Gene Randall, Ex-Reporter, Hired By Chevron To Counter "60 Minutes" Report On Pollution

New York Times:

What did Chevron do when it learned that "60 Minutes" was preparing a potentially damaging report about oil company contamination of the Amazon rain forest in Ecuador? It hired a former journalist to produce a mirror image of the report, from the corporation's point of view.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[digeridoo]

60 minutes doesn't lie. Oil companies do. Nothing they say can possibly defend what they've done...guilty, guilty guilty.

[ankae]

60 mins chose not to interview PetroEcuador - the joint venture partner that operated the local site with Texaco. As I recall, PetroEcuador owned 60% of the company. As a result, I think the law suit cannot be targeted at one partner without the other holding some sort of liability.

Texaco had already paid 40 million dollars to the government for clean up (whether it was properly done is another story) - but the government of Ecuador had signed off on that cleanup.

I also find it fascinating that PetroEcuador is still allowed to continue to operate in Ecuador even though they were part of that terrible issue with Texaco. Why is that? Why is the government not making them jointly liable for their part of the cleanup?

I think there is more to this story - - not sure I am ready to fully condemn Chevron yet....but then again, they wanted the case moved to Ecuador - so be careful what you wish for....

[digeridoo]

Maybe because 60 minutes understands that this was the exploitation by a US multinational (Chevron) of an indegineous company (PetroEcuador) which benefits the peoples of that country. They were swindled into it by Chevron... America is usually to blame in these things and 60 Minutes knows that...

[bigbluenat4]

Yeah sure, never mind the real problems, just obfuscate and lie. This "journalist" should be held to some honesty standards.

[loki]

its a what Aliens found when the probed a republican.

[huntunseasun]

And people are more afraid of "government" than private capitalism? Capitalism is out of control, folks, and many of the strings tied to governing bodies through lobbiests. Again; and people think pure capitalism is the way to go? Marketing enchants the herd and the herd gobbles whatever shiney new thing is placed in the trough. Disgusting, I find it to be.

[rf-hawaii]

Government is supposed to regulate capitalism.

[toadicux]

Don't they know their supposed to only scream Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide!!!

[steelmill]

It isn't the first time a journalist sold out

[anachoret]

Sounds like 60 Minutes has a tailor made follow-up story going through the advocacy piece and doing a veracity check.

[rf-hawaii]

Hope so.

[Paul]

At least the Chevron report will be free of any pretense of objectivity.

I guess "journalists" should be allowed to sell out just like everyone else now that the newspapers are folding.

[Martampa]

If you pay someone enough money you can get them them to say anything. I saw the 60 minutes report and believe every word of it. Corporations will destroy anything in the name of profit.

[LeLoup]

Exactly! People forget that corporations say that to everyone:"Our first and foremost obligation is to our shareholders".

That is, after CEOs and top executives raid the profits so bad that shareholders are left with much less than 30 years ago, but I digress.

For those who think I'm making the last point up, have a look here:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/learn-how-to-invest/how-ceos-steal-from-your-401k.aspx

Warning: Make sure you took your blood pressure meds before reading.

[LeeCalif]

60 Minutes has a tried and true audience.

[rf-hawaii]

Ah yes. The American people.

[typicalpol]

Oh just like the pharma companies do to protect their liabilities

isnt a shame doctors will sell out like that and other doctors and journals like JAMA and AAP fall right in line?

[protagonia]

Very true.