Who is Koch Industries?
A family dominated corporation controlled by brothers Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch, Koch Industries is one of the largest private corporations in the country but no one knows. Amongst other corporate dealings, the company directly deals in:
* petroleum refining & fuel pipelines
* coal supply and trading
* oil and gas exploration
* fertilizer production
* ranching and forestry products
This out-of-sight corporation is now a partner to ExxonMobil and the API in supporting organizations and front-groups with a mandate to oppose progressive clean energy. They include, but again are certainly not limited to (the Kochs seems to know no limits when it comes to dirty politics):
* The Cato Institute (famous for disputing the science behind global warming and questioning the rationale for taking action)
* The Heritage Foundation (gained polluter street cred by misinterpreting science and policy regarding climate)
* Americans for Prosperity Foundation (known for their “hot air balloon” events that opposed clean energy and climate legislation)
Koch Industries has made itself the leading spender in blocking clean energy and climate policy, topping ExxonMobil’s $9.1 million dollar investment with over $24 million spent on junk science and lobbying in recent years.
What do they do that's so bad?
On top of their $24million direct investment, The Kochs have funneled over $48 million to climate opposition groups from 1997-2008 through their web of front groups and foundations and they DON’T deny it! They pay companies money to produce incorrect information which is then spread throughout the public by their front groups and think tanks. In addition:
* They have a strong record of Environmental Crimes and Violations that have ended in their payment of about $546.7 million in fines and lawsuits.
* They have spent a total of $37.9 million on oil and gas lobbying from January 2006- December 2009.
* Koch Industry has had a hand in a number of cases that have influenced the climate debate. These include:
* Public Relations pushes to keep spew false information about ClimateGate and keep doubt narrative in the public eye; a bogus study declaring Arctic sea ice decline was less severe than recent science has show; Release of a report saying renewable energy will actually cost jobs in economies abroad; Publishing a wind power study on Denmark that contained factual errors and was irrelevant to U.S. policy.
* The company's web is currently fueling a campaign to oppose clean energy and climate legislation by funding organizations to generate misleading information which is provided to astrotuf (fake grassroots) groups who force-feed misinformation to the public.
Polluterwatch is a Greenpeace campaign to expose the connections between the dirty energy industry and our politicians. After witnessing our world leaders fail to avert catastrophic climate change at the UN conference in Copenhagen, it is clear that the stranglehold of the dirty energy industry on our government has prevailed over the well being of humanity.
Polluterwatch aims to eliminate obstacles by exposing the corruption that is preventing the U.S. from taking responsibility for its actions on the world stage as a major polluter and contributor to global warming.
Currently on the lookout for:
Charles G. Koch
David H. Koch
In March, Greenpeace’s Climate Crime Unit searched for the Kochs at a Smithsonian Museum naming ceremony for David Koch in Washington, DC...
*Take a look at Greenpeace’s Polluter Harmony- The #1 matchmaking site for politicians, industry lobbyists and polluters! and Greenpeace’s Polluterwatch website.
Waiting for the media...
“For the past 20 years, for our entire lives, front groups directed by fossil fuel companies like the Koch brothers, have run a systematic campaign to sow doubt where there is no doubt and to promote negligence where our generation requires action. We can’t continue to let corporate polluters like David and Charles Koch use their money to decide our fate. We need clean energy like wind and solar now to ensure a sustainable future. Koch brothers, you do not have the right to remain silent and hidden behind your money anymore, you have been corrupting science and the policy process for far too long.”
Emma being interviewed by News 14