Despite near-unanimous global scientific and governmental consensus that global warming is accelerating due to human activity, debating this fact is still a favorite political pastime in the United States. Governments around the world acknowledge the science that connects industrialization, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and their detrimental impact on the climate, and are currently acting upon solutions. Yet the US, one of the largest greenhouse gas … Read More
MEDIA ROOTS – The global petroleum industry has long been the antagonist for environmental and animal-rights advocates. But more recently, “Big Oil” has emerged as a literal threat to democracy for its vast political influence and ability to contrive wars for profit. A report released last month by the National Wildlife Federation exposed to what extent the oil industry, along with … Read More
MEDIA ROOTS– To all those who mocked the anti-war community’s “no blood for oil” mantra, turns out BP has zeroed in on controlling a huge piece of Iraq’s oil pie. Instead of being punished for irreversibly polluting the earth’s oceans, BP’s criminality continues to be rewarded with even more government contracts. In addition to the $2 billion in annual US … Read More
AL JAZEERA– The rapid rise in prices for food, fuel and commodities has been disastrous for the world’s poor, including Indonesian market vendor Lia Romi. But it’s a bonanza for multinational trading firms such as Glencore. While Romi has trouble feeding her family, Glencore – the world’s largest diversified commodities trader – is planning a US$11billion share sale, likely the … Read More
GUARDIAN– Environmentalists reacted angrily after BP predicted it would be back drilling in the Gulf of Mexico within months despite facing billions in financial penalties over the Deepwater Horizon disaster – and despite balls of tar still washing up on beaches. The oil giant’s finance director, Byron Grote, told City analysts: “We expect to be back and actively drilling during … Read More
