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Indybay Feature
PG&E’s Greenwashing Countered by Make Out Session
Today was the first public action of a guerrilla collective dedicated to exposing PG&E’s massive and misleading PR campaign wallpapering our city for the last few months.
Today was the first public action of a guerrilla collective dedicated to exposing PG&E’s massive and misleading PR campaign wallpapering our city for the last few months.
PG&E was hosting a solar panel launch event at the LGBT Center, and guests included the CEO of PG&E, Mark Leno and Leland Ye. The protestors said they were excited about the LGBT center going solar, but felt that PG&E’s attempt to celebrate solar and the concept of “Green” smelled disingenuous, given that the company actually owns 0% solar, only 2% wind, and has long lobbied to cut the amount of solar energy it has to buy.
The counter-action was called ‘Make Out for Environmental Justice’. It involved two queer women on stilts who skillfully leaned in for a smooch in front of the LGBT entranceway, while holding a sign reading ‘Love Solar. Love LGBT. Question PG&E’, and a parasol reading ‘0% Solar’. Other signs at the event read: “Green Is Not PG&E” and “PG&E- 0% Solar, 2% Wind, 98% Hot Air.” The activists handed out informational fliers about PG&E to a highly receptive crowd and got friendly honks from numerous cars. Colorful balloons floated about, and one balloon markered with “Green is Not PG&E” was strung to float right alongside the solar panels being displayed at the press conference. See the picture for yourself.
State Senator Carole Midgen was scheduled to speak at the event, but upon hearing about the protest said she would respect the protestors and refused to speak at the event. Migden was the legislative sponsor for California’s Community Choice bill in 2001. Community Choice Energy is a well-researched plan to get San Francisco to move to 50% renewable truly green energy without raising consumer prices. The activists think this plan is the proverbial ‘bomb’ since it offers a truly green climate solution, while PG&E’s ‘ClimateSmart” program offers not a single drop of green energy.
To counter PG&E’s website: LetsGreenThisCity.org, the activists launched a website today at: http://www.LetsGreenWASHthisCity.org. The group, called Citizens Concerned about Climate Crisis, invite people to learn more about the truth behind PG&E’s $17 million PR campaign, by visiting their website and exploring pictures from the event (soon to be posted).
PG&E was hosting a solar panel launch event at the LGBT Center, and guests included the CEO of PG&E, Mark Leno and Leland Ye. The protestors said they were excited about the LGBT center going solar, but felt that PG&E’s attempt to celebrate solar and the concept of “Green” smelled disingenuous, given that the company actually owns 0% solar, only 2% wind, and has long lobbied to cut the amount of solar energy it has to buy.
The counter-action was called ‘Make Out for Environmental Justice’. It involved two queer women on stilts who skillfully leaned in for a smooch in front of the LGBT entranceway, while holding a sign reading ‘Love Solar. Love LGBT. Question PG&E’, and a parasol reading ‘0% Solar’. Other signs at the event read: “Green Is Not PG&E” and “PG&E- 0% Solar, 2% Wind, 98% Hot Air.” The activists handed out informational fliers about PG&E to a highly receptive crowd and got friendly honks from numerous cars. Colorful balloons floated about, and one balloon markered with “Green is Not PG&E” was strung to float right alongside the solar panels being displayed at the press conference. See the picture for yourself.
State Senator Carole Midgen was scheduled to speak at the event, but upon hearing about the protest said she would respect the protestors and refused to speak at the event. Migden was the legislative sponsor for California’s Community Choice bill in 2001. Community Choice Energy is a well-researched plan to get San Francisco to move to 50% renewable truly green energy without raising consumer prices. The activists think this plan is the proverbial ‘bomb’ since it offers a truly green climate solution, while PG&E’s ‘ClimateSmart” program offers not a single drop of green energy.
To counter PG&E’s website: LetsGreenThisCity.org, the activists launched a website today at: http://www.LetsGreenWASHthisCity.org. The group, called Citizens Concerned about Climate Crisis, invite people to learn more about the truth behind PG&E’s $17 million PR campaign, by visiting their website and exploring pictures from the event (soon to be posted).
For more information:
http://www.letsgreenwashthiscity.org
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This is a good posting, in terms of content.
But in terms of format,
the "summary"
should not be identical to the first few paragraphs of the text.
A few more minutes, or seconds,
of care
would make a
more readable
posting.
If you can't be bothered
to write a "summary"
(which can be merely a sub-head),
then use a few dots
[ ........ ]
as your pseudo-summary.
But in terms of format,
the "summary"
should not be identical to the first few paragraphs of the text.
A few more minutes, or seconds,
of care
would make a
more readable
posting.
If you can't be bothered
to write a "summary"
(which can be merely a sub-head),
then use a few dots
[ ........ ]
as your pseudo-summary.
uh, that was probably this person's first post to indybay. It was a great report. A lot of people are annoyed by the summary field, and that's just how it is. Everyone has a different way of writing posts, and that is good.
i happen to find the tortuga/sun/etc post format (pseudo-poetry) to be quite annoying.
Personally.
i happen to find the tortuga/sun/etc post format (pseudo-poetry) to be quite annoying.
Personally.
Nice action and congratulations!But one thing does bother me though, I am not sure why "making out" is so prominent here.It doesn't relate at all to the issue you are raising, and makes no sense given the message or context of the action.
we just wanted to make sure that the action was interpreted as being pro-LGBT, anti-PG&E. We regarded everyone at the LGBT center (including those wearing PG&E shirts) as a potential ally, and were actually quite successful at it! Since the facts speak for themselves, we wanted to just work on getting as much attention as possible. People weren't making out the whole time, but we were having a fun time crashing their press conference. I mean really... PG&E made it too easy for us! What are they thinking?... polluting this city for as many years as they have, and then blowing all of this money to project this green image? HA!
It's a bummer that these protesters are slamming a company that is one of the leaders in both renewable energy and gay rights. PG&E's PrideNetwork was one of the first and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employee associations in the Bay Area. Last year, it celebrated its 20th anniversary, and accomplished a lot - it co-chaired the PG&E AIDS Walk and raised $34,930 with over 70 walkers, including 3 PG&E officers; the group also generated one of PG&E’s largest turn-outs for the SF Pride Parade, with PrideNetwork members representing PG&E at City Hall for the flag-raising ceremony by the mayor.
Regarding renewable energy, PG&E delivers some of the cleanest energy in the country. Over 13% of its energy coming from eligbile renewable sources, including solar. If these protesters really wanted to accomplish something, their energy could be better spent contributing to Lets Green This City instead of bashing it and not providing any solutions - a true waste of energy.
Regarding renewable energy, PG&E delivers some of the cleanest energy in the country. Over 13% of its energy coming from eligbile renewable sources, including solar. If these protesters really wanted to accomplish something, their energy could be better spent contributing to Lets Green This City instead of bashing it and not providing any solutions - a true waste of energy.
We aren't trying to bash PG&E for what they do right, but for where they fall short: i.e. owning a mere 0% solar and 2% wind, lobbying against municipalities controlling their own energy, lobbying against incentives for individuals to install their own solar panels, offering only consumptive solutions to climate change (ClimateSmart) as opposed addressing to root causes of global warming, considering nuclear and big hydro "green", and forcing customers to pay for a $17 million greenwashing campaign... and all this after dragging their feet and polluting Bayview Hunter's Point for 77 years!
That's great that they do a lot for the LGBT community, but that's not what we are addressing here.
That's great that they do a lot for the LGBT community, but that's not what we are addressing here.
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