A report just released by the Union of Concerned Scientists should be required reading for every US citizen and taught in every civics, psychology, or science curriculum.

Smoke, Mirrors & Hot Air - How ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco's Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science was released January 3, 2007. You can read the entire report by going to  http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/ExxonMobil-GlobalWarming-tobacco.html

The report states, "ExxonMobil has drawn upon the tactics and even some of the organizations and actors involved in the callous disinformation campaign the tobacco industry waged for 40 years. Like the tobacco industry, ExxonMobil has:

* Manufactured uncertainty...

* Adopted a strategy of information laundering...

* Promoted scientific spokespeople who misrepresent peer-reviewd scientific findings or cherry-pick facts...

* Attempted to shift the focus away from meaningful action on global warming with the misleading charges about the need for "sound science."

* Used its extraordinary access to the Bush administration to block federal policies and shape government communications on global warming."

This meticulously researched and documented report, written in crisp prose everyone can understand, is worth reading and sharing. Even if you already know most of the component facts, you will be taken aback to see it all put together. It makes the Enron scandal look like child's play.

ExxonMobil's disinformation campaign has been a smashing success: The USA did not ratify Kyoto, the American public was kept confused, and the federal Energy Bill recently passed in Congress handed over a huge amount of our tax money to the oil industry. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil continued to get rich in all the usual ways.

The saddest part is how much time we lost in developing renewable energy and in reducing (or I should say, slowing the increase in) greenhouse gas emissions. Now, we're having to talk "adaptation" to climate change that will ravage various parts of the globe. Every year that we remain in limbo makes any future effort that much more expensive.

Furthermore, "adaptation" really means the wealthier countries and people find ways to survive while the less fortunate perish. Farewell, New Orleans, your final fate may not be far off.

One of the things that impresses me is that ExxonMobil really didn't need to spend huge amounts of money to accomplish all this: $16 million between 1998 and 2005. A pittance, really. It has been quite a bargain for the company.

Which industry will try this next?

Can any other industry harm us as much?

The links that will lead you to actions are listed in Greengranny ( http://www.greengranny.org) and on Green Seniors ( http://www.greenseniors.org). They are not the only good environmental links by any means, but they are ones that are what they say they are, and are good places to get started.

I've read in the press that 70 percent of the American public now believes that global warming is a serious problem.

If you haven't yet begun to do your part, start today!