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I have a growing concern that even when (if) reasonable heads prevail and we're able to implement sane climate policy in most developed nations, corporations wi
by SwellJoe 7y ago
I have a growing concern that even when (if) reasonable heads prevail and we're able to implement sane climate policy in most developed nations, corporations with a vested interest in externalizing costs will simply ignore the law and self-report compliance while actively covering up evidence of non-compliance. This isn't a theoretical thing, we've already seen it happening. It's widespread in fossil fuels (nearly every major player has had disasters, often directly causing human death and injury, in recent years caused by cutting corners, neglect, failure to comply with regulations, etc.), but also in the automotive sector (VW), animal agriculture (e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/20/north-carolina-hog-industry-pig-farms https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/20/north-caroli...), and others.
Even with our current dangerously lax regulation of these externalities, corporations are doing everything they can to skip out on their responsibilities, and often getting away with it with barely a slap on the wrist. So, what happens when the policies get a lot stricter (I'm being optimistic and assuming the current anti-science rule will somehow end and we'll get some responsible leadership that understands we don't have time to cut emissions gradually any more...we missed that chance by a decade or more) and companies just say, "nah, we're going to keep doing what we were doing"?
In this case, I have no doubt the company knew what they were spewing into the ocean for 14 years, or at least had a good hunch. There's tons of data involved in off-shore wells. And, yet, nobody will go to jail for the immeasurable harm they knowingly caused. Nobody will answer for it, and the executives probably went on to drilling new dangerous wells, while their financial backers probably continue to invest in fossil fuels and profit from it.
- GuiA 7y agoA few options: shame the companies, confront the executives, boycott the products, organize with your coworkers and strike if your employee engages in such practices, write your elected representatives, write poetry or paint pictures about how angry they make you But don’t give up
- SwellJoe 7y agoI guess we can try those before we start googling guillotine plans. But, let's keep our options open.