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by devwastaken 3268 days ago
>We cause these companies to pollute by creating a market demand for their products or services.

We do. But, what is your point there? Are you saying that individuals have the ability to group up and stop it by not buying? Because that would be true. But, there's always that problem of realism that gets in the way. In theory, yes, we could pretty much solve or do anything as humans. Does that mean its realistically possible? No. Corporations have grown up with capitalistic countries, and are ingrained in its culture and work.

Sure, I'll stop shopping at Walmart. Until I see my grocery bills go up, and my savings dipped into to pay bills. Its the same story for many, many others.

People don't know any better, and even if they did, and we all grouped together, these conglomerates have such a gargantuan amount of money stored away that they can bet it won't last. They'll win that bet. Employees go on strike, get new ones. Employees try to form a union, close the store, re-open a month later.

When you consider the absolutetely massive size of the money and assets here, the very notion that its 'our' fault, is true, but its reasonings misleading.

3 comments

I get all of that. You're spot on.

My point was just addressing the main theme of the article which is trying to make out that if we just got rid of these companies, we'd cut emissions by 71%. Well yeh sure, but then the world wouldn't continue to function as normal.

As individuals, we have the same methods as we always have. Don't drive when you can walk, use renewable energy, get an electric car, shop local, etc.

And of course, regulating both "ourselves", such that demand goes away. E.g. banning sales of diesel cars. And regulating businesses so that they aren't polluting unduly on our behalf e.g. carbon capture in power stations.

>the main theme of the article which is trying to make out that if we just got rid of these companies

That's the second time you've said that. What article are you reading?

The one I'm reading from this thread says: “Our purpose is not to name and shame firms, our purpose is to provide transparency and call attention to the quite extraordinary fact that just 100 companies played a crucial role in the problem,” said Pedro Faria, technical director of the Carbon Majors Database, which collected the information for the report. “It’s obvious they have a share of responsibility in the solution.”

I think that last sentence is key. These 100 companies are profiting off of creating the majority of the problem, some even maliciously. Does levying responsibility upon these companies necessitate their destruction?

The article says:

>The most polluting investor-owned companies on the list are ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Chevron

Are they trying to say that those companies pollute directly, or that they sell to people who then pollute?

Because the former is definitely the company's fault. And we should be asking them to stop that.

But the latter is entirely the responsibility of their customers. And that's us.

>Are they trying to say that those companies pollute directly, or that they sell to people who then pollute?

The companies are selling polluting materials, every single one of them is a producer of fossil fuels. Can you really sell a customer a gallon of gas and then blame them for the pollution when burning it?

Yes. Absolutely.
Yes, the free market approach is unlikely to succeed here, but that's why we have elected representatives.