By Simon Leufstedt
Friday, 10 October, 2008

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Simon Leufstedt is the editor of Green Blog. Simon has previously studied Global Environmental Justice and is currently studying Human Ecology and Political Science at Lund University in Sweden. Simon is also blogging over at the Swedish 350 website and working with the Swedish TckTckTck organisation. You can follow Simon on Twitter.

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ABC Refuses To Run Ad That Attacks Big Oil

ABC, the American Broadcasting Company, seems to be bought up by big oil and the coal industry as they refuse to run the Repower America ad from the We Campaign. The ad attacks the dirty coal and oil industry while promoting green renewable energy as the real solutions to the energy crisis and climate change.

“Did you notice the ads after last night’s presidential debate? ABC had Chevron. CBS had Exxon. CNN had the coal lobby. But you know what happened last week? ABC refused to run our Repower America ad — the ad that takes on this same oil and coal lobby”, said Cathy Zoi, CEO of the We Campaign, in an email newsletter to the campaigns member two days ago.

ABC is still, after more than two days, refusing to say or even respond to the We Campaign about why they won’t run the Repower America ad.

“As our country faces deep economic problems, we need to be able to have an honest debate about the root causes of our problems. As Al Gore has said, “We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. And every bit of that has to change. As oil and coal backed groups outspend even major party committees in this political year, it’s outrageous that ABC would deny our ad”, said Cathy Zoi.

In response to the refusal the We Campaign launched an online petition site to make ABC change their mind. In just 24 hours over 100,000 have signed it and sent messages to ABC in support of the Repower America ad.

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I'm not really shocked that ABC would go this route, considering they probably get lots more money from the oil companies, but don't they realize the impact their network could make that will benefit everyone instead of those few oil tycoons?

I had written and posted this ad a few weeks ago, but I had to go back and edit it to add the latest bit about ABC's refusal to air it, and the petition that was created in support.

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