[TheClimate.Vote] April 5, 2018 - Daily Global Warming News Digest

Richard Pauli richard at theclimate.vote
Thu Apr 5 10:14:21 EDT 2018


/April 5, 2018/

[Latest of many lawsuits]
*Judge Stalls Employee Suit Against Exxon for Mismanaging Climate Risk 
<https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/04/exxon-climate-risk-erisa-attia/>*
By Amy Westervelt
A U.S. District Court judge in Texas dismissed a case filed by a group 
of former employees against ExxonMobil last year claiming the company 
mismanaged their retirement plan because of climate risks. But the judge 
gave the plaintiffs until the end of April to file an amended complaint...

The plaintiffs-all former Exxon employees-filed the complaint Attia v. 
Exxon under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). They 
alleged that the fossil fuel company's retirement fund managers should 
have used information at their disposal about climate change and its 
impacts on Exxon oil reserves to hedge their bets rather than going all 
in on the company's own stock...

In its motion for dismissal, Exxon argued that climate science was 
"uncertain" until recently, so its fiduciaries had no reason to avoid 
Exxon stock. In a statement, Exxon spokesperson Alan Jeffers said, "This 
lawsuit misstates our financial reporting and repeats the same tired 
allegations pushed by activists and inaccurate media reports that claim 
we reached definitive conclusions about climate change decades before 
the world's experts and while climate science was in an early stage of 
development."
more at: 
https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/04/exxon-climate-risk-erisa-attia/


[The Guardian]
*Shell threatened with legal action over climate change contributions 
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/04/friends-of-the-earth-threatens-to-sue-shell-over-climate-change-contributions>*
"This is the first case we know of in the world that seeks preventive 
action from a company over climate change,"...
"We are not asking for damages. We want Shell to steer away from its 
current course and to get in line with the Paris agreement."...
Given the vast discrepancy in financial resources, any legal battle 
between Friends of the Earth and Shell would be a challenge of David and 
Goliath proportions.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/04/friends-of-the-earth-threatens-to-sue-shell-over-climate-change-contributions
- - - - -
[Climate Liability News]
*Netherlands Group to Shell: Stop Wrecking the Climate, Or We Will Sue 
<https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/04/royal-dutch-shell-milieudefensie-climate-change/>*
By Karen Savage
Royal Dutch Shell received an ultimatum from a climate activist group on 
Wednesday, demanding the company help address climate change or face 
legal consequences.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands / Milieudefensie, a national 
organization with 65 local chapters, delivered a liability letter to the 
Dutch oil giant demanding it cut back on its oil and gas production to 
align with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
"Many of us are doing [our] best to put an end to the climate problem. 
In the meantime, Shell continues to invest in new oil and gas sources. 
Shell, just like the rest of us, should take its responsibility to stop 
wrecking the climate," said Milieudefensie director Donald Pols.
Under Dutch law, Shell, which is headquartered in the Netherlands and is 
one of the largest oil companies in the world, has eight weeks to comply 
with the demands or face a lawsuit by the organization...
The organization is not seeking financial compensation from Shell, which 
is the model used in climate suits filed against fossil fuel companies 
by New York City and several California municipalities.
Shell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More info at:
https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/04/royal-dutch-shell-milieudefensie-climate-change/
- - - - - -
[Shell knew decades ago-ew]
*Documents Detail What Shell Knew About Climate Change Decades Ago 
<https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/05/shell-knew-climate-change-liability/>*
By Karen Savage
Newly revealed documents indicate oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has not 
only known about the risks of climate change for decades, but has also 
realized for more than 20 years that it, along with the rest of the 
fossil fuel industry and perhaps the U.S. government, could be held 
liable for not acting to prevent further climate damage.
One of the documents, written in 1998, models an eerily accurate 
scenario of violent and damaging storms hitting the East Coast of the 
U.S. in 2010.
"Following the storms, a coalition of environmental NGOs brings a 
class-action suit against the U.S. government and fossil-fuel companies 
on the grounds of neglecting what scientists (including their own) have 
been saying for years: that something must be done," the report projects.
The document is one of a trove of 38 discovered and released to the 
public Thursday by Jelmer Mommers, 
<https://decorrespondent.nl/jelmermommers> a climate and energy 
journalist for the Dutch news organization De Correspondent 
<http://decorrespondent.nl/>. The documents are being released on the 
Climate Files website. <http://www.climatefiles.com/>
https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/04/05/shell-knew-climate-change-liability/
- - - - - -
[find the documents]
*ABOUT CLIMATE FILES <http://www.climatefiles.com/>*
Climate files is an archival database of news, information and 
documents. The information compiled here is collected from various 
sources and is based on more more than 20 years of research and data 
collection.
http://www.climatefiles.com/


