Links Between Tobacco Wars and Climate Denial

[greenman3610]

"Smokey Joe" Barton is known for apologizing to BP after the 2010 Oil spill, and harassing climate scientists.

Turns out he's also been a key connection between the tobacco industry and the climate denial industry. Archival footage from ABC News on the tobacco wars of the 90s turns up sequences of Smoky Joe in action on behalf of Big Cancer, digs up haunting parallels between the tactics of Big Tobacco and Big Fossil Fuel, and reminds us of the origins of the anti-science movement.
Poignant to see the late Peter Jennings in action, and remember what it was like when there was at least some tough, probing journalism with a moral compass on mainstream media.

[Quixote1818]

1. Barton putting his hand on the Bible and saying smoking won't hurt you.

What a fucking piece of shit! Someone needs to show that in a campaign ad.

[JDPriestly]

2. Thanks!

Dose makes the poison.

That is the fundamental principle that climate-deniers do not acknowledge. Some CO2 is necessary for life. But when the CO2 gets out of balance with oxygen (to simplify), it can poison our environment.

Dose makes the poison.

Tobacco in small quantities does not immediately cause cancer. The catch is that cigarettes and other tobacco products are addictive and therefore people who use them slowly overdoes and poison their systems.

Don't smoke. As a society, we need to cut back on our use of CO2.

[chervilant]

3. People who do understand are already making incremental changes.

For example, I don't drive around like I used to--I combine chores much more, and avoid distances. I recycle almost EVERYTHING. I'm growing my own organic garden, and I am cleaning up the little rent house where I'll likely end my days--given how the economy is going.

I must assert that the climate change deniers need to open their eyes within their own environments. The drive I make to work each day takes me past several large hay fields. I used to see great flocks of birds--mostly red-winged blackbirds and flycatchers. I couldn't count the meadowlarks and other song birds foraging along the fence lines. There are very few birds now. VERY few!

I can count on one hand the number of honey bees I saw this past spring and summer. The fields and yards used to be alive with them.

I did not see a single sweat bee, either...

The butterflies are scarce now, too.

I think Rachel Carson's Silent Spring should be required reading for our children, and we should--as a species--do whatever we can to heal our ecosystem. The next two decades are going to be challenging, no matter what we do. But, efforts NOW might mitigate this likely extinction event.

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Sowing confusion

It's a cousin of "divide and conquer." Chaos effectively takes the wind out of the sails of change and allows companies to continue to profit.

[Quixote1818]

5. These people are no better than drug dealers

They know they are hurting people but as long as they keep getting wealthy they don't care. Barton should be in jail.

[zebonaut]

6. Deniers want to keep milking the cash cow at the expense of your health

Be it tobacco; global warming; or obesity caused by excess sugar, carbohydrates, and trans fats.
Their strategy is to label the issue "unsettled" a "controversy" an issue of "doubt" or "uncertainty"
They are Bastards. Worse still; when you die of cancer from cigarettes; Joe Barton won't be at your funeral.