Big Coal CEO's anti-environment screed caught on tape

Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy (NYSE: MEE) the fourth largest coal producer in the United States thinks Gore, Pelosi, Reid and environmentalists are crazy, atheist, communist Greeniacs who lie about climate change and other environmental issues.

Blankenship seems to either be a very confrontational sort of person or to have completely jumped the shark by the looks of this video footage released today by NRDC.

Blankenship's speech is quite disheartening because it shows very clearly the massive divide that continues to exist between environmental groups and people who care about environmental issues and the very companies that we need to convince to do something about these issues.

Below are video excerpts of the speech Blankenship made in West Virginia on November 20, 2008.

"I don't believe climate change is real."

Blankenship: "I don't believe climate change is real, I do believe that the Arctic is melting and the Antarctic is getting colder. I believe it's a normal cycle. This is the first speech I've given at the Tug Valley Institute in November and it's snowing outside. So it's not my greatest concern."

Blankenship's disbelief in the realities of climate change sure doesn't make sense when his company is touting its green credentials in its 2008 corporate social responsibility report by "Recognizing the increased focus on carbon dioxide and climate change, we [Massey] are taking steps to address emissions issues. operations and facilities in the United States and abroad, as well as significant resources allocated to research...." One word for this: marketing bafflegab. Another fitting term would be greenwashing.

Lies and more lies about global warming

Senators Reid and Pelosi and Al Gore are Crazy Greeniacs

Blankenship: "Let me be clear about it Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid they don't know what they're talking about, they're totally wrong. What they do is nonsense... pretty simple, they're all crazy."

"The Greeniacs are taking over the world"

Blankenship: "Why doesn't somebody say something. The greeniacs are taking over the world. In Europe today you have green poverty and they're already going the other way. They've already learned that trying to sequester carbon and shut down the coal power plants is not going to work."

Our opponents are Communists and Atheists

So you tell me: How can we convince a Blankenship that his company has to deal with things like carbon, mercury and nitrogen oxide emissions when he thinks climate change is a lie and people who care about the environment are crazy "Greeniacs"?

Most likely the answer is that we don't even try to convince the likes of Blankenship and instead we focus on convincing our politicians to put in place the environmental protection regulations that will force the necessary measures. Of course, this only leads to the widening of the gap between environmental and business concerns even further and with neither side ever really being satisfied with the terms of the cease fire agreement.

Check out the Wonk Room at ThinkProgress for their take on Blankenship's comments.

Comments

[vnvlthm]

Part III :

Because as many scientists say (see the documentary if you are able too), the see level rising will be local, not global (which make sense). We have to keep our facts straight and never fall into madness or else it will discredit the ecological cause, and that would be disastrous.

Imdb Link to the documentary : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020027/

(sorry for the many parts, I didn't know it was not allowed to be that long before I typed my answer).

[vnvlthm]

Part II :

But the problem is, I think that if the environnementals are being seen as manipulative or misunderstanding the real causes of global warming (which is a fact), then the deception will be enormous (and many analysis seem deceptive). People like Don Blankenship might get their share of that deception, and that would be even more sad. Because it could be a downturn in fighting the ecological disasters from these kind of companies (same for oil companies). It's a fact that fighting a liar with lies it's like fighting obscurantism with another obscurantism. And if we are to save the world or the people, we need the facts straight, especially from environnementalists who are very close to put this so important activism into danger, because we will question it we realize they were wrong, and we need ecology to be bullet proof from doubt and especially lies and manipulations Or else, that would be a victory for oil companies and people like Don Blankenship.

In fact, if Don Blankenship was a little more clever, and oil companies also, they would invest into the apocalyptic idea of global see rise and total destruction, to the point of impossibility, so that when we see it doesn't happen that way, we will begin to doubt and minimize ecology problems (which are far beyond global warming). The more you hear about apocalypse (many movies will talk about that in the future), the more the real happening will be minimize.

[vnvlthm]

Part I :

"It"s very hard to convince a man of something if his job depends on him not believing it." is a sentence from the documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle" and it seems to be the new symbol of people who question Climate Change being man made. An user is refering to that, I didn't see it in the pieces I've listened from the videos.

I guess Don Blankenship is just trying to jump on that wave of critics to the man made global warming, because many of them are really true. Actually, questionning the man made version of Global Warming is extremely important, it's vital to the ecological cause. First because Greeniacs exist (those who say : "We if it's not man made, let's fight CO2 anyway, because we know it's a good cause") but most importantly, because we have to be sure of the solutions we employ, that they are the ones which are going the solve a problem. If we decide of a solution (fighting CO2) which is not linked to Climate Change, then it's even worst. It's like fighting an occupation by attacking another country, it's simply desastrous, because we don't put the ressources in the right places. For us and the third world also. I don't support Don Blankenship in anyway, I'm sure he's on the side of unconsciousness, he must not be caring for Global Waming more than simply saving his finance.

[mouselion]

How can we convince a Blankenship?

Stop buying his coal.

[dctackett]

Trying to convince people like this is a complete waste of time and energy... this is the kind of person that requires behavior modification in the form of the rule of law.

[lilbirdblue]

Mr. Blankenship has used his power for evil instead of trying to do good for us West Virginians. IF you were to dig a little deeper (wouldn't take much effort) I'm sure you would find more than this.....this is just the tip of the iceberg.

I was reading the gazette and stumbled upon this tid bit.....

http://www.wvablue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3787

Thank you for educating the rest of the world about what's going on here in WV!!!!

[KillTheMessenger]

"It"s very hard to convince a man of something if his job depends on him not believing it."

And no, we do not have to convince these companies. All we have to do is to regulate them. We are the people and we have the power to tell them what to do and what not to.

[elizaconnors]

Mr. Blankenship is panicking. The 52 week high for Massey stock was around 95 and it is trading today at 15.

[bluegrasstafarian]

Maybe someone should juxtapose captain america's little speech with rolling footage of Kaeford Mountain, West Virginia right behind him. Then I'm sure there would be more than the "far left of the communist persuasion" and "admitted atheists" expressing some criticism of Massey. One of the greatest crimes against America right now is happening across Appalachia, another on Wall Street and another in Washington. It is the pocket-lining, unconscionable colluding of corporate and political interests in quick profit as one of the most beautiful places in the world along with its proud vibrant heritage is liquidated to natural capital. It is time to awaken. Together.