[Lawsuits a'plenty]
*Fossil Fuels on Trial: Where the Major Climate Change Lawsuits Stand 
Today 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04042018/climate-change-fossil-fuel-company-lawsuits-timeline-exxon-children-california-cities-attorney-general>*
Some of the biggest oil and gas companies are embroiled in legal 
disputes with cities, states and children over the industry's role in 
global warming.
by David Hasemyer
Over the past few years: Two states have launched fraud investigations 
into Exxon over climate change. Nine cities and counties, from New York 
to San Francisco, have sued major fossil fuel companies, seeking 
compensation for climate change damages. And determined children have 
filed lawsuits against the federal government and various state 
governments, claiming the governments have an obligation to safeguard 
the environment.
The litigation, reinforced by science, has the potential to reshape the 
way the world thinks about energy production and the consequences of 
global warming. It advocates a shift from fossil fuels to sustainable 
energy and draws attention to the vulnerability of coastal communities 
and infrastructure to extreme weather and sea level rise.
- - - - -
The storm of litigation could have a broad impact if it succeeds in 
holding fossil fuel companies accountable for the kinds of damages they 
foresaw decades ago, said Harold Koh, a professor of international law 
at Yale Law School who served as senior legal adviser to former 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"The industry has profited from the manufacture of fossil fuels but has 
not had to absorb the economic costs of the consequences," Koh said. 
"The industry had the science 30 years ago and knew what was going to 
happen but made no warning so that preemptive steps could have been taken.
- - - - - -
*State Attorneys General Investigate Exxon*
The attorneys general of New York, Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands launched investigations of Exxon in 2015 and 2016. Prosecutors 
want to see if the company lied to the public about the risks of climate 
change or to investors about how such risks might hurt the oil business.
The investigations drew a quick, fierce response from Exxon.The company 
went on the legal offensive 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17102016/exxonmobil-climate-change-research-seeks-block-new-york-attorney-general-investigation-subpeona-eric-schneiderman>to 
try to shut down the probes, employing an army of aggressive, 
high-priced lawyers and astrategy of massive resistance 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/05062017/exxon-climate-change-fraud-investigation-eric-schneiderman-rex-tillerson-exxonmobil>. 
The attorney general of the Virgin Islands capitulated andended his 
investigation 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06072016/virgin-islands-exxon-agree-climate-probe-subpoena-claude-walker-schneiderman-healey> just 
three months after issuing subpoenas.
- - - - - -

