Microsoft Fail: Computer company criticizes Heartland but won't withhold future support

authordefault
on

Microsoft is finally taking a clearer position denouncing the Heartland Institute’s irresponsible position on climate science, but the computer megacorp still won’t shut the door on providing Heartland with free software in theย future.

In the wake of Heartland’s highly offensive advertising campaign, in which Heartland said, flatly, โ€œthe most prominent advocates of global warming aren’t scientists; they are murderers, tyrants and madmen,โ€ Microsoft”s Director of Corporate Citizenship Steve Lippman distanced his company from the Heartlandย position:

โ€œThe Heartland Institute does not speak for Microsoft on climate change. In fact, the Heartland Instituteโ€™s position on climate change is diametrically opposed to Microsoftโ€™s position. And we completely disagree with the groupโ€™s inflammatory and distasteful advertisingย campaign.โ€

But he went on with this unconvincingย dodge:

โ€œHeartland did participate in our global software donation program in 2010, as did thousands of other nonprofit organizations.ย  Itโ€™s important to point out that hundreds of environmental and conservation groups also took advantage of the same program, and received over $13 million in free software to pursue theirย missions.โ€

And Lippman concludesย with:

โ€œAgain, our software donation program does not support or endorse any particular nonprofit or any particular policy views – it supports giving all nonprofits in the world access to freeย software.โ€

So, by that comment, Microsoft intends to take no responsibility for its past support and to promise no judgment whatever in extending future in-kind funding or gifts. Microsoft’s only standard in offering support is that applicants NOT make a profit. (Al Qaeda might want to get their free software request in with the nextย batch.)

What’s called for here is a simple statement saying that Microsoft will not give Heartland free goods, services or cash in the future. Anything less suggests that the company has no real issue with Heartland’s โ€œinflammatory and distasteful advertising campaignโ€ – or any of the other irresponsible and disingenuous programs for which Heartland has becomeย famous.

authordefault
Admin's short bio, lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Voluptate maxime officiis sed aliquam! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.

Related Posts

on

Importing fracked gas during a trade war undermines Canadaโ€™s energy security, environmentalists warn premier.

Importing fracked gas during a trade war undermines Canadaโ€™s energy security, environmentalists warn premier.
on

The multi-millionaire Brexit funder has claimed โ€œCO2 and climate change is the ultimate hoaxโ€.

The multi-millionaire Brexit funder has claimed โ€œCO2 and climate change is the ultimate hoaxโ€.
on

The appointment of Filip Turek to a new rapporteur position is a โ€œdisasterโ€ for the integrity of EU climate policy, say campaigners.

The appointment of Filip Turek to a new rapporteur position is a โ€œdisasterโ€ for the integrity of EU climate policy, say campaigners.
on

On stage at a PragerU fundraiser, the Alberta premier, under fire for allegedly encouraging U.S. leaders to influence Canadian politics, said 'I come in peace'.

On stage at a PragerU fundraiser, the Alberta premier, under fire for allegedly encouraging U.S. leaders to influence Canadian politics, said 'I come in peace'.