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Mediamatters.Org - On the June 24 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, co-host Sean Hannity
criticized the purchase of credits to offset one's "carbon
footprint," asserting, "Those offsets -- that is the biggest hoax
in the world. ... You know what it's like? You go cheat on your wife,
and then say, 'Honey,
but don't worry. I bought an offset.'
Good luck." Conservationist
Howard Gould responded,
"I've got news for you. You better get used to it, because both
presidential candidates have talked about a cap and trade system coming down.
So you're going to be offsetting yourself, as well, even whether you like it or
not." Hannity replied: "I happen to know your wife, and she's a
wonderful lady," adding, "And good luck -- and good luck if you
ever seek the indulgence." Hannity's comparison of purchasing
carbon offsets to "cheat[ing] on your wife" echoes Chris Horner, senior
fellow for the energy-industry-funded
Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), who, during the July 9 edition of Hannity & Colmes, likened the purchase of carbon
offsets to a priest buying "adultery offsets."
As Media Matters for
America has documented, Hannity has previously
derided carbon offsets as a "sham," a "crock," and a
"ridiculous concept," and has repeatedly criticized former Vice
President Al Gore's reported use of them. However, Hannity has yet to address
the pledge by News
Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch "to be carbon neutral, across all
our businesses" -- which includes Fox News -- "by 2010." Murdoch
specifically mentioned that his plan calls for reducing net carbon emissions to
zero "through a combination of operational changes and carbon
offsets."
On May 9, 2007, News Corp. announced that all
of its "business units will become carbon neutral by 2010 -- through
energy efficiency, buying renewable power and offsetting otherwise unavoidable
emissions. Becoming carbon neutral is only the beginning of the company's
permanent commitment to change the way it uses energy and to reach its
audiences on this issue." In a speech that day,
Murdoch went into greater detail regarding News Corp.'s plan to use carbon
credits to offset "unavoidable" emissions:
MURDOCH: While we reduce our own
carbon footprint we will encourage the companies who truck our DVDs and
newspapers, sell us paper, and provide an enormous range of products and services
-- to all contribute.
Today, we are joining the Climate
Group, a coalition of businesses and governments working together to solve the
climate problem.
But some emissions will be
unavoidable. As a last resort, we will offset these emissions.
A carbon offset is a financial tool
to support projects that prevent carbon from being released into the
atmosphere. Done right, they will widen the implementation of carbon-saving
technologies, and give an incentive to create new solutions.
We have entered into an agreement to
begin purchasing carbon offsets this year, from projects that provide wind
power in India.
When our net emissions reach zero --
through a combination of operational changes and carbon offsets -- we will be
carbon neutral.
News Corp. has since updated its website, including an
"Energy" section that states, "We aim to
transform our business practices in order to significantly reduce our energy
use and carbon emissions. Each News Corporation business unit is on the path to
achieving carbon neutrality, net zero carbon emissions." In an "Ongoing
Initiatives" section, the
website states that "[f]or the second straight year, the Fox Broadcasting
Company Programming Presentation will be going carbon neutral," adding
that "to reach net zero emissions, Fox will invest in carbon offsets from
renewable energy projects that reduce emissions equivalent to the unavoidable
emissions from the event." The Ongoing Initiatives section also states:
Fox produced the first-ever
carbon-neutral Emmy Awards show. Highlights include partnering with the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power to secure renewable energy for the Shrine
Auditorium, installing a solar canopy above the red carpet grandstands, a red
carpet and stage area blue carpet made from 95,000 recycled plastic bottles,
and a press tent illuminated with only compact fluorescent and LED lighting
technology. Plus the solar system has been donated to a local school and will
continue generating renewable energy for the next 25 years.
From the June 24 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: I drive a hybrid. I've got
a Chevy Tahoe -- hybrid in my backyard.
GOULD: Yeah.
HANNITY: That big SUV gets 21 miles
per gallon.
GOULD: But are you pro -- I mean,
are you talking about putting solar panels on the roof of your house?
HANNITY: As soon as Ted Kennedy puts
up his windmills, we'll talk about windmills; we put it off Nantucket Sound;
I'll join you. Did you ever fly in a private jet?
GOULD: I have, yes.
HANNITY: Yeah, you have. So why
should we listen to you. I mean, with all -- you sound like a typical Lear Jet
liberal. Did you ever drive around in a limousine?
GOULD: Sure.
HANNITY: Sure. So why should we
listen to liberals --
COLMES: I'm going to give you some
carbon offsets before you leave this evening.
GOULD: Exactly, I mean that's what
I was getting into right now. The fact is that when I do is -- I actually
offset.
HANNITY: Those offsets -- that is
the biggest hoax in the world.
GOULD: Well, I don't know --
HANNITY: That you can buy your way
-- you know what that's like? You know what it's like? You go cheat on your
wife, and then say, "Honey, but don't worry. I bought an offset."
GOULD: Yeah, but Sean --
HANNITY: Good luck.
GOULD: I've got news for you. You
better get used to it, because both presidential candidates have talked about a
cap and trade system coming down. So you're going to be offsetting yourself, as
well, even whether you like it or not.
HANNITY: I happen to know your wife,
and she's a wonderful lady. And good luck -- and good luck if you ever seek the
indulgence. It's not gonna -- but anyway, good to see you. Thanks for being
with us. Media Matters - Hannity compared carbon offsets to "cheat[ing] on your wife," ignored Murdoch's efforts to make News Corp. carbon neutral {...} On Hannity & Colmes , Sean Hannity criticized the purchase of credits to offset one's "carbon footprint," asserting, "Those offsets -- that is the biggest hoax in the world. ... You know what it's like? You go cheat on your wife, and then say, 'Honey, but don't worry. I bought an offset.' Good luck." Hannity has yet to address the pledge by News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch "to be carbon neutral, across all our businesses" -- which includes Fox News -- "by 2010." {...} Published: June 26, 2008, 12:13 am - Indexed: June 26, 2008, 9:58 am - Page Size: 24KB |