -- in fact, it may not be too costly of a change-up at all. But on the downside for masses of Honda customers, it really should debut in the Accord or the idea of owning a Diesel vehicle would probably stay on "boutique" status or for the die-hards only. With their best selling model, like the Camry and its hybrid offering, a very different powerplant in the Accord may get a larger following with the trust of the overall model. With more people onboard with the idea of the D, popularity should increase demand. There are so many people I speak with that wouldn't even consider a new Diesel. A campaign of educating consumers (even if it trickles-down from a growing list of owners) would have to be launched. The old, false myths still linger -- folks just don't know about the 2007 Diesel Emissions Rules.

The 2009 MY can't come soon enough -- I'm anxious, though.

RH77