    [1982 research paper]
    *Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming
    Decades Ago
    <https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15092015/Exxons-own-research-confirmed-fossil-fuels-role-in-global-warming>*
    Top executives were warned of possible catastrophe from greenhouse
    effect, then led efforts to block solutions.
    BY NEELA BANERJEE, LISA SONG AND DAVID HASEMYER
    Exxon's research laid the groundwork for a 1982 corporate primer on
    carbon dioxide and climate change prepared by its environmental
    affairs office. Marked "not to be distributed externally,"
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/sites/default/files/documents/1982%20Exxon%20Primer%20on%20CO2%20Greenhouse%20Effect.pdf>
    it contained information that "has been given wide circulation to
    Exxon management." In it, the company recognized, despite the many
    lingering unknowns, that heading off global warming "would require
    major reductions in fossil fuel combustion."
    *The 1982 Exxon Research memo (PDF)
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/sites/default/files/documents/1982%20Exxon%20Primer%20on%20CO2%20Greenhouse%20Effect.pdf>*
    http://insideclimatenews.org/sites/default/files/documents/1982%20Exxon%20Primer%20on%20CO2%20Greenhouse%20Effect.pdf
    https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15092015/Exxons-own-research-confirmed-fossil-fuels-role-in-global-warming
    - - - - -
    [from the archives: 2015 report]
    Exxon: The Road Not Taken
    *Exxon Sowed Doubt About Climate Science for Decades by Stressing
    Uncertainty
    <https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22102015/Exxon-Sowed-Doubt-about-Climate-Science-for-Decades-by-Stressing-Uncertainty>*
    Collaborating with the Bush-Cheney White House, Exxon turned
    ordinary scientific uncertainties into weapons of mass confusion.
    Click here for Part 1
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/15092015/Exxons-own-research-confirmed-fossil-fuels-role-in-global-warming>,
    an overview of Exxon's history with climate change; Part II
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/16092015/exxon-believed-deep-dive-into-climate-research-would-protect-its-business>,
    an accounting of Exxon's early climate research; Part III
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/18092015/exxon-confirmed-global-warming-consensus-in-1982-with-in-house-climate-models>,
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/18092015/exxon-confirmed-global-warming-consensus-in-1982-with-in-house-climate-models>
    a review of Exxon's climate modeling efforts; Part IV,
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/08102015/Exxons-Business-Ambition-Collided-with-Climate-Change-Under-a-Distant-Sea>
    a dive into Exxon's Natuna gas field project; Part V
    <http://insideclimatenews.org/news/08102015/highlighting-allure-synfuels-exxon-played-down-climate-risks>,
    a look at Exxon's push for synfuels.
    https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22102015/Exxon-Sowed-Doubt-about-Climate-Science-for-Decades-by-Stressing-Uncertainty

- - - - - - -
*Cities Sue Over Sea Level Rise*
Faced with the possibility of devastating consequences brought by rising 
sea levels, six cities and three counties in California, along with New 
York City, filed civil lawsuits against several oil and gas companies.
Thelawsuits make a public nuisance claim 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18072017/oil-gas-coal-companies-exxon-shell-sued-coastal-california-city-counties-sea-level-rise>and, 
in some cases, allege negligence. Essentially the lawsuits say the oil 
and gas companies have known for decades that burning fossil fuels is 
one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Instead of acting to 
reduce harm, the cities charge, companies attempted to undermine climate 
science and mislead the public by downplaying the risk posed by fossil 
fuels.
The lawsuits seek billions of dollars to pay for mitigation measures 
such as sea walls to protect coastal property. The oil and gas companies 
responded by seeking to move the cases to federal courts, where nuisance 
claims are less likely to succeed.That jurisdictional battle rages on 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19032018/california-climate-change-cities-lawsuits-sea-level-rise-exxon-chevron-shell-chhabria-alsup-rulings>, 
with the cases divided between state and federal courts.
- - - - - -
*The Children's Climate Lawsuits *
The next generation will likely have to manage the physical, ecological 
and economic fallout of climate change. And some of thoseyoung people 
<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13062017/kids-climate-change-lawsuit-childrens-trust-jayden-foytlin-louisiana>are 
at the forefront of lawsuits that claim the federal government, and 
several state governments, are responsible for preventing and addressing 
the consequences of climate change.
The litigation, ignited by Our Children's Trust in 2015, relies on the 
public trust doctrine-a legal canon that stresses the government's hold 
on resources such as land, water or fisheries as treasure for the 
people. The children's lawsuits extend that principle by asserting the 
government also is a trustee of the atmosphere.
Eight similar children's lawsuits 
<https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/pending-state-actions/> supported by 
Our Children's Trust have been filed in state courts from Alaska to 
Pennsylvania.
The federal case demands sweeping changes in federal climate efforts and 
in government programs that subsidize or foster development of fossil 
fuels. Both the Obama and Trump administrations, and the fossil fuel 
industry, repeatedly sought to have the case dismissed. But the 
children's case persists and could put the government's climate policies 
on trial in federal court...more at:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04042018/climate-change-fossil-fuel-company-lawsuits-timeline-exxon-children-california-cities-attorney-general


[Necessity is the Mother of the Activism]
*Sometimes Fighting Climate Change Means Breaking the Law 
<https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/sometimes-fighting-climate-change-means-breaking-the-law>*
By Carolyn Kormann - April 3, 2018

    "A woman sees a child fall down a well, so she climbs a fence onto
    private property to save the child's life. In the unlikely event
    that the woman were charged with criminal trespassing, her attorney
    would use a choice-of-evils defense, also known as a necessity
    defense, to get her acquitted. He would argue that the child faced
    an immediate physical threat, and that it was necessary for his
    client to break the law in order to prevent the child from dying.
    But what if the threat were something less discrete than a well-the
    air, the water, the very ground beneath our feet? What if it
    imperilled every child in a neighborhood, or on the planet? Would
    the necessity defense still hold?"...

