EXXON'S WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION - Greenpeace UK

effectively created an impasse from which the only policy that could emerge was
inaction. By November, Raymond was arguing: ‘While the petro-phobia seems irrational
of course to us all, we cannot take for granted that it will go away without our diligent
efforts to dispel it.’
During the Kyoto negotiations in December 1997 Global Climate Coalition - the
Exxon front group - produced a press briefing stating: ‘Economic damage [of Kyoto]
could empty American pockets… millions of job losses, higher gasoline, food and heating
bills.’ It claimed that ‘US sovereignty is at risk’ and that ‘Negotiating test gives a UN
body – dominated by developing countries – permanent license to control US economic
growth, without senate ratification or domestic legislation’
The Global Climate Information Project took out a full page Washington Post
advertisement in March 1998, following the opening of the Kyoto agreement for
ratification. The advert referred back to the outcome of the senate vote: ‘Now that 95
Senators have showed their hand, it’s time for the president to show his’. Below the text
was a picture of a thumbs down hand.