Did A Group Funded By Exxon Prompt IRS to Audit Greenpeace?

[november3rd]

Steve Stecklow, Wall Street Journal, 03/21/06

Public Interest Watch's most recent tax return, covering the period from 2003-2004, showed that about $120,000 out of the entire $125,000 they received in funding donations were from ExxonMobil.

It's a subscriber service, so I don't know if the article is available for free. I got the original here:

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=2139&topicId=100023186&docId=l:367470259&isSearch=true

Two and a half years ago, Public Interest Watch, a self-described watchdog of nonprofit groups, wrote to the Internal Revenue Service urging the agency to audit Greenpeace and accusing the environmental group of money laundering and other crimes.

Last September, the IRS began a months-long audit of the U.S. arm of Greenpeace, known for steering its boats in the way of whaling ships and oil tankers. This month, Greenpeace says, it received notice from the IRS that the group "continues to qualify for exemption from federal income tax" as a nonprofit entity.

Greenpeace says an IRS auditor told it that the PIW letter triggered the audit. The IRS won't say how it decided to audit Greenpeace.

What is clear is where PIW has gotten a lot of its funding: Exxon Mobil Corp., the giant oil company that has long been a target of Greenpeace protests.

[global1]

1. What Does This Mean - That Greenpeace Is A Front Organization For....

the oil companies? I don't get it?

[question everything]

2. No, the group that wrote the IRA and requested investigation (nt)

[global1]

3. Now I'm Totally Confused - The IRA?......n/t

[question everything]

8. Oops, the IRS (tax season, sorry)

Here is the story, again (from the WSJ)

Two and a half years ago, Public Interest Watch, a self-described watchdog of nonprofit groups, wrote to the Internal Revenue Service urging the agency to audit Greenpeace and accusing the environmental group of money laundering and other crimes.

Last September, the IRS began a months-long audit of the U.S. arm of Greenpeace, known for steering its boats in the way of whaling ships and oil tankers. This month, Greenpeace says, it received notice from the IRS that the group "continues to qualify for exemption from federal income tax" as a nonprofit entity.

Greenpeace says an IRS auditor told it that the PIW letter triggered the audit. The IRS won't say how it decided to audit Greenpeace.

What is clear is where PIW has gotten a lot of its funding: Exxon Mobil Corp., the giant oil company that has long been a target of Greenpeace protests.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Looks like you got your seasons mixed up...

The IRA was last week!

[question everything]

12. LOL that should teach me to think before I type (nt)

[wordpix2]

10. It's the PIW group that's funded by ExxonMobil---PIW is a front for BigOil

trying to "get" an environmental group

[wordpix2]

11. again we see a repuke-corporate group funding a non-profit group to veil

the repuke-corporate dirty work. IRS should audit PIW to see what kind of "nonprofit" work they're really doing.

[november3rd]

4. It means Exxon is hunting environmentalists

Exxon set up a group with $120,000 to "monitor" public interest groups

The Public Interest Watchdogs then write a letter to the IRS complaining about Greenpeace possibly moneylaundering

Greenpeace gets audited by the IRS

Get it now?

[anotherdrew]

13. so it's time to HUNT back

get names and locations of every person who works for "Public Interest Watchdogs"
find out who in particular at exxon authorized this action. make their life a living hell.

they want war? let's give it to these worthless fucks.

[jilln]

5. remember when protesters dressed as tigers climbed onto the roof

of Exxon headquarters and danced? That's why they're so pissed... made them look like fools. Good times.

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1627


http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/busting-exxon-climate-crimina

[flvegan]

6. Hired gun. No surprise. Center for Consumer Freedom did it to PETA

not too long ago. Corporate hate is alive and well inversely, as well.

[NashVegas]

7. Too Bad the IRS Won't Turn Around and Bill PIW

Frivolous bullshit.