Is Bill McKibben @350 a liar, idiot, or both?

This is the sort of stuff that just makes you want to scream.

From Oil Sands Fact Check, comes this interview with Bill McKibben: http://oilsandsfactcheck.org/2014/09/25/video-the-truth-about-the-anti-keystone-xl-rockefeller-brothers-fund/

Excerpt:

Timed to coincide with the anti-fossil fuel march in New York City over the weekend, the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation (RBF) led a press conference of groups announcing a pledge to divest from fossil fuels. Given that board members of RBF are heirs to the Rockefeller oil fortune, the media was led to believe that divestment from fossil fuels was a drastic change in practice for the foundation. Yet anyone who knows the least bit about RBF is well aware that foundation has given millions to groups that oppose fossil fuels for years.

In fact, RBF is credited for providing the financial support to launch 350.org. How do we know that? Because Bill McKibben himself reluctantly gave away those details in a little-watched YouTube video (full version of interview here) from three years ago with a news outlet called Climate Challenge.

 From the transcript:

Climate Challenge: So you don’t get money from Pew or Rockefeller or any of those big foundations?

McKibben: No we did. Rockefellers Brothers fund gave us some money right when we were starting out that’s been useful too.

Climate Challenge: But they no longer fund you?

McKibben: Uhh I don’t know. I don’t have that sort of… funders sitting in front of me.

Climate Challenge: Really? That’s usually something that people know.

McKibben: Rockefellers is one of our… is a great ally in this fight.

So now the question becomes just how much money has RBF pumped into 350.org over the years? Vivian Krause, writing in the Financial Post looked into that early last year and found the number to be in the millions. In a piece out just today, Ron Arnold digs into the actual investments.  No wonder McKibben was reluctant to divulge the information.

====================================================================================================

And here, in plain public view, with an easy to find simple search, is the answer to Bill McKibben’s “Uhh I don’t know.” moment.

350-funded-by-RBFh/t to Vivian Krause via Twitter

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September 30, 2014 4:05 am

Let´s face it, this climate warming issue is becoming a political hot potato. We would have to be very naive to expect the large scale efforts such as 350.org are only grassroots efforts. What I would love to know if whether some of these campaigns are funded by Chinese solar panel makers. Or whether the European anti fracking movement is really financed by Gazprom. That would be kinda funny, wouldn´t it?

Barbara
Reply to  Fernando Leanme
September 30, 2014 8:15 pm

Maybe Maurice Strong acts as an agent of the Chinese government? Shut down U.S. industry and shift it to China?

c1ue
September 30, 2014 4:52 am

350.org : Connect the Dolts

Clovis Marcus
September 30, 2014 9:27 am

A good interviewer would have had the numbers ready before he asked the question.
A good interviewer is like a good lawyer. Never ask a question you don’t already have the answer to.

September 30, 2014 11:39 am

Rockefeller’s support of “All Things Billy” began in 2008 with McKibben’s involvement with Step It Up – http://www.rbf.org/grants_grantees/search/results?tid=All&field_grant_amount_value%5Brange%5D=&date_filter%5Bmin%5D%5Byear%5D=&date_filter%5Bmax%5D%5Byear%5D=&keys=350&sort_by=field_grant_award_date_value&sort_order=DESC&items_per_page=5 . Funny that Bill had difficulty recalling his then four-year, six-figure sugar daddy during the December 2011 Climate Challenge interview. Then again, Rockefeller is synonymous with oil, which is probably best left unmentioned – not unlike selling your green-energy cable network to an oil-backed media outlet.
Climate change activism (like love) means never having to say you’re sorry.

David Ball
September 30, 2014 3:48 pm

Alarmists and facts are mutually exclusive.

September 30, 2014 6:04 pm

I’m really surprised that some of Bill McKibben statements don’t appear in http://bit.ly/1rJTgFx

CTRoberts
September 30, 2014 9:32 pm

“Is Bill McKibben @350 a liar, idiot, or both?”
Yes, yes and yes… and much more not fit to print, but worthy of pointed discussion in a court of law!… in the penalty phase.

October 1, 2014 7:25 am

6 of 1 & half a doz. of the other I would say!!

Walt Allensworth
October 8, 2014 3:44 pm

But.. but… their motives are pure, so taking money from big oil and employing deceitful astroturfing methods is ok.
Right? Anyone?
(hopefully no /sarc tag needed)