It is risky to deny climate change

To the Editor:
Manufactured confusion about climate change is endangering life on Earth. Climate denial is a risky game of deception with high stakes – preying on people’s fears and creating societal division and inaction on climate.
Recently, it was revealed that ExxonMobil knew about devastating effects of fossil fuels on global warming as far back as 1981, but that they embarked on a deliberate campaign to deceive the public that continues today.
Between 2003 and 2010, 140 foundations had funneled $558 million to climate denial organizations. The climate change counter movement has had a real political impact on the failure to act on global warming.
The documentary “Merchants of Doubt” exposes the concerted strategy to create doubt about the facts of climate change through the use of pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at how the fossil fuel industry has been so successful in blocking government action on climate.
Just last month more than a dozen state attorneys general gathered in New York and pledged to collaboratively investigate whether fossil fuel companies such as ExxonMobil have misled shareholders and the public about what they knew — and when — about the risks of climate change.
It is similar to action taken decades ago when the tobacco industry, which despite growing health warnings long denied the harmful nature of its products. It eventually took the combined efforts of state attorneys general who led the way in forcing the industry to acknowledge it had known of the potential dangers all along.
Join the Franciscan Peace Center for a free screening of “Merchants of Doubt” at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 28. The event will take place at The Canticle – home of the Sisters of St. Francis – 841 Thirteenth Ave. N. in Clinton. For more information visit www.ClintonFranciscans.com or call (563) 242-7611.

Laura Anderson,
Director of Marketing
Franciscan Peace Center, Clinton