When it became clear that legal means of protest weren't 
working-petitions, public comments, an ongoing challenge against the 
F.E.R.C. permit in federal court-an organization called the Climate 
Disobedience Center started training hundreds of protesters. Veterans of 
the antiwar and anti-nuclear demonstrations of the nineteen-seventies 
joined in.

Over the course of about thirty actions, the protesters sat down in 
front of backhoes, chained themselves to fences, and dropped into the 
pipeline's construction trench, decorating it with flowers. They prayed, 
sang songs, and chanted, "No gasification without representation!" On 
June 29, 2016, twenty-three of the boldest activists lay down in the 
trench and refused to move. In Pakistan that summer, people had dug mass 
graves in advance of a predicted heat wave. "We recognized that trenches 
like the ones being dug in Pakistan were caused by trenches like the one 
we were resisting in West Roxbury," Marla Marcum, a Methodist pastor and 
a co-founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, told me. The Boston 
Fire Department's technical-rescue squad had to lift or roll the 
protesters onto stretchers and haul them out of the trench with ropes. 
By September 29th, the day of the final action, a hundred and 
ninety-eight people had been arrested. Many pleaded guilty to 
trespassing or disturbing the peace and were put on a six-month pretrial 
probation, after which the charges were dropped...
More at:
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/sometimes-fighting-climate-change-means-breaking-the-law


[Activism:  April 14 - Science Marches on]
*Be a catalyst for change March for Science 2018 
<Be%20a%20catalyst%20for%20change.,The%20March%20for%20Science%20is%20a%20diverse,%20global%20movement%20that%20advocates%20for%20equitable,%20evidence-based%20policy%20that%20serves%20all%20communities.%20%20Join%20us%20and%20become%20an%20advocate%20for%20change.%20%20Hold%20your%20representatives%20accountable.%20%20Use%20your%20voice%20to%20make%20science%20heard.>*
The March for Science is a diverse, global movement that advocates for 
equitable, evidence-based policy that serves all communities. Join us 
and become an advocate for change.  Hold your representatives 
accountable.  Use your voice to make science heard.
In 2017, more than one million people around the world gathered together 
in the largest event for science advocacy in history.  Over the last 
year, thousands of advocates have taken action with March for Science to 
support evidence-based policy. In 2018, we unite again to hold our 
elected and appointed officials responsible for enacting equitable 
evidence-based policies that serve all communities and science for the 
common good.
more at: https://www.marchforscience.com/
- - - - - -
[Climate Science Legal Defense Fund]
*MARCH FOR SCIENCE: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS <https://www.csldf.org/march/>*
It's important for researchers to use their voice, but they should be 
mindful of how and where it's used. If you're a scientist planning to 
take to the streets for the March for Science-or participate in other 
activism-be sure to read our free guide, "Know Your Rights: Science 
Activism and Protests 
<https://csldf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=635c98e780ac7191328d30eeb&id=f7765feee4&e=d1c47ff379>." 
We created it with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to help 
scientists safely organize and show their support for science. You can 
also check out the main takeaways in a post we wrote for the American 
Geophysical Union (AGU) 
<https://csldf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=635c98e780ac7191328d30eeb&id=33d166ba64&e=d1c47ff379>.
As many of you know, we've had a supporting role in an ongoing case 
<https://csldf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=635c98e780ac7191328d30eeb&id=4da7c450e3&e=d1c47ff379> 
that began in 2011 with an intrusive open record requests asking for 
thousands of emails belonging to two University of Arizona climate 
scientists. The University was initially victorious, with the trial 
court finding that the University had acted reasonably in choosing to 
protect some of the scientists' communications. But the case has now 
gone before the Arizona Court of Appeals twice, becoming more muddied 
and confused each time.
- - - - - -
  Most recently, on February 26, the trial court ordered the release of 
the scientists' previously protected emails. At the end of March, the 
Arizona Board of Regents filed a notice that it will appeal this ruling. 
You'll find more information about the case in this post 
<https://csldf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=635c98e780ac7191328d30eeb&id=0cc38fcf69&e=d1c47ff379> 
and we'll continue to provide updates as the case moves forward.
   We're still seeking law professors, adjuncts, and fellows to join our 
Campus Reps Program and help scientists on their campus understand their 
rights. The next program training is April 27-apply here 
<https://csldf.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=635c98e780ac7191328d30eeb&id=0b8926abc7&e=d1c47ff379>. 

