10,000 GM Customers Tell Auto Giant: Stop Funding Climate Deniers

General Motors, a company that has made strides to lower the carbon footprint of driving, is taking heat from 10,000 of its customers for a donation its charitable foundation made to an institute that casts doubt on climate science, according to a...

March 8, 2012 | Source: Common Dreams | by

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General Motors, a company that has made strides to lower the carbon footprint of driving, is taking heat from 10,000 of its customers for a donation its charitable foundation made to an institute that casts doubt on climate science, according to a report from McClatchy.

The outrage stems from a leaked internal document from the rightwing Heartland Institute that was made public last month. A detailed strategy and funding memorandum, the document showed that GM had given the group $30,000 since 2010.

The campaign to press GM on their funding of a group well known for its campaign to deny global warming was organized by Forecast the Facts, an public advocacy group that has historically aimed to cast light on how meteorologists coverage of severe weather and climate change impacts public perceptions of how those phenomenon are related to man-made global warming.

The group set up a page on their website and has been posting short expressions of outrage by current and former GM customers upset by the revelations. A couple samples include:

 “You’re currently synonymous with the eco-friendly Chevy Volt, therefore this revelation will send a mixed message that will do maximum damage to your PR at the height of all the press you’re getting for your comeback. Knock it off now, or I’m never buying another GM vehicle, even an electric.” -Martin, Northville, MI

 “My roots with G.M. go way back to my grandfather, Martin Menton, working for Fisher Body in the old day, & his sons followed suit, joining General Motors in their design dept., so what G.M. does is always important to me for personal reasons and as a tax payer, for economic reasons. Let’s not give the anti-climate people any encouragement by contributing to their organizations! Be careful with our money & your reputation.” -Cinthia, Fountain Hills, AZ

 “There’s very little to be lost if you believe that man has a part in global warming and it turns out down the road the he deoesn’t. But being determined that global warming is a hoax and then finding out when it’s too late you’re wrong, will only bring disaster to you and our planet. One would think that a company like GM would be looking to the future and would be doing everything it can to ensure that the future even comes; not supporting an organization which tells you to close your eyes and pretend there’s no danger that may make the future be tomorrow.” -Alayna, Deer Isle, ME