I just posted a link to this ABC story over at the Boob, but midweek, there’s nobody there. So I’m posting it here too, cos I find it kinda fascinating.
The story of two people who quit working for climate change deniers (Woodside and News Corp) is pretty engaging but more interesting to me was that the ABC actually ran with it. You can almost hear the shots being fired over Rupert’s bow. It’s like somebody grew a pair.
At the height of the Black Summer bushfires, Emily Townsend burned her bridges.
It was January 10, 2020, a few minutes to midday. Sitting at her desk at News Corp's Sydney office, she scanned the email she had typed in a flurry of anger and anxiety that morning.
Not yet sent, it sat in her drafts mailbox like an unexploded bomb.
"I find it unconscionable to continue working for this company, knowing I am contributing to the spread of climate change denial and lies."
That was one line. Another read:
"Anxiety and disappointment are the feelings that have been occupying me over the last 24 hours, to the point where I am finding it incredibly difficult to focus on my work and do my job."
…
Around her, colleagues tapped away at their keyboards. A printer hummed in the open-plan office. Someone drifted by to ask about a meeting that afternoon. The clock ticked down to midday.
She had diligently addressed the email to everyone at News Corp, including the chairman and every last executive.
i had a mate who worked in an accountant capacity for BP and quit them back in the late 90s, very early 00s (the timeline is starting to blur). He just quietly left though, no bridge burning. I'm lucky to work for an employer that is at least making the right moves - divesting in their portfolio a few years ago, solar panels on all its buildings, planting and environmental changes to its building footprint. The next step is convincing the industry super we all had to join to do the same thing. Super companies are mega giants that still invest in fossil fuels and its a big problem - if these guys divest it starts to send a real message. Govt have opened supers up so you can change to another one now (it was verboten for my industry before then). You can make personal choices like moving your funds to a sustainable portfolio (this is not advice!) but when it comes down to it its a bit like recycling your plastics - its all drops in the rising warming ocean. Like to end this with a big FU to BP btw : )
I saw this and wondered too. But it bothered me as well. Most of us are Good Germans. We know what's going on, and we've decided that we've got too much of our standard of living invested in the status quo to quit, or shout, or change our lives to take on any true discomfort.
She states in the article that she received a lot of very quiet words of agreement. But have those people taken any steps? Have I?
i had a mate who worked in an accountant capacity for BP and quit them back in the late 90s, very early 00s (the timeline is starting to blur). He just quietly left though, no bridge burning. I'm lucky to work for an employer that is at least making the right moves - divesting in their portfolio a few years ago, solar panels on all its buildings, planting and environmental changes to its building footprint. The next step is convincing the industry super we all had to join to do the same thing. Super companies are mega giants that still invest in fossil fuels and its a big problem - if these guys divest it starts to send a real message. Govt have opened supers up so you can change to another one now (it was verboten for my industry before then). You can make personal choices like moving your funds to a sustainable portfolio (this is not advice!) but when it comes down to it its a bit like recycling your plastics - its all drops in the rising warming ocean. Like to end this with a big FU to BP btw : )
Been watching it live. Its sorta like who's gonna win a footy war except it's important.
I saw this and wondered too. But it bothered me as well. Most of us are Good Germans. We know what's going on, and we've decided that we've got too much of our standard of living invested in the status quo to quit, or shout, or change our lives to take on any true discomfort.
She states in the article that she received a lot of very quiet words of agreement. But have those people taken any steps? Have I?
This one is cutting through the corporate ass covering and is resonating.