$3 billion.
$3 billion.
Virgin CEO Richard Branson’s pledge to fight climate change. At the Clinton Global Initiative, Branson announced he was investing “100 percent of all future proceeds to the Virgin Group from our transportation interest, both our trains and airline businesses, into tackling global warming.” The donation exceeds the total amount of commitments from last year’s conference ($2.5 billion).
UPDATE: NYT reports:
Mr. Branson said the idea had grown out of a visit to his London home a few months ago by former Vice President Al Gore, who is on a prolonged worldwide speaking tour to promote “An Inconvenient Truth,” his documentary and book about global warming.
“You are in a position maybe to make a difference,” Mr. Branson said Mr. Gore had told him. “If you can make a giant step forward other people will follow.”
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That man is an angel!
September 21st, 2006 at 12:58 pmThat just goes to show Global Warming is a Business, worse than big oil.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:12 pmAnyone wonder why scientist exagerate now?
WOW! Do I hear any pledges from Republicans? Bush? Cheney?
(sounds of crickets chirping….)
September 21st, 2006 at 1:13 pmThat just proves Global Warming is a business, worse than big oil. Anyone
September 21st, 2006 at 1:14 pmwonder why scientist would exagerate now?
Right ON! The government burries its head in the sand and at least some of the private sector steps up! Branson is a man ahead of the times AND he has money and a conscience. Imagine that!
September 21st, 2006 at 1:16 pm#2 - I’m afraid you’re going to have to expand on that line of thought because it seems absolutely bat-sh*t crazy. Global Warming is a big business comparable with Big Oil? WTF mate? Gimme some of that stuff you’re smoking!
See, in Big Oil you actually have REAL CEOs who provide funding to REAL organizations which have the stated goal of confusing people on the truth behind global warming. On the pro-global warming side we have… what exactly? Government paid scientists and private university researchers working together all over the world, INDEPENDANTLY arriving at the same conclusion. They are merely trying to warn us of what is innevitable if we don’t make major changes. I don’t see how they can be motivated by money the same way the anti-global warming MINORITY of so called scientists is.
Get a freakin clue and start becoming part of the solution or you will never be able to look your kids and grandkids in the eye when they ask YOU what you did to stop global warming.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:21 pmGotta love Branson — the guy is one of the few rich folks that really undestand that their wealth should be used for the greater good, rather than just hording it for … well, I dunno. A few more cars? A huge house they never live in? A ginormous boat that just sits at the dock for 350 days out of the year?
September 21st, 2006 at 1:21 pmBranson’s announcement comes one day after the Bush administration said it was committing $3 billion to climate technology research and development.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:21 pmSnowpack,
No one ever said that you had to lose money while helping the environment. That is a Repug myth. Being business savy people and companies can make a profit and feel like they are doing things right. And nothing is worse than big oil in the blood money department.
Why am I addressing this guy?
September 21st, 2006 at 1:26 pmThat man is lying or misquoted. Virgin is part of a publicly traded company and if that publicly traded company gave all it profits away, the company would actually die within a day as there sharprice would drop to around 1 cent and then disintigrate. On top of that, it would then have to cut every single job the company had as it went under.
Was he really saying that HE was pledging his earnings. At least that would make sense and is free to do so. That would also make him an incredibly nice guy.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:26 pmpaul
Unlike Bush, Branson tends to keep his word.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pmKudos Balloon Guy!
Tangent; Perhaps his Jets may one day fly on bio fuel!
Completed extensive thermal stability, low temperature viscosity, and emissions testing of one Fischer-Tropsch (FT). fuel and initiated testing of FT/JP-8 …
September 21st, 2006 at 1:33 pmhttp://www.dtic.mil/ descriptivesum/ Y2007/ AirForce/ 0602203F.pdf
Gotta love Branson — the guy is one of the few rich folks that really undestand that their wealth should be used for the greater good, rather than just hording it for … well, I dunno. A few more cars? A huge house they never live in? A ginormous boat that just sits at the dock for 350 days out of the year?
Obviously unaware of the ENTIRE ISLAND that Branson owns, and uses a “ginormous” boat to get to.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pmMan, I love this guy! What a class act! What a visionary!
This dude has demonstrated over and over again, with his own resources no less, that he is willing to try to change things for the better.
I believe that he is setting an example for all that you can take a vision (Visions that usually involve improving the human experience) and work hard to make it a reality.
This guy just goes for it. I’ll always pull for him to succeed. We need more like him.
We need more Ansaris, Gates, Hathaways, Rockefellers, etc… Ole Ted Turner’s been doing some cool stuff lately too!