https://www.csldf.org/march/
- - - - - - - -
[civil advice to academic science demonstrators - all demonstrators]
*Marching for Science?  Know your Rights 
<https://thebridge.agu.org/2018/04/02/marching-for-science-know-your-rights/>*
Many scientists in the United States have been moved to action as a 
result of the current political climate. If you're one of them and 
you're planning to join theMarch for Science on April 14 
<https://www.marchforscience.com/>- or participate in other activism - 
it's crucial that you know your rights.
Although the chances of running into trouble when you stand up for 
science are small, political activism as a scientist can be slippery. At 
theClimate Science Legal Defense Fund <https://www.csldf.org/>, we've 
assisted well-meaning researchers who inadvertently put themselves at 
risk and encountered problems when they forayed into activism.
To help you safely organize and speak out, together with the American 
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), we created a free guide, "Know Your 
Rights: Science Activism and Protests. <https://www.csldf.org/march/>" 
It outlines concrete things you can do to protect yourself, what to do 
if you feel your rights have been violated, and where to find additional 
resources on advocacy and activism.
So, direct from our guide, here are a few key things you should do when 
planning to take to the streets.
*First and foremost: Separate your work and activism.*

    - Always maintain separate personal and professional email accounts,
    and use the personal account for your activism activities. This will
    protect against your personal emails being made public pursuant to
    open records laws.
    - Don't organize or discuss activism at work; these activities
    should always be done outside of your workplace and work hours.
    - Don't use work or government-funded supplies for your activism
    activities. Always use your personal computer, printer, etc.
    - When demonstrating, don't wear work paraphernalia, such as a hat
    with your university logo or a work-issued lab coat.
    - Don't provide your work affiliation when publicizing your
    involvement in advocacy. If you must do so for identification
    purposes, always clarify that you are not speaking on behalf of your
    institution.

*Know how to demonstrate*

    - Peaceful and non-obstructive demonstration is constitutionally
    protected even without a permit.
    - Obey traffic signals and keep space open for non-demonstration
    pedestrian traffic. Do not maliciously obstruct or detain passersby.
    - Use cardboard tubes for posters; don't use sticks, which may be
    considered weapons.
    - If you are organizing a protest or demonstration, get a permit to
    notify police about your activities and reserve your location. Rules
    and procedures vary; review your city's official website.

These are just the basics. For more detailed information and tips,read 
our complete guide to science activism and protests 
<https://www.csldf.org/march/> - and please share it with your marching 
colleagues.The information contained in the guide concerns U.S. laws 
only and does not constitute specific legal advice. If you have 
questions regarding a particular circumstance, please call your lawyer 
or seek free advice from a Climate Science Legal Defense Fund attorney 
by emailing lawyer at csldf.org.
https://thebridge.agu.org/2018/04/02/marching-for-science-know-your-rights/


[U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit]
*Food Safety and Nutrition 
<https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/food-resilience/food-safety-and-nutrition>*
Increased carbon dioxide levels, climate change, and climate variability 
all have the potential to increase the prevalence of some food-borne 
illnesses and affect the availability of nutritious foods.
Climate change and atmospheric carbon dioxide will affect nutrition 
directly through the micronutrient content of plants. Experiments in the 
United States and China have shown that, in non-leguminous grain crops, 
protein and mineral content such as iron and zinc are substantially 
reduced when carbon dioxide concentrations reach levels that are likely 
to occur by mid-century.5

