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Raging Grannies Question Facebook's "Sustainability Guru" at Climate Rally

by Raging Grannies Action League
The Raging Grannies questioned the role of hi tech in the climate movement at a rally held next door to Google headquarters this week. They spoke with Bill Weihl who said he is Sustainability Guru for Facebook. His previous title was Green Energy Czar when he held a similar position at Google. The Grannies stated they find both titles pretentious. Weihl said they are "fun".
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The Raging Grannies called out the hi tech industry at a rally held next to the Googleplex this week. They said any talk of Silicon Valley corporations being green is suspect, especially since both Google and Facebook happily joined with climate change deniers when they became members of the lobbying group ALEC.

Through the corporate-funded ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), companies vote behind closed doors to rewrite state laws to directly benefit themselves. In ALEC's own words, through membership corporations can have "a voice and a vote". ALEC is opposed to legislation that would curb carbon emissions and has tried to stop the teaching of climate change in schools.

In 2014 both Google and Facebook announced they would not renew membership in ALEC. Bill Weihl, Facebook's "Sustainability Guru", acknowledged in speaking with a member of the Grannies that this was due at least in part to public pressure. He said that joining ALEC was "not a wise decision". The Grannies wondered aloud how many other not-so-wise decisions hi tech companies are making, all the while painting themselves green.

Another organization on the Grannies' highly suspect list is Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG). In addition to Bill Weihl who spoke from the stage on behalf of Facebook, spokesperson for SVLG Mike Mielke was also given time on the rally agenda to plead the corporate case. Mielke made it sound as if the non-profit group is all for helping the community, but they pushed for two bills that exempted companies from California state sales taxes for purchasing equipment used in manufacturing and research.

The rally was organized by the Sierra Club. Bill Weihl is on the board of the Sierra Club Foundation.


§Grannies pose behind a rally participant and Bill Weihl of Facebook
by Raging Grannies Action League
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Grannies are making fists. Perhaps thumbs down in response to Facebook's thumbs up logo would have been in order
§Before the rally
by Raging Grannies Action League
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Grannies chatted with students and told them about Facebook's former allegiance with ALEC. Students said that hi tech has a poor reputation for engaging with communities on issues like workers’ rights and affordable housing
§Grannies/Students before the gathered Crowd
by Raging Grannies Action League
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§Google busses, symbol of gentrification, beyond SEIU members
by Raging Grannies Action League
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In this photo a Google bus pulls up to the company's HQ directly beyond SEIU members in attendance at the rally. At the same time an SEIU member employed at Google on its janitorial staff was speaking about how low-income workers such as herself are priced out of housing in Silicon Valley
§Mike Mielke, another corporate talking head
by Raging Grannies Action League
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Silicon Valley Leadership Group spokesperson Mielke made it sound as if the pro-business non-profit group is all for helping the community, but they pushed for two bills that would have exempt companies from state sales taxes for purchasing equipment used in manufacturing and research
§Grannies sang about their distrust of greenwashing companies like Google
by Raging Grannies Action League
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Before for an audience on the grassy lawn and later on stage
§Before the rally Grannies sang to an audience of students and later from the stage
by Raging Grannies Action League
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§3 of the 10 Grannies who came to the rally
by Raging Grannies Action League
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Grannies mean business
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