The author of The World is Flat, which many of you read last summer, was making remarks that responding to climate change will make America "stronger, more innovative, [and] more energy secure." He was greeted by protesters and a shamrock-colored whipped cream pie.
The Providence Journal (by way of Huffington Post.com reports):
Not everyone agrees with Friedman's vision that innovation is the path to climate and energy salvation. Just seconds into his speech, he was interrupted by two environmental activists, who stormed the stage shortly after Friedman stepped up to the microphone, tossing two paper plates loaded with shamrock-colored whipped cream at him.
Friedman ducked, and was left with only minor streams of the sugary green goo on his black pants and turtleneck.
He stood in bewilderment and mild disgust as the young man and woman bolted from the stage and out the side door, throwing a handful of fliers into the air to relay the message they apparently were not going to deliver personally.
"Thomas Friedman deserves a pie in the face...," the flier said, "because of his sickeningly cheery applaud for free market capitalism's conquest of the planet, for telling the world that the free market and techno fixes can save us from climate change. From carbon trading to biofuels, these distractions are dangerous in and of themselves, while encouraging inaction with respect to the true problems at hand..."
Here's story of Friedman pied:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/24/thomas-friedman-pie-in-th_n_98367.html
And as long-time Cubs announcer Jack Brickhouse used to say, "Watch it, now!" here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/24/thomas-friedman-pie-in-th_n_98367.html
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So that you don't get pied in the face by the AP Government tests on May 5, remember we begin in-class reviews on Monday (US: Foundations; Comp: GB). We will have after-school reviews on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (before school). Practice tests (5 pts. ec for each) will be given Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. and Friday after school.
4 comments:
The Press Release from the those responsible for the pie throwing reads:
Greenwash Guerrillas Pie Thomas Friedman on Earth Day ...and challenge him to a debate duel!
Providence, RI – April 23, 2008 – On Earth Day, we pied Thomas Friedman at the start of his keynote speech: "Green is the New Red White and Blue."
The goal was not simply to disrupt his talk and stain his ego, but to disrupt and expose all that he stands for and the university's corporate greenwashing of its image. In the spirit of true debate and free speech: We hereby challenge Thomas Friedman and all other green capitalists to a duel. This duel is about the debate over the future of life on this planet, and the ways in which corporate powers have hijacked this debate to make it the realm of "experts", policymakers, and consumers buying an array of "green" products. In exposing what Friedman supports, we open this debate to the public by questioning certain key elements. Carbon Trading and Carbon Markets, enshrined in the Kyoto Protocol and the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007, is the foundation behind green capitalism. In privatizing the atmosphere, the earth's carbon cycling capacity is handed over as property to the same corporate criminals that caused the problem.
"Biofuels," the much-touted alternative to oil, not only increase petroleum dependence, but are themselves a global humanitarian and environmental disaster in the making. Biofuels come at the expense of land for food, and from Indonesia to Columbia, traditional populations are being forced off their land for destructive plantations that are dependent on toxic chemicals, biotech seeds, and large petroleum-burning machinery. The list of false solutions goes on, while the planetary clock is ticking. If there are to be truly real solutions to the many problems we face, it will come out of transformative social movements and not corporate boardrooms. For these reasons, we challenge Thomas Friedman and all other green capitalists to a duel, in which we will continue to expose their shams while pointing towards the social movements that are already creating solutions and transforming society towards a liveable, healthy, and non-corporate future.
For information:
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org/wordpress/category/false-solutions-campaign/ Contact: greenwashguerrillas@gmail.com # # #
I don't think capitalism is necessarily the enemy of environmentalists; in fact, as technology for plug-in cars, ultra-capacitators, and solar panels improves, I believe green technology will naturally become the more economical option. The problem is not capitalism, but the system of favors (subsidies, tax breaks, etc.) between oil companies and governments that perpetuates the prosperity and prevalence of oil. Capitalism helps drive innovation and the development of the most efficient and cost-effective products and methods. What the students said about biofuels is correct, but I feel their hostility is misguided: despite their publicity, biofuels do not significantly reduce carbon emissions, nor will they be particularly low-cost, as they require space that could otherwise be used for growing food, providing housing for a growing world population, or maintaining natural ecosystems. Intelligent corporations will look elsewhere - perhaps partner with electric companies to develop solar technology. Intelligent politicians and public figures will encourage them to do so.
I, too, wish it was not necessary to "privatize the atmosphere," but this is the language of the international community these days.
Sorry for the long post; this subject happens to be my soapbox area of expertise.
Woooooooooowwwwww. Now, let's see, what has been the driving force behind all technological innovation in this country? Business. You cannot expect technological advances unless you have a monopolistically competitive economy, with many firms producing differentiated products. Apparently, these guys have no sense of progress. If we're using toxic chemicals to make PV cells and biofuels, for example, its because we haven't figured out a cheaper, more enviornmentally-friendly alternative. The "green capitalists" are only now figuring out what works and what doesn't. Green tech is a new science, and the environmental groups are only making it worse with stunts like this. Sounds like another attempt to put communism in place. I guess green is the new red, too.
I had no idea what carbon trading was, so I looked it up (carbontrading.com). If it were somehow required that all business participate in the carbon trading market, because of the ridiculously high demand and low supply of carbon credits the price would sore and only the most prosperous businesses would be able to afford them. Being able to buy their way out would not encourage them to reduce emissions significantly, although it might encourage them to reduce emissions slightly. The people who would have the greatest incentive to reduce emissions would be the less prosperous businesses (because they would not be able to afford carbon credits). Unfortunately, the less prosperous businesses would not be able to afford to come up with ways to virtually eliminate their emissions (/buy all new and expensive technology), and they would go out of business.
So, while I seriously doubt that it would ever be possible to make everyone participate in the carbon trading market, I think that it would be disastrous if they did. Maybe if there were a way to limit the market to only businesses with especially high profits who could more easily afford to make changes than buy credits.
But anyway, carbon trading wasn't really the heart of this post.
I agree with Vivi that capitalist competition does have the potential to drive the development of green technology. I also agree with her and the pie-ers that biofuels do more harm than good.
And Garrett - I somehow doubt that this is all a communist plot.
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