Greenpeace and Other Environmental Groups Oppose Waxman-Markey Climate Bill

Interview with Damon Moglen, Greenpeace Global Warming Campaign director, conducted by Scott Harris

Efforts over the past eight years to pass legislation to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change were blocked by the Bush Administration, which often characterized global warming as a myth. The White House under Bush was caught censoring scientific papers and deleting information from government websites that contradicted the corporate-conservative view that human activity has nothing to do with the warming of the planet.

In stark contrast to Bush and his GOP opponent John McCain, Barack Obama campaigned for the presidency by promising to fight the coal, gas and oil industries to implement new policies that would control greenhouse gasses. With Congress and the White House firmly in Democratic hands after the 2008 election, many environmental activists were optimistic that the nation's failure to address climate change would soon change. After months of debate, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Democratic Reps. Waxman and Markey, approved "carbon cap and trade" legislation on May 21. The American Clean Energy and Security Act, as its called, would require 17 percent reduction of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and an 83 percent decrease by 2050.

While the bill has the backing of corporations like Alcoa, Duke Energy and GE, and qualified support from the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club, environmental groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have denounced the measure as a sellout to big business. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Damon Moglen, Greenpeace Global Warming Campaign director, who explains why his group can't support the Waxman-Markey climate legislation.

Contact Greepeace by calling (202) 462-1177 or visit their website at www.greenpeace.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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