Exxon Still Funding the Sceptics

December 7, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Exxon is still spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund both European and American organisations that seek to cast doubt on the scientific consensus on global warming, according to a new report by Corporate Europe Observatory, a Brussels-based watchdog. “ExxonMobil invests significant amounts in letting think-tanks, seemingly respectable sources, sow doubts about the need … Read More

“Feeble” Brown Fails Green Test

December 7, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

UK Chancellor Gordon Brown came under strong attack from political opposition parties and green groups after responding to the government’s own dire warnings on climate change with a modest £1bn package of green taxes in his pre-budget report. Little more than a month after the prime minister described the report into climate change by the … Read More

The Opera that Will Change Your Mind

December 6, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

Ok – so it’s the beginning of the festive season, when many people treat themselves to a trip to the theatre or pantomine. How about an opera? An opera with a difference? Award-wining arts and environment group Platform has just produced a downloadable opera for a walk in London. For years Platform has been pioneering … Read More

Chelsea Tractors in Decline

December 6, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Gas-guzzling “Chelsea Tractors” or SUVs have suffered a sudden decline in sales after a succession of threatened tax rises, The Times reports today. Existing owners of 4x4s are facing substantial losses because the second-hand value of the vehicles has also dropped significantly. Sales of new 4x4s fell by more than 15 per cent last month … Read More

UK Firms Face Compulsory Carbon Quotas

December 6, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Something of British feel about the blog today. Struggling to suddenly promote his green credentials in the wake of the Stern report, UK Chancellor, Gordon Brown will outline plans for a carbon trading scheme, more expensive petrol and doubling of flight duty in his pre-budget report today.

Blowing the Whistle on Big Oil

December 5, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Great article in the New York Times about the malaise of Washington’s over sight of the oil industry and how it has taken a retired federal auditor to expose the comfy collusion between the industry and its regulators. For years Bobby Maxwell scrutinized the books of major oil producers that pumped billions of dollars worth … Read More

China’s Booming Carbon Market

December 5, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

The Chinese economy is booming in more ways than one. Not only is it buying up huge reserves of oil and gas, but it is also benefiting from the booming global greenhouse gas market. Rather than spending more money to clean up their factories at home, foreign investors are flocking to China to pay energy … Read More

Big Oil Hires At Speed

December 5, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Big Oil, it seems, has a recruitment problem. Thousands of engineering vacancies remain unfilled. The shortage of engineers has been caused by a convergence of factors, including an upsurge in offshore exploration by cash-rich Big Oil and the ongoing reconstruction of the Gulf’s energy infrastructure damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Morales Follows his Friend Chavez

December 4, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post

Continuing our Latin American theme today that shows the influence Chavez is having on the region. The Bolivian President Evo Morales has finally signed contracts giving the government control over foreign energy companies’ operations, completing a process begun May 1 with the nationalization of Bolivia‘s petroleum industry. The deals also give the government a majority … Read More

Chavez Wins Runaway Victory

December 4, 2006By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

Hugo Chavez won a convincing re-election today, giving him another six years to solidify his self-styled socialist revolution and continue his anti-Bush campaign. There is no doubt that Chavez has used Venezuela‘s oil wealth to his political advantage. He has channeled oil profits toward multi-billion programmes for the poor, including subsidised food, free university education … Read More