The fight against climate change is not just about scientific research and technological innovation; it's also a battle against misinformation and manipulation. In Australia, a sophisticated disinformation campaign is being waged against renewable energy, particularly offshore wind farms, and it's crucial to understand how these tactics work to protect our environment and the future of our planet. The anti-renewables movement is cloaking pro-fossil fuel agendas in the language of environmental and community concern, while remaining notably silent on the catastrophic impacts of fossil fuels.
The Rise of "Astroturfing": Fake Grassroots Movements
One of the key tactics employed in this disinformation campaign is the creation of fake grassroots movements, often referred to as “astroturfing.” These groups appear to be genuine community organisations, but they are actually funded and orchestrated by fossil fuel interests. These groups often use "slick," but anonymous websites to push pro-fossil fuel agendas while claiming to represent environmental and community concerns.
These "sham" community groups often import disinformation strategies from the US, using tactics and strategies previously used there. These groups heavily target local communities, particularly via social media, to spread their disinformation. Examples of these fake "grassroots" movements include websites like "No Offshore Wind Turbines," "Responsible Futures (Illawarra)," and "Australians Against Offshore Wind". These websites use the imagery and language of environmental concern, but they are silent on the catastrophic impacts of fossil fuels on ocean ecosystems.
Spreading False Claims: The "Whale Death" Lie
A prominent example of the false claims being spread is the assertion that offshore wind farms are "killing whales". This claim has been thoroughly debunked by experts. According to Benjamin Laws, deputy chief for permits and conservation at the NOAA’s Office of Protected Resources, there is no information supporting that offshore wind development could directly lead to whale deaths. Dr. Olaf Meynecke, a research fellow at Griffith University, also stated that claims of offshore wind "killing whales" are "absolutely incorrect".
Despite expert refutation, these false claims are widely circulated in anti-wind Facebook groups. This tactic demonstrates how disinformation campaigns use emotional appeals and false narratives to manipulate public opinion and create fear and uncertainty.
Key Players: Advance and Their Shadowy Network
At the heart of this disinformation campaign is a secretive lobby group called Advance. This group, which was behind the "No" campaign against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, is now a key player in the anti-renewable energy disinformation campaign. Advance claims to be a grassroots movement of ordinary Australians, but it is actually bankrolled by a handful of mega-millionaires.
Advance operates through a shadowy network of at least six interconnected entities. It is also known that Advance is working in coordination with other entities, including US-style dark money lobby groups like the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS). These entities often refuse to disclose who funds them.
Financial Backers: The Fossil Fuel Billionaires
The financial backing of these anti-renewable energy campaigns is critical to their reach and impact. Key financial backers include:
- Bryant Macfie: A prominent climate denier who directed $900,000 to the Advance "No" campaign. Macfie also donated $350,000 to the University of Queensland for "climate research" while simultaneously attacking "climate activism".
- Trevor St Baker: A coal billionaire who donated $50,000 to Advance through his coal and gas power station company, St Baker Enterprises, in 2022-23.
- Gina Rinehart: A coal and mining multi-billionaire and one of the biggest funders of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). She is also an "honorary life member" of the IPA.
The anti-offshore wind network is funded by "big oil and coal," and between 2017 and 2021, fossil fuel interests gave US$16.28 million to a "grassroots-appearing coalition at the centre of the movement". This demonstrates the considerable financial resources being used to obstruct renewable energy.
A Transnational Project
The anti-wind disinformation campaign is not confined to Australia. It's a "transnational project" funded by big oil and coal. This coordinated effort involves importing tactics and strategies used in other countries, particularly the United States, where similar disinformation campaigns have been mapped out by Brown University researchers. This research shows that "fossil fuel interests are working with climate denial think tanks and community groups to obstruct offshore wind projects". The anti-renewable energy network shares personnel, talking points, legal support, and financial resources with organisations that have been blocking climate policy for decades.
The Goal: Protecting Fossil Fuel Profits
The underlying motivation for this disinformation campaign is to protect the profitability and power of the fossil fuel industry. By targeting communities near proposed offshore wind projects and spreading false claims, these groups aim to undermine public support for renewable energy and obstruct the clean energy rollout. These actions include campaigns against political actions "that stand to reduce the profitability and power of the fuel industry, such as Indigenous rights, carbon taxation, windfall taxes, resource rent taxes (and) the clean energy rollout".
Conclusion: The Need for Vigilance
The anti-renewable energy disinformation campaign is a well-funded and carefully orchestrated effort to deceive Australians and protect the fossil fuel industry. By creating fake grassroots movements, spreading false claims, and refusing to disclose their funding, these groups are undermining efforts to combat climate change.
It’s crucial for the public to be vigilant and critical of information they encounter, particularly on social media. We must support independent media and fact-checking organisations that are committed to exposing these deceptive tactics. By understanding how these disinformation campaigns operate, we can better defend ourselves and our planet from the influence of fossil fuel interests. The fight for a sustainable future depends on our ability to see through the lies and demand real action on climate change.
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Source: https://theklaxon.com.au/anti-voice-group-spreading-whale-death-lies/