Chamber of Commerce Sues Yes Men
The
U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suing the Yes Men, activist group that
fooled several media outlets into reporting that the chamber had
changed its position on climate change legislation. Meanwhile, pressure
continues to mount against the business lobbying group for its
opposition to the legislation.
The chamber filed a civil complaint this week against the Yes Men to protect its trademark and other intellectual property from unlawful use.
The activists, aiming to bring attention to the chamber's opposition to the climate bill, last week managed to dupe the media with a fake press release with the chamber's logo announcing the business group had it changed its position on the legislation and was also supporting the adoption of a carbon tax. The Yes Men also managed to lure reporters to a press conference at the National Press club where, standing at a podium adorned with the chamber's logo, a member of the activist group pretended to be a representative of the chamber.
"The defendants are not merry pranksters tweaking the establishment," said Steven Law, general counsel for the chamber, according to the Associated Press. "Instead, they deliberately broke the law in order to further commercial interest in their books, movies and other merchandise."
The Yes Men's Andy Bichlbaum told MarketWatch that the stunt was designed to call attention to the Chamber's opposition to the climate bill. He said he welcomed legal action from the business group for using its logo because "it would bring even more attention to the issue."
The chamber's opposition to climate change legislation has compelled some utility companies, as well as other businesses like Apple, to leave the group. The environmental organization Greenpeace is now asking other technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and IBM, to follow Apple's lead.
"The [information technology] industry stands to profit significantly by selling energy efficient tech solutions to reduce greenhouse gases, yet has been dramatically outspent and mostly silent in support of strong climate policies in the United States or internationally," Greenpeace said in a statement. "Instead, IT companies continue to fund the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's regressive and destructive stance on climate issues, even when unaligned with their own climate policies."
As hearings begin on Capitol Hill over the Senate's climate change legislation, the focus is currently largely on the measure's economic impact, the Washington Post reports.
The chamber filed a civil complaint this week against the Yes Men to protect its trademark and other intellectual property from unlawful use.
The activists, aiming to bring attention to the chamber's opposition to the climate bill, last week managed to dupe the media with a fake press release with the chamber's logo announcing the business group had it changed its position on the legislation and was also supporting the adoption of a carbon tax. The Yes Men also managed to lure reporters to a press conference at the National Press club where, standing at a podium adorned with the chamber's logo, a member of the activist group pretended to be a representative of the chamber.
"The defendants are not merry pranksters tweaking the establishment," said Steven Law, general counsel for the chamber, according to the Associated Press. "Instead, they deliberately broke the law in order to further commercial interest in their books, movies and other merchandise."
The Yes Men's Andy Bichlbaum told MarketWatch that the stunt was designed to call attention to the Chamber's opposition to the climate bill. He said he welcomed legal action from the business group for using its logo because "it would bring even more attention to the issue."
The chamber's opposition to climate change legislation has compelled some utility companies, as well as other businesses like Apple, to leave the group. The environmental organization Greenpeace is now asking other technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and IBM, to follow Apple's lead.
"The [information technology] industry stands to profit significantly by selling energy efficient tech solutions to reduce greenhouse gases, yet has been dramatically outspent and mostly silent in support of strong climate policies in the United States or internationally," Greenpeace said in a statement. "Instead, IT companies continue to fund the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's regressive and destructive stance on climate issues, even when unaligned with their own climate policies."
As hearings begin on Capitol Hill over the Senate's climate change legislation, the focus is currently largely on the measure's economic impact, the Washington Post reports.
"Don't Get Between A Corporation And A Dollar Bill".
Awesome stunt for both shoving the Chamber in the corner AND exposing the sorry state of our Media.
Mars polar cap is receding as well, could that be because of the robots placed up there by "humans"?
If the environmentalists can control the Earth, maybe they will set their sights on controling the universe as well. Perhaps they will install a thermostat some where that they will use to control the temperature so there will be a constant range that the sun won't be able to change. But basicaly, all they want to control is the political and monetary portions of the planet.
You have to agree though, you use more water while brushing than someone who doesn't have indoor plumbing and running water. Right? So if there is even a remote possibility that fresh water may be at risk of running out wouldn't you want to turn off the tap while brushing?
There is more profit and jobs in progress than in milking the existing system. Sometimes people don't can't see this for fear of change.
The enviros can't bring this planet back from the abyss they are claiming we are in, they can't even stop what they claim is happening, they are to blame for some of the things that have happened that cause the spike in CO2. The planet itself has caused the biggest amount of "green house gases", but it's easier to blame people for it, right?
I don't run water when I brush my teeth, even though we have plenty, I have been where people don't have much water, and what they have is not drinkable, but if it is all you have,,,,, then drink.
Since their inception into our government the enviros have been milking the system and making an excellent living at it, they, like big business, are greedy, the more they get, the more they want. They, in reality, have become big business.
There's far more to this planet than the enviros want people to see, they only want people to see things the way they want people to see them. With government help the enviros can gain more money and power than ever before, all they have to do is hype the fear level.
As far as change, the only change this administration has made is incorperating private industry into the government. "Change you can believe in".
I have no fear of change, as long as that change doesn't take advantage of people, and take from them for the express advantage of those manipulating the system.