DeSmogCAST 13: Merchants of Doubt, the Race for the Arctic and Bomb Trains

onMar 25, 2015 @ 16:30 PDT

In this episode of the DesmogCAST, host Farron Cousins speaks with me, Kyla Mandel and Justin Mikulka to talk about the breakout documentary Merchants of Doubt and how climate science deniers are still manufacturing a fake debate about the clear consensus among bonafide climate experts.

And while the deniers wreak havoc, the climate is warming, opening the Arctic to more than just oil companies. As DeSmog UK‘s Deputy Editor Kyla Mandel explains, nations are upping their military presence in the region as vast reserves of hydrocarbons become available beneath the melting ice.

Lastly, DeSmog contributor Justin Mikulka discusses the problems associated with moving highly-flammable and explosive oils from the Bakken shale and the Alberta tar sands as the now-called bomb trains are involved in all too regular disasters across North America.

–

DeSmogCAST is a weekly online show that features DeSmog writers, experts and guests covering breaking news and in-depth analysis on politics, energy and environment issues in the U.S., Canada and around the world.

For more visit DeSmogBlog.com, DeSmog.ca, and DeSmog.uk.

DeSmogCAST is a joint project of DeSmogBlog, DeSmog Canada and DeSmogUK.

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.

Russian Gas Giant Given Access to Global LNG Summit Alongside German Government

ByEdward Donnelly

onDec 13, 2024 @ 06:32 PST

The decision to allow Novatek to attend the flagship conference was described as “disappointing” and “disturbing” by campaigners.

uk/‘Net Zero Sceptic’ Kemi Badenoch Accepted £10,000 from Chevron Director

BySam Bright

onDec 13, 2024 @ 02:32 PST

Badenoch’s leadership campaign was part-funded by a board member at one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies.

Analysis

uk/Kemi Badenoch’s Climate Denial Tour

ByAdam Barnett

onDec 12, 2024 @ 03:41 PST

The Conservative leader, who attacked “radical green absolutism” in a Washington DC speech, recently met with a host of influential anti-climate figures.