Spring Break
Manufacturing doubt a multi-million dollar industry
Erik Anderson
Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Opinion
"Doubt is our product," stated a now-infamous internal memo of the tobacco industry in 1969.
And it was - the tobacco industry made a business of manufacturing and selling uncertainty to combat a growing body of evidence that linked smoking to cancer.
At the forefront was Frederick Seitz, an ageing physicist who served as the principal scientific advisor to the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company's $45 million medical research program. The goal of the research was not to look at the health effects of smoking cigarettes, but to confuse the existing science.
Seitz was ultimately let go because he was "quite elderly and not sufficiently rational to offer advice," according to a 1989 internal memo.
But Frederick Seitz was not about to retire.
In 1998 Seitz organized the "Oregon Petition" in conjunction with the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine to challenge the scientific consensus on man-made global warming. If you've been reading this section of the paper in the past weeks, you've probably heard of this petition.
So who was Seitz working for now? I'll give you a hint: this company posted profits of $40 billion in 2008, the largest ever recorded by any company.
It was ExxonMobil.
Between 1998 and 2004, ExxonMobil contributed $16 million to organizations that deny or minimize the effect of humans on global warming, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Seitz's own organization, the George C. Marshall Institute, received $630,000 between 1998 and 2005. That's about 20 percent of its entire budget.
ExxonMobil has developed a network of ostensibly independent non-profit organizations like the Marshall Institute through which it can launder information to the public. Together they promulgate the non-peer-reviewed and often discredited research of a handful of global warming skeptics. Many of the individuals in these groups are associated with more than one organization, sometimes up to eight.
And it was - the tobacco industry made a business of manufacturing and selling uncertainty to combat a growing body of evidence that linked smoking to cancer.
At the forefront was Frederick Seitz, an ageing physicist who served as the principal scientific advisor to the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company's $45 million medical research program. The goal of the research was not to look at the health effects of smoking cigarettes, but to confuse the existing science.
Seitz was ultimately let go because he was "quite elderly and not sufficiently rational to offer advice," according to a 1989 internal memo.
But Frederick Seitz was not about to retire.
In 1998 Seitz organized the "Oregon Petition" in conjunction with the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine to challenge the scientific consensus on man-made global warming. If you've been reading this section of the paper in the past weeks, you've probably heard of this petition.
So who was Seitz working for now? I'll give you a hint: this company posted profits of $40 billion in 2008, the largest ever recorded by any company.
It was ExxonMobil.
Between 1998 and 2004, ExxonMobil contributed $16 million to organizations that deny or minimize the effect of humans on global warming, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Seitz's own organization, the George C. Marshall Institute, received $630,000 between 1998 and 2005. That's about 20 percent of its entire budget.
ExxonMobil has developed a network of ostensibly independent non-profit organizations like the Marshall Institute through which it can launder information to the public. Together they promulgate the non-peer-reviewed and often discredited research of a handful of global warming skeptics. Many of the individuals in these groups are associated with more than one organization, sometimes up to eight.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
Registered Independent
posted 4/14/09 @ 7:09 AM MST
Thank you for the groundbreaking expose on Big Oil.
What a surprise: the oil companies would like to stay in business. At least for as long as most people are still driving cars. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 4/14/09 @ 10:48 AM MST
The March issue of National Geographic has as its centerpiece a lead article entitled "Saving Energy; It Starts At Home".
Which presents us with the following interesting information to chew on:
"Buildings, not cars, produce the most CO2 in the United States. (Continued…)
Erik
posted 4/14/09 @ 1:49 PM MST
Visit the author's blog at
the651.wordpress.com
to see sources and get more information
Thomas Anderson
posted 4/14/09 @ 9:11 PM MST
Nice article Erik. It had some very good points and the link between the Tobacco Industry tactics and the Oil Industry was a sharp one.
But Reg Indy, I'm confused, why are you posting on the collegian website from CA? Are you a grad from CSU, do you have family here? Or do you fill your free time checking msg boards from a host of college papers?
Arvensis
posted 4/15/09 @ 12:29 AM MST
Regy -
This has been an interesting debate and I think you are spot on.
I witness all the anger and frustration directed toward "big business", but the biggest business we have to deal with is our Federal Government this is swelling fast. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 4/15/09 @ 11:27 AM MST
Hello Erik,
It's surprising that you would disagree with the science experts at National Geographic.
So apparently the "degree" of immediate danger we are actually in from CO2 emissions is a matter of opinion, and there is disagreement about that degree, even among global warming proponent scientists themselves. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 4/15/09 @ 3:00 PM MST
Mr. Anderson,
Personal questions are inappropriate here.
If you'd care to add some "content" to the discussion, I might respond. Or I might not, we'll see. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 4/15/09 @ 3:05 PM MST
My previous posting, immediately above, was directed to Thomas Anderson.
It just occurred to me that Erik has the same last name.
Jim Carlson
posted 4/16/09 @ 7:46 AM MST
Erik:
I am a CSU alum and a long time reader of the Collegian op-ed collumns. I thought yours was one of the more informative and thought provoking articles I have read in years, good job. (Continued…)
Thomas Anderson
posted 4/16/09 @ 3:15 PM MST
Jimmy,
Lol, no, it does not make their opinion invalid, and no, I was not trying to divert the conversation by questioning credibility. This is anonymous internet posting. (Continued…)
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