In the fifth and final entry of an eco-friendly look into the controversial Rolling Stone story by their political columnist Tim Dickinson aptly titled “The Climate Killers: Meet the 17 polluters and deniers who are derailing efforts to curb global warming”.  This is the final installment in a series of blogs we hoped would ask a few questions at would weigh public perception vs. the findings of the list.

First is an eco-friendly look at the flip-flopping of Sen. John McCain of Arizona.  The one time Maverick of the Republican Party was all for climate change in 2003, but this does not seem to be the case anymore. According to Dickinson “McCain frames his newfound stance as opposition to what he portrays as a $630 billion tax on corporate America, the measure as revised by the House actually provides the energy industry with more than $690 billion in pollution subsidies. McCain’s about-face may have more to do with his precarious electoral future: The senator is currently locked in a dead heat with likely primary challenger J.D. Hayworth, a knuckle-dragging former congressman”. No matter the reason, it is sad to see an eco-friendly person change their stance.

Finally a joint entry, Charles and David Koch, these brothers are the CEO and Executive Vice President of Koch Industries. Dickinson’s negative portrait counts the brothers as two entries but technically they are only one. Dickinson says “the multibillionaire brothers not only run the nation’s largest private energy company, they rival Exxon in funding the front groups that spread disinformation about the dangers of climate change”.

Let’s recap the list of 17 from Dickinson starting with the Climate Killer nickname he assigned to each of them:

1. The Profiteer - Warren Buffett - CEO, Berkshire Hathaway
2. The Disinformer - Rupert Murdoch - CEO, News Corporation
3. The Fake Protestor - Jack Gerard - President, American Petroleum
4. Burning Man - Rex Tillerson - CEO, ExxonMobil
5. The Dirty Democrat - Sen. Mary Landrieu - Democrat, Louisiana
6. The Drudge of Denial - Marc Morano - Founder, Climate Depot
7. God’s Denier - Sen. James Inhofe - Republican, Oklahoma
8. The Power Player - David Ratcliffe - CEO, Southern Company
9. The Arm Twister - Dick Gephardt - CEO, Gephardt Group
10. The Pundit - George Will - Commentator, ABC
11. The Know Nothing - Tom Donohue - President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
12. The Coal Baron - Don Blankenship - CEO, Massey Energy
13. The Hack Scientist - Fred Singer - Retired physicist, University of Virginia
14. The Flip Flopper - Sen. John McCain - Republican, Arizona
15. The Inquisitor - Rep. Joe Barton - Republican, Texas
16. and 17. The Tea Partiers - Charles and David Koch - CEO and Executive Vice President, Koch Industries

This list has been an eye-opening look at those who are in a position of power to change the way that business is done, information is disseminated and politics operates. There are an equal number of people who are doing their very best to promote an eco-friendly future and we praise them. We try to ensure that their good work is noted so that more people may hear their message and this list works in much the same way. Take this as a trial in the court of public opinion, gleam from it what you will, read Dickinson’s list as well, but no matter your stance this will make you think. Bear in mind that the everyday person has power, the power of their wallet and strength of their voice; be heard by writing to you local politician no matter what country you are in (only American officials were on this list). Remember that you too have the power to change things and give the world sustainable future.

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Tags: American Petroleum, carbon pollution, Charles and David Koch, Climate Change, Climate Depot, David Ratcliffe, Dick Gephardt, Don Blankenship, Eco Friendly, Exxon Mobil, Fossil Fuels, Fred Singer, gas company, George Will, Gephardt Group, Global Warming, greenhouse gases, Harry Reid, Jack Gerard, James Inhofe, Joe Barton, John McCain, Koch Industries, Marc Morano, Mary Landrieu, Massey Energy, Nancy Pelosi, Nike, planet forward, pollution, preserve fossil fuels, renewable energy, Rex Tillerson, Rolling Stone magazine, Rupert Murdoch, Southern Company, sustainable future, The Climate Killers, Tim Dickinson, Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Warren Buffett

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