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Clearly encouraging environmentalism, Schwarzenegger strikes a 'sexy' pose next to his Hummer. (Photo via LA Times)
Facts Are For 'Sissies': Schwarzenegger Calls to 'Sex' Up Environmentalism
Speaking at his 'greenwashed' climate summit in Vienna, former Governor tries to rebrand the climate movement
Jan 31, 2013
Speaking Thursday at a largely-boycotted 'greenwashing' climate summit in Vienna, Austria, big-talking, Hummer-driving, enemy-terminating, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he thinks climate facts are all "doom and gloom" and is calling on leaders to "sex" up the environmental debate.
"There is a new way, a more sexy, a more hip way. Instead of using doom and gloom and telling people what they can't do, we should make them part of our movement and tell them what they can do," he said.
Schwarzenegger was speaking at the first conference of his new green movement, R20 Regions of Climate Action, which calls on local governments to "follow California's lead" and implement environmental legislation ahead of federal governments. However, largely absent from the conference are environmental organizations including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, who criticized the event for being "elitist" and "greenwashing."
"I mean I still drive my Hummers but now they are all on hydrogen and biofuel ... We need to send a message that we can live the same life, just with cleaner technology," he added, illustrating his unfamiliarity with the criticism that biofuels threaten international food security and encourage corporate land grabs.
"If we want to inspire the world, it is time for us to forget about the old way of talking about climate change, where we crush people, where we overwhelm people with data."
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Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Speaking Thursday at a largely-boycotted 'greenwashing' climate summit in Vienna, Austria, big-talking, Hummer-driving, enemy-terminating, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he thinks climate facts are all "doom and gloom" and is calling on leaders to "sex" up the environmental debate.
"There is a new way, a more sexy, a more hip way. Instead of using doom and gloom and telling people what they can't do, we should make them part of our movement and tell them what they can do," he said.
Schwarzenegger was speaking at the first conference of his new green movement, R20 Regions of Climate Action, which calls on local governments to "follow California's lead" and implement environmental legislation ahead of federal governments. However, largely absent from the conference are environmental organizations including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, who criticized the event for being "elitist" and "greenwashing."
"I mean I still drive my Hummers but now they are all on hydrogen and biofuel ... We need to send a message that we can live the same life, just with cleaner technology," he added, illustrating his unfamiliarity with the criticism that biofuels threaten international food security and encourage corporate land grabs.
"If we want to inspire the world, it is time for us to forget about the old way of talking about climate change, where we crush people, where we overwhelm people with data."
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Speaking Thursday at a largely-boycotted 'greenwashing' climate summit in Vienna, Austria, big-talking, Hummer-driving, enemy-terminating, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he thinks climate facts are all "doom and gloom" and is calling on leaders to "sex" up the environmental debate.
"There is a new way, a more sexy, a more hip way. Instead of using doom and gloom and telling people what they can't do, we should make them part of our movement and tell them what they can do," he said.
Schwarzenegger was speaking at the first conference of his new green movement, R20 Regions of Climate Action, which calls on local governments to "follow California's lead" and implement environmental legislation ahead of federal governments. However, largely absent from the conference are environmental organizations including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, who criticized the event for being "elitist" and "greenwashing."
"I mean I still drive my Hummers but now they are all on hydrogen and biofuel ... We need to send a message that we can live the same life, just with cleaner technology," he added, illustrating his unfamiliarity with the criticism that biofuels threaten international food security and encourage corporate land grabs.
"If we want to inspire the world, it is time for us to forget about the old way of talking about climate change, where we crush people, where we overwhelm people with data."
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