September 21st, 2006 at 1:41 pmAt the same conference the bushco representative pledged that Halliburton would not steal more than half of it.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:43 pmRoger,
The only lying or misquoting going on comes from you repukliclones. Virgin is a huge company, with a wide offering of products and services. So before you even attempt to call someone a liar, I suggest you research the man and the company. The profits from one sector of their business would not doom the company. As a matter of fact, it may even help improve their image (something you on the right could learn a lot about). And their other products sell better.
Paul,
Bush pledged this only because it’s election time, and some of his GOP buddies are begging him to do something positivie for their pathetic image. He should have been doing this 5 years ago when we were attacked, and before he started his crusade across the middle east.
Hell we might even have a country thats partially converted to renewable energy. Guess Bush and Cheney don’t know anyone in the renewable energy businees to give them some kickbacks like they do for oil and defense.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:50 pmBranson is probably doing this as the research could lead to cost savings for him. He owns about a dozen personal jets, 10+ ships that are bigger then public cruise lines, around 20+ mansions, and his own personal island. I am sure his emissions from 1 day are equal to a small state. The guy says he cares, yet burns more fossil fuels for his personal enjoyment then half of america combined. I love the Irony.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:52 pmIt’s a smart investment.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:56 pmAnd yes,
Bush should have done something about this 5 years ago. Big Global Warming guy Al Gore was also in Office for 8 years and did absolutely nothing. If Bush puts 3 billion towards it, it is more then Clinton and Gore did. I guess we are slowly moving in the proper direction. Hopefully the next administration will go even further.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:05 pmRoger
How can one man fly 12 jets, 10 ships, and use 20 mansions all at the same time? One thing you people on the right miss is the logic. So what if he owns all that stuff. You sound jealous.
I get it, he has all his people working for him just fly them around to waste money, and energy so people like you could be right?
Swiftboating supreme!
September 21st, 2006 at 2:07 pmRoger Roger, once again spewing crap out of your mouth, are you really that stupid, or do you get paid to play an idiot?
Clinton and Gore tried like hell to increase spending, it was you lame ass repukliclones who wouldn’t allow it:
http://clinton4.nara.gov/ WH/ EOP/ nec/ html/ MinskEnergy000701.html
And since you clones have a very short attention span, here’s a nice quote:
THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO ACT TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA’S ENERGY SECURITY: The Republican leadership has failed to act on key elements of the President’s long-term energy policy, including: tax incentives to consumers for the purchase of energy-efficient cars, homes and appliances; comprehensive electricity restructuring; and reauthorization of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Over the past seven years, Congress has approved only 12 percent of the increased funding proposed by the President for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:11 pmOh I ain’t upset at all. I think he has every right. I just doesn’t feel right when someone that fly’s personal jets (instead of public ones), buys boats that are 100 time larger then needed, and owns 20+ homes that all have to use up emssions and still says we need to do something.
One would think he would start by getting rid of all those toys and extra houses that are causing the problem. He should start by buying a townhouse, own 1 electric car, and only use public flights to get places. At least he would be setting an example.
What he is doing right now simply looks elitist. Telling us how to live, yet not following it yourself is really cheezy.
Kinda like Gore. The guy is all big on Global warming, yet fly’s private jets, owns multi mansion size houses, and spend 8 years in government doing nothing to fix global warming. Now he goes out to tell us how to live? Maybe he should start be living that way. The message would just have more bite to it.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:15 pmsnowpack, roger roger, you guys need to get some professional help. As the polar ice caps melt before our eyes, the glaciers recede and disappear at an alarming rate, global temperatures set consecutive record highs, and virtually the entire scientific community agree it’s the real deal, you guys come up ever more delusional ways to maintain your fantasy. Is it an unspoken rule that maintaining your right-wing status requires you to be total a total dumb-ass?
September 21st, 2006 at 2:15 pm#20 - er big global warming guy Al signed the US up to Kyoto - the first and only treaty attmepting to limit greenhouse gas emissions….sure that was nothing, Bush proved that it meant nothing two years later. Interesting how one business and one man running that business can commit nearly as much resources as the United States to the problem? I think Bush loses this big Johnson contest.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:16 pmEternal springs,
You obviously haven’t read my other posts on Global Warming. I 100% believe that Global wamring is happening and it is caused my humans. So, your post is simply wrong.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:19 pm#23 - Rogx2 - Gore appears to be trying to make himself ‘carbon neutral’ according to this at the BBC - how are you doing? Perhaps you should think before you smear, Roger. Might avoid embarrassing gaffes like this. We’re here to help you, Rog.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:19 pmActually, Gore is claiming that his book tour and his efforts to pitch his movie were Carbon Neutral. He has never came out and said he is living his personal life carbon neutral. It would be tough seeing as though the man owns homes in multiple states and owns a fleet of cars and boats. If he did, good for him. I am impressed by his effort.
