A history of tobacco spin

onJun 19, 2007 @ 11:26 PDT

Here’s a video compilation we were working on for James Hoggan’s recent keynote lecture to the Canadian Public Relations Society’s national conference. We ended up not using the video, but I thought it would be great for DeSmog readers.

Many of the themes in these video clips are still used today by individuals and organizations that continue to fight against tough greenhouse gas regulations in North America.

For example, the first clip is a Virginia Slims TV advertisement from the ’60’s claiming that oppressed women have won their right to smoke cigarettes. Fast forward to today, where the pro-tobacco lobby still uses such tactics, and those in the automobile lobby frame tougher vehicle emissions standards as a “rights” issue.

By Kevin Grandia

Kevin is a contributor and strategic adviser to DeSmog. He runs the digital marketing agency Spake Media House. Named a “Green Hero” by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the “Top 50 Tweeters” on climate change and environment issues, Kevin has appeared in major news media outlets around the world for his work on digital campaigning. Kevin has been involved in the public policy arena in both the United States and Canada for more than a decade. For five years he was the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com. In this role, Kevin’s research into the “climate denial industry” and the right-wing think tank networks was featured in news media articles around the world. He is most well known for his ground-breaking research into David and Charles Koch’s massive financial investments in the Republican and tea party networks. Kevin is the first person to be designated a “Certified Expert” on the political and community organizing platform NationBuilder. Prior to DeSmog, Kevin worked in various political and government roles. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and a Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada. Kevin also worked in various roles in the British Columbia provincial government in the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health. In 2008 Kevin co-founded a groundbreaking new online election tool called Vote for Environment which was later nominated for a World Summit Award in recognition of the world’s best e-Content and innovative ICT applications. Kevin moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he worked for two years as the Director of Online Strategy for Greenpeace USA and has since returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

How Italy’s largest fossil fuel company uses 'green' bonds as a loophole to keep financing hydrocarbons

ByStefano Valentino and Giorgio Michalopoulos

onSep 16, 2024 @ 12:39 PDT

Both private and institutional investors have poured billions into Eni's "green-labelled" bonds, under terms and conditions that enable it to continue to fund carbon-emitting activities.

uk/Nigel Farage Goes on Pro-Fossil Fuel Rant at Fundraiser for Climate Denial Group

BySam Bright and Adam Barnett

onSep 14, 2024 @ 03:44 PDT

Tickets at the event in Chicago cost up to $50,000 for the chance to have dinner with the Reform UK leader.

us/Violations Discovered at Nation’s First Carbon Capture and Storage Project

BySharon Kelly

onSep 13, 2024 @ 12:29 PDT

Corrosion issues in a deep monitoring well were discovered in March, raising concerns that early issues could be a sign of major problems to come as CCS and monitoring wells age.