A Climate Poem: Big Oil’s Lies and How to Respond

Hi all,

I’ve got something a little different for you today.

On occasion, I dabble with poetry. This one sort of just started pouring out of me one night when I couldn’t fall asleep. The next day I decided some of you may actually enjoy it, so I spent several more hours getting it to a good place.

Stories of the fossil fuel industry, big agriculture, trade associations, utilities, and others' disinformation campaigns are increasingly being uncovered by investigative journalists and historians. I just name big oil in this because it’s the most well-known.

If there are any true crime fans out there, or if you just want to learn more about the incredibly destructive, effective, and decades-long disinformation campaigns and predatory delay (still happening today), check out the articles, podcast, cartoon, and video at the end of the poem.

…also any ideas for a title are more than welcome ??

Humanity’s future has all but been sold

And this is the tale that needs to be told.

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For decades we’ve been cheated, lied to, deceived

Kidnapped by a wealthy few’s infinite greed.

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Big oil knew climate change was real as can be

They knew it’d harm folks, like you and me.

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You see, as they raised their oil rigs to deal with future sea level rise

They were also spending billions to fill our heads with propaganda and lies.

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So our world today still runs on fossil fuels

Because from the 80s til now, they’ve played us like fools.

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Big oil fights against humanity to make their profit sky-rocket

And pays off politicians – stuffing them deep in their pocket.

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They have them delay action and spread all their lies

And they’re all okay watching, as life on Earth dies.

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They tell us it’s our fault and to change our individual actions

They turn us against each other – creating new factions.

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But that is another lie – a white one at least

Because individual action alone can’t tackle this beast.

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We must rise united, we must work together

To have any chance of making life on Earth better.

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Still today, they have a stranglehold on humanity’s fate

But the story’s not over – it’s not too late.

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Though it is high time we all face what’s gone wrong

For the lies, greed, and evil have ruled us too long.

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So what can you do, you may want to ask

How could you possibly help with this daunting task?

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Though it’s easy to feel unimportant or too small to act

That belief is just false – it’s simply a fact.

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So enough with the thoughts that make you feel powerless

Because your help is sorely needed to get us out of this mess.

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And I don’t care if you’re brand new to this or how green you are

If you want a livable future, we’re on the same team – it’s not a high bar.

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Although there’s much to do, the solution is clear

So share it around – fill many an ear:

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This moment demands we join forces and do all we can think of

To protect this place we call home – and the people we love.

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In case you want to learn more about the fossil fuel industry's predatory delay:

• Drilled?is a great podcast to check out: “Secret documents, psychological warfare, whistleblowers, media manipulation, this is a story that has it all. Join us as we uncover the mechanics of the longest-running and most elaborate propaganda campaign of the century—the creation and spread of climate change denial—and why it’s been so effective.”
• This is an excellent comic detailing how big oil found out about global warming 60 years ago and what they've done to mislead the public and delay climate action ever since. And here's a fantastic TEDx video version:

• Inside Climate News?(award-winning investigative journalism).
• Also worth taking a look at the following people's work if you're interested in the disinformation campaigns and predatory delay: Amy Westervelt, Naomi Oreskes, Geoffrey Supran, Robert Brulle, Emily Sanders, and Ben Franta. As well as the US House of Representatives' findings on their recent investigation into the fossil fuel industry's disinformation.

Best,

Ryan

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