The Latest from Skeptic Central: CEI Pushes Ad Arguing Global Warming Fix Would Devastate Developing Countries
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.12.08
Oh, Competitive Enterprise Institute: Is there no new low you won't stoop to in order to peddle your anti-Gore, pro-Big Coal climate change paranoia? The ever vigilant Ali Frick at Think Progress, who has the unenviable task of tracking down such right-wing spin, has unveiled the CEI's latest attempt to besmirch Gore's reputation while downplaying the threat of global warming - an ad slated to air for the next two weeks on CNN, CNBC and Fox News (duh) to convince Americans that a robust climate bill would cause "death on a massive scale" and "absolute disaster" in developing countries.
This is absolute bunk, of course; if anything, climate change will worsen the impact of hunger, disease and drought in the developing world. Frick helpfully cites a passage from the UN Development Program's 2007 Human Development Report to make the point:
"Climate change is the defining human development challenge of the 21st Century. Failure to respond to that challenge will stall and then reverse international efforts to reduce poverty. The poorest countries and most vulnerable citizens will suffer the earliest and most damaging setbacks, even though they have contributed least to the problem."
Coming from the organization that originated such classics as the "CO2: We call it life" ad and that (laughably) claimed that the recent CAFE bump would "cost lives," this comes as no surprise. It's just sad to see news networks like CNN and CNBC air their latest spin.
See also: ::The CEI Airs Its Dirty Laundry: Save the Inefficient Top Loader or Thousands Will Die, ::"CO2: We Call it Life" ads: We Call it Hysterical
Great ad! I think we forget what makes life better. The lefts consant push to spread the misery to everyone is right on mark.