Wednesday, June 25, 2014

An Effective Counter To Oil Companies' Greenwash Propaganda

The following definition of greenwashing is offered by Wikipedia: Greenwashing (a compound word modelled on "whitewash"), or "green sheen,"[1][2] is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly.

Most of us, I am sure, have seen commercials on television that, as they start, seem to be environmental in nature. We are treated to scenes of trees, fresh water, children paying in the clean outdoors, etc., images that relax and inspire; then it is made clear that the oil industry is the real subject, those images serving to manipulate viewers into believing that the companies exploiting our oil resources and despoiling our environment are quite benevolent presences that have a deep respect for nature.

Here is one such shameless effort from Suncor:



Happily, not all of us have succumbed to the group think so avidly desired by our corporate and political overlords. Whatyescando.org has created an outstanding response ad that pierces and skewers the shameless hypocrisy of oil giants.

Watch it, and please consider clicking on this link to add your name to a petition asking Suncor to respect our water:

4 comments:

  1. There is nothing like contrast, Lorne, to make a point. Superb.

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    1. Whatyescando.org has really hit the mark here, Owen. Let's hope a broad swath of Canadians sees it and recognizes the manipulation they are being subjected to by big oil.

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  2. Thanks for catching this, Lorne. We have to stop these miscreants in their tracks. At last, through my pessimism, I'm sensing some glimmer of hope that people have had enough. May we become the wheel on which Harper and his fossil fuelers are broken.

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