Things Looking Good for ExxonMobil, Russia
Those who object to strident, bold and straightforward language are very likely not to groove on this piece from Dr. Joe Romm, Founding Editor of Climate Progress (“the indispensable blog,” as NY Times columnist Tom Friedman describes it). It’s called “Trump, Putin, and ExxonMobil Team Up To Destroy the Planet,” and the title pretty much says everything that needs to be said about the piece itself.
We’re all well aware that our new Secretary of State, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil Rex Tillerson, is getting closer every day to cutting a deal with Russia to open up huge amounts of their land to oil exploration, and that this can only happen if the U.S. lifts the sanctions it put on Russia after its invasion of the Ukraine. As Secretary of State, this will hardly pose a problem.
It appears that everything is falling into line for the world’s largest private sector oil company to expand its operations and profits by several times in very short order—of course, at the expense of every man, woman and child living on the planet.
Craig,
Joe Romm is certainly entitled to his opinion, and he quite rightly points out obvious controversy that must be encountered when considering the appointment of Rex Tillerson.
Rex Tillerson may have many admirable qualities, but it would be difficult to find a candidate more likely to cause fear and alarm among green advocates. His appointment will be very provocative.
On the other hand, Joe Romm’s reasoning also lacks logic.
The US did not impose sanction on the Russian oil and gas industry for environmental reasons, but in protest at Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine.
Had Russia comply with the UN conditions, President Obama would have been forced to withdraw sanctions, so the environmental issue is really irrelevant.
It’s all too easy for green advocates to imagine by just hating Exxon and the oil industry, (while continuing to use oil products) is actually doing anything practical to assist the environment.
Unless these advocates can produce and support practical replacement technologies, it all becomes just empty rhetoric.
Ranting against oil companies, and oil products is the easy bit, actually doing something practical, requires hard work.
I don’t think anyone’s asserting that the sanctions were put in place for environmental reasons.