Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Greenpeace embarrassed by leaders’ jet-setting carbon footprint

A great gig in the sky

For two years, Pascal Husting’s employer chartered a jet to shuttle him most weeks between his home in Luxembourg and his office in Amsterdam.

Such trips are common for executives at major international corporations in Western Europe.

But Mr. Husting isn’t working for a corporation. He is the international program director for Greenpeace, the nonprofit that is arguably the world’s most high-profile environmental advocacy organization.

Mr. Husting’s weekly commute prompted a chorus of derision from Greenpeace opponents after “Flygate” was revealed in Dutch media this summer.

It also aroused the anger of activists, staff members and donors who have long supported the 40-year-old group. Traveling 500 miles round trip in a carbon-emitting airliner was hard to square with Greenpeace’s aims, after all.

“Arrogance is a word that springs to mind,” Greenpeace donor Altwin de Moor wrote on his personal blog. “It seems as if those at the top of Greenpeace are more interested in watching each other’s backs than standing up for the right thing. I will be keeping an eye on developments and decide on the basis of what happens whether to cancel my donations.

It's pretty clear the environmentalists leaders don't really believe in the pap they are serving for others to gag on. Certainly the scientist environmentalists I know don't seem to balk at flying long distances for conferences that could be carried out by phone and internet.

And don't get me started on their electrical power uses.  The National Center for Atmospheric Reseach's (NCAR) climate modeling computer consumes 8-9 megawatts of electrical power, generated by burning coal. I think they should have to rely and wind and solar, and only run their computer when they are available.

Wombat-socho is on time and within budget with this weeks giant "Rule 5 Sunday: Are You Ready For Some Football?" post.