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Solving the Earth's Climate Problems - An Interview with Bill McKibben
Oilprice.com ^ | 09/10/2012 | James Stafford

Posted on 09/10/2012 7:01:44 PM PDT by bananaman22

Record droughts, a melting Arctic and changing worldwide weather patterns - are these the early signs of an environment on the verge of collapse? To look at these issues and more we had a chance to speak with the well known environmentalist Bill McKibben.

Bill is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 189 countries since 2009. He is the author of a dozen books about the environment, beginning with The End of Nature in 1989, which is regarded as the first book for a general audience on climate change. Bill is a frequent contributor to various magazines including The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Orion Magazine & Huffington Post.

In the interview, Bill discusses:

• Why the West should fund the development of renewable energy in India and China. • How we can help solve the Earth’s climate problems. • Why Obama needs to step up his game. • Big oil’s success at keeping climate change out of the headlines. • Why he fears Keystone XL will shortly be pushed through. • Why we have to massively deploy clean energy technology Now! • His views on the Canadian oil sands. • The economic impact of a massive transition to renewables.

Interview by. James Stafford of Oilprice.com

Oilprice.com: You have said that climate change is the biggest threat humanity has ever faced. Why do you think so little action is being taken to prevent it?

Bill McKibben: I think that so far the political and economic power of the fossil fuel industry has trumped all else.

Oilprice.com: In your opinion what strategy holds the best chance of solving our climate change problems?

Bill McKibben: Well, i think we need to go straight at the fossil fuel industry. this fall 350.org launches a divestment campaign on college campuses--we're calling it 'do the math,' based on an article i wrote for rolling stone this summer that went wickedly viral. i'm not certain it will work, but i know that these are the guys (not the politicians) calling the shots, so we need to reach them.

Oilprice.com: What is your message to the oil company’s? They obviously make incredible profits from their business – how are you looking to persuade them to cut back on production? Also the oil companies are controlled by shareholders – most of these pension funds, etc… Surely you also need to approach the shareholders?

Bill McKibben: I don't think the fossil fuel industry will listen, not until we build up a lot of pressure. I do think we can persuade some shareholders that they don't want to be involved in this enterprise.

Oilprice.com: Would you be able to share any of the arguments you will use?

Full Interview at: Solving the Earth's Climate Problems - An Interview with Bill McKibben


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: billmckibben; climate; climatechange; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; oilcompanies; renewableenergy

1 posted on 09/10/2012 7:01:52 PM PDT by bananaman22
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To: All
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2 posted on 09/10/2012 7:07:07 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: bananaman22

And that dratted Sun - can’t we do something about it as well??? And those big earthquakes that throw the earth’s axis off - certainly Man can right us back into proper position so the direct rays will shine elsewhere — darn you rotten oil companies!

Frankly, I am praying for even more global warming, living in Michigan. (btw - Mich. had a mild winter last season, and Europe had one of its coldest...things that make you go hmmmm)


3 posted on 09/10/2012 7:12:39 PM PDT by Sioux-san
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To: bananaman22
I just read that an "ancient" eskimo village has been uncovered due to the melting ice cap. I guess "ancient" eskimos used to live under the ice cap. We learn something new everyday.

sarc/

4 posted on 09/10/2012 7:16:12 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Diversity and political correctness. The real reason 09-11-01 happened.)
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To: bananaman22
Always wise to know your enemy: Bill McKibben is a fiction writer who has no scientific background, and scribbles alarmist pieces for rags like the New Yorker and Grist.

McKibben is the late American equivalent of that vile, stinking european insect known as a "public intellectual"--ie, a politically favored imbecile who thrives, like the court jester of a medieval king, under protection of the ruling class.

5 posted on 09/10/2012 7:24:44 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: bananaman22
In related but unreported news, it now has been 2513 days since the last major (Category 3 or higher) hurricane has made landfall in the US. This shatters the old record of 2231 days set 19 Oct 1906.

Of course, this record calm period is due to Global Warming, and it's all Bush's fault.

6 posted on 09/10/2012 7:27:32 PM PDT by sima_yi ( Reporting live from the far North)
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To: bananaman22
CLIMATE CHANGE FRAUD: Global temperatures have been declining for 2000 years when you don't use the fraudulent data used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The Tree Ring Data Scandal

New tree ring study shows 2000 years of cooling

Extreme weather is an integral part of the Earth’s climate

7 posted on 09/10/2012 7:35:24 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: bananaman22; 11B40; A Balrog of Morgoth; A message; ACelt; Aeronaut; AFPhys; AlexW; ...
DOOMAGE!

Global Warming PING!

You have been pinged because of your interest in environmentalism, alarmist wackos, mainstream media doomsday hype, and other issues pertaining to global warming.

Freep-mail me to get on or off: Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to all note-worthy threads on global warming.

Global Warming on Free Republic

Latest from Global Warming News

Latest from Real Climate

Latest from Climate Depot

Latest from Greenie Watch

Latest from Junk Science

Latest from Terra Daily

8 posted on 09/10/2012 7:53:48 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Obama should change his campaign slogan to "Yes, we am!" Sounds as stupid as his administration is.)
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To: patriot08

Funny how this all comes back to money. Taking from those who produce and give it to those who do not.


9 posted on 09/10/2012 8:07:15 PM PDT by Patrick1 (" Let's all pray Kim Kardashian's divorce won't have an impact on her craft.")
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To: bananaman22
Why Obama needs to step up his game

These people are dumb. They are supposed to wait until after the election to announce that.

10 posted on 09/11/2012 3:01:02 AM PDT by palmer (Jim, please bill me 50 cents for this completely useless post)
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To: bananaman22
Wait, wait...let me see if I understand...

He wants to convince investors, colleges and fund-managers to divest from oil companies. < which would lower the stock prices >

He wants the oil companies to produce less..< which will drive up energy costs and make alternatives more attractive, but will also make oil much more profitable >

IF he had even the smallest clue about economics,...about supply & demand, cause & effect...if this had even the slightest chance of happening, it would be a good investment opportunity. < which is precisely why it can't work. >

Even if they force us to do it in the developed countries < with the rule of law and the force of arms > they could never control everyone, everywhere.

11 posted on 09/11/2012 5:06:20 AM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Aim small, miss small.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Rurudyne; steelyourfaith; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; xcamel; AdmSmith; ...

Thanks bananaman22.
12 posted on 09/11/2012 4:32:35 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv; bananaman22

OK time to visit Anthony Watts....website.


13 posted on 09/11/2012 5:57:51 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ((The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?))
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