Climate change will affect nutrition indirectly through its effects on 
the production and distribution of food which, in turn, will affect food 
prices and food security. See International Food Security 
<https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/food-resilience/international-food-security> 
for a longer discussion.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/food-resilience/food-safety-and-nutrition


[must-see video of techno-innovations viewing Western wildfires]
*California's Wildfires and the HPWREN Camera Network 
<https://youtu.be/L3qlea8H12Q>*
University of California Television (UCTV)
"Fires are the new normal"
https://youtu.be/L3qlea8H12Q
- - - - - -
[see live videos directly from your computer or smartphone]
*ALERT Wildfire Networks <http://www.alertwildfire.org/>*
www.alertwildfire.org/
ALERT Fire Cameras.
This is a placeholder page for the fire camera portion of the ALERT 
network. The following regions have fire monitoring networks:

  * AlertNevada <http://www.alertwildfire.org/blmnv>- Nevada BLM Wildland
  * AlertTahoe <http://www.alertwildfire.org/tahoe>- Reno-Tahoe/Truckee
    Meadows
  * AlertSoCal <http://www.alertwildfire.org/socal>- Southern California
  * AlertSDGE <http://www.alertwildfire.org/sdge>- San Diego Gas &
    Electric Regional network
  * AlertOregon <http://www.alertwildfire.org/oregon>- University of
    Oregon Regional network

See images at www.alertwildfire.org/


[Education hour]
*Interactive Visioning part 1 - Figuring Sea Level Rise 
<https://youtu.be/2dw3S8Uce84>*
University of California Television (UCTV)
Published on Apr 4, 2018
(Visit: http://www.uctv.tv) How much will the seas rise in any given 
spot? When? What impacts will be felt? Who will be obliged to move out 
of harm's way? What can be done to mitigate or adapt to these 
circumstances? To begin to address these questions this program 
concentrates on issues of mediation and remediation:  What does it mean 
that interactive visioning tools are proliferating in research labs, 
government agencies such as NOAA and the USGS, and activist 
organizations? Doug Marcy, a Coastal Hazards Specialist at the NOAA 
National Ocean Service / Coastal Services Center (CSC) in Charleston, 
South Carolina, explores visualizing sea level rise and coastal flooding 
impacts. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [9/2013] [Science] [Show ID: 24899]
https://youtu.be/2dw3S8Uce84


*This Day in Climate History - April 5, 2002    - from D.R. Tucker*
April 5, 2002: New York Times columnist Paul Krugman denounces White 
House press secretary Ari Fleischer's "...use of a press conference on 
the crisis in the Middle East to shill, once again, for the Bush energy 
plan," observing:

    "Even if the United States weren't dependent on imported oil, the
    Middle East would still be a strategically crucial region, and the
    Israeli-Palestinian conflict would still be a world nightmare.

    "But to the extent that oil independence would help -- and it would,
    a bit, by reducing the leverage of Persian Gulf producers -- the
    Bush administration has long since forfeited the moral high ground.
    It has done so by vigorously opposing any serious efforts at
    conservation, which would have to be the centerpiece of any real
    plan to reduce oil imports.

    "There are many ways to make this case; here are two more. Even at
    its peak, a decade or so after drilling began, oil production from
    the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would reduce imports by no more
    than would a 3-mile-per-gallon increase in fuel efficiency --
    something easily achievable, were it not for opposition from special
    interest groups. Indeed, the Kerry-McCain fuel efficiency standards,
    which the administration opposed, would have saved three times as
    much oil as ANWR might produce. Or put it this way: Total world oil
    production is about 75 million barrels per day, of which the United
    States consumes almost 20; ANWR would produce, at maximum, a bit
    more than 1 million.

    "Yet a few months ago, Republican activists ran ads with
    side-by-side photos of Tom Daschle and Saddam Hussein, declaring
    that both men oppose drilling in ANWR -- and Dick Cheney, when
    asked, stood behind those ads. Administration critics could, with
    rather more justification, run ads with side-by-side photos of
    George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein, declaring that both men oppose
    increased fuel efficiency standards. (Actually, I'm not aware that
    Iraq's ruler has expressed an opinion on either issue.) Of course,
    if such ads did run, there would be enormous outrage. After all,
    turnabout wouldn't be fair play because, well, just because."

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/opinion/at-long-last.html?pagewanted=print


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