Again, I don’t deny Global warming at all. I simply think that unless the entire world decided to cut emissions together it is hopeless.
September 21st, 2006 at 3:01 pmrob (#13)–
Actually, I meant to add “another” to the post. But since TP doesn’t have a preview post feature, didn’t notice it until it was too late.
But thanks for pointing that out and not addressing the issue at hand.
September 21st, 2006 at 3:08 pmRoger-Roger (#29)–
September 21st, 2006 at 3:12 pmTry again. — Gore does live a carbon neutral life.
Branson is rich. He must therefore be evil, and incapable of doing anything for the benefit of anyone else.
But wait, he is now doing something positive about a problem he feels needs solving! Shock, horror, the man is actually putting his money where his mouth is and funding research to combat global warming! To the tune of 3 billion dollars!
Solving problems isn’t what rich people should be doing! They shouldn’t be using their huge multinational companies to actually benefit mankind! Why, this attacks the whole conservative world view, where rich people should be worshipped as cruel and apathetic gods! For a rich person to show that he actually gives a shit, why he must be some kind of…
Elitist Liberal Hypocrit! Yeah that’s the ticket! If we keep on telling ourselves this maybe we won’t have to ask why we are doing so little about these problems. /Republikan Logik.
September 21st, 2006 at 3:15 pmLook, there’s no point in trying to label any of these men as hypocrites even IF that were the case.
The fact is these men (Gore, Branson) are doing FAR more to bring about the really necessary changes in the overall social structure to fight global warming. That will make a far more heavy impact long-term than having 10 huge boats and 20 mansions.
September 21st, 2006 at 4:53 pmWhat he is doing right now simply looks elitist. Telling us how to live, yet not following it yourself is really cheezy.
Kinda like Bush. The guy is all big on being a uniter, yet advocates torture, banning gay marriage, and spend no serious political or fiscal capital on immigration. Now he goes out to tell us how to live? Maybe he should start be living that way. The message would just have more bite to it.
Comment by Roger_Roger?
September 21st, 2006 at 5:36 pmRoger Roger,
God you are so not in touch with reality, to say governments have almost nothing to do with the economy is such bull shit. Had “we the people” recieved the tax cuts OUR govt gives to the upper 5% and coorporations, we the people would not be in the position we are now. You see give a tax cut to someone who doesn’t really need any more money doesn’t do any one but them and their children good. They just save it. Give the tax cuts to the middle and lower class, and they’ll be more likely to spend it. Our economy lately has increased only on credit. We are borrowing more, both at an individual level, and our govt borrowing money from China. Our defecit is out of control.
Had our govt “invested” 4 billion a month in building our infrastructure, alternative energy, stem cell research, and our educational system, think of the jobs that would create, and lives it would save. Instead we’re spending 4 billion a month in a war we’ll never win, one we were lied to to get in. And that creates hate for America all over the world, even by allies. Many people now refuse to buy american goods because of OUR GOVT.
Had our govt imposed stricter rules on coorporations, and itself, instead of gay people getting married. We might not see the corruption we do now in both private sector ala Enron, MCI, Qwest, as well as our own govt. Just see Ney from Ohio who will still get his pension despite breaking the law while in office. Hell if I got fired from my job for anything illegal, even a DUI and I would lose my job. I wouldn’t get my pension.
How many books for the young (and old) could we print for 1 billion a month, let alone 4 billion? Ahh but when you’re Bush who’s last book read in 15 years was My Pet Goat, you don’t understand books, and educaiton will spread democracy far better than bullets and bombs.
September 21st, 2006 at 7:03 pmRoger the richest should be paying 85%, sadly that’s not the case. This will explain better than I ever could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA1f2MefsMM
September 21st, 2006 at 8:06 pmRoger x 2 is seeing triple
September 21st, 2006 at 8:33 pmSorry Rogerx2,
You aren’t going to get the whole world to do anything at the same time. The point is, we’ve got to start somewhere, because what we’re doing ain’t working.
September 21st, 2006 at 10:42 pmTo RogerX2
I think this basically goes for your whole argument…
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:39 am#43 - Roger - please tell me where this comes from - not just the Department of Energy. Here’s what I found on the DOE’s website:
For gasoline to be at $1.15, the price of opil would need to be below $20 a barrel…..
I hope for your sake, you are not budgeting your ARM mortgage payments with your gasoline savings.
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:20 amIt’s not just the amount of money he’s committing, or even about the splash he makes. Richard Branson’s pledge to invest $3 billion in energy-related solutions underscores a great leadership legacy in formation.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:40 pm