Branson, Gore launch carbon cutting prize

[cal04]

Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson has launched what he called the world's biggest prize to inspire innovators to develop ways to cut greenhouse gases, backed by ex US vice president Al Gore.

Branson announced the 25-million-dollar Earth Challenge prize at a joint press conference with Gore, who has turned into to a global environment campaigner after losing presidential elections in 2000.

"The Earth cannot wait 60 years," Branson said Friday. "I want a future for my children and my children's children. The clock is ticking."

It is not the first time Gore and Branson have teamed up to promote green issues: last September Gore backed Branson's pledge to spend three billion dollars (2.3 billion euros) on reversing global warming.

The former vice-president, who brought global warming to prominence in his documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth", told the Virgin boss at the time that he was in a unique position to make a difference.

http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070209093335.9glxk2a8&cat=null

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6345557.stm

[Moby Grape]

1. tax on jet fuel for interntonal flight, zero, not a penny

these things usually end up as a
tax-the-poor project

[AlGore-08.com]

2. You do realize that neither Branson nor Gore are in office

They can suggest government policy but they can't create it. They can't tax or not tax anybody.

The prize will be given for a technological solution to the climate crisis - - not a governmental solution.

[ohio2007]

14. Congress shall tax

They create government bureaucracy,rules and regulations.
Somebody earlier on this thread slammed Branson for his position .
What does that poster think actually made Branson "Branson" ?
If regulations were in place to stifle free enterprise when he was a teenager , Branson would be a minimum wage fry cook today and not in a position to offer any "prize" spin off built from his past achievements.

Of course, maybe we would be better off with more minimum wagers to sell burgers to the unemployed.
That way people couldn't afford to by cars from across the ocean let alone gas to get them to work.....

[niceypoo]

21. I highly doubt he would be a fry cook

Wealth doesn't come randomly

[willmoore]

3. Two Questions

1. How do I submit an idea into this competition for an idea to remove co2 from the atmosphere – a billion tons in 10 years?

2. Are they talking about reducing future emissions by a billion tons, or are they talking about removing co2 that is already in the atmosphere?

Will Moore

[cal04]

4. link to Earth Challenge

http://www.virginearth.com/

[newyawker99]

15. Hi willmoore!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PaulaFarrell]

5. Branson's a hyprocrite

He's made his billions on airlines, and now wants to give a paltry £50 million to salve his conscience. He also wants to commercialize space flights. I don't know the effect of that on global warming but surely it must be massive?

ps I actually think this ttype of prize is exactly what's needed, but it galls me that he's going to continue to pump CO2 out to line his pocket, even while recognising the scale of the problem

[Hawkowl]

6. What?

So we should all just stop flying?!? Christ give him a break. He was already investing millions in trying to find alternatives to jet fuel. When some one does anything good, pat them on the back. Do Not kick them in the nuts.

[Taoschick]

7. That's part of the problem

We all want a "fix" to global warming but we don't want to have to change our lifestyles and inconvenience ourselves to get there.

[w4rma]

8. Another part of the problem is people going after good people for not living like chaste monks

who have taken vows of poverty.

[Taoschick]

9. If they're

Advocating that I live as a chaste monk, they're damned sure going to do it first. In other words, don't you dare lecture me about fuel conservation when you fly/drive thousands of miles more a year than I do. Don't whine about my energy consumption when your house is 4 times the size of mine.

[w4rma]

10. In other words you aren't doing jack except to help prevent others from doing something positive. nt

[michaelwb]

25. Yeah, total hypocrite

Ah, the total hypocrites - Gore & he speak out against against greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

But they both breath out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day.

If they really cared they photosynthesize!

;)

[niceypoo]

22. And that is the flaw with America

This country is all about. "the american dream." The american dream has nothing to do with giving up anything. Thats why the US will be left in the dust when it comes to the whole global warming issue. The US will refuse to play ball. The US has peaked and is in for a long downslide.

[PaulaFarrell]

11. Yes, we should all stop flying

or at least cut out 90% of it. As Branson himself said, he could afford to shut down Virgin Airlines tomorrow. His ratonale is, well BA will just fill the slots. This is the same miserable rationale used by arms manufacturers, drug dealers and hitmen - if I don't, someone else will, so I might as well line my own pocket. The excuse doesn't stand up though, because his airline was a major factor in lowering transatlantic fares in the UK and thus making it more affordable. This guy is worth several billion pounds. What he is offering would probably not even pay for carbon offstting for the flights his airline has flown. His trains are about 1/2 first class (nearly empty) while the rest of the peons get standing room only. He is greenwashing, but on a budget. He could afford to do far far more than this, and should given the damage he's caused.

By the way, this guy cares not one jot for my opinion and I couldn't possibly kick him the nuts if I wanted to. Good thing about him - he takes good care of his parents.

[nolabels]

12. Cures for addictions: First we must admit we have a problem

Also twelve step programs are sometimes helpful but with so many people abusing it worldwide a real cure just might be needed :shrug:


http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=192232

[SKKY]

17. He's not paying someone to develop this for Virgin Airlines....

...he's paying someone to develop this technology for the better of the world. He's paying 50 million pounds for someone to develop technology that he won't own the patent to. Now, is that a shrewd business decision? Nope. So, there could only be one other conclusion. Branson isn't the bad guy some make him out to be, and actually is concerned about the environment. Do you really think Gore would associate with him if this wasn't the case?

[PaulaFarrell]

19. That's 12-15 million pounds

or $25 million. So less than 1/2 of 1% of his money. I'm not saying he's a 'bad guy' any more than anyone who doesn't do their share to stop global warming is a 'bad person'. I'm saying he's doing far less than he could, and that he doesn't deserve to be worshipped for this bit of greenwash.

Branson would be the first to admit that having green credentials is a good business decision these days. Perhaps not in the USA yet but here in Britain, all the good companies are doing it. He sees which way the wind is blowing, and wants to be in the forefront, and get all the good publicity which he is getting.

Whether he genuinely cares or not, I can't say, although he admnits to being a 'climate skeptic' until a few years ago, and apparently only came round as a results of lobbying by AL Gore. I'm just saying, he's not doing enough given his resources, and the amount of damage he is responsible for.

[SKKY]

20. Point taken...

But I do know that people like Branson only publish the very tip of the iceberg of what they do for charities. I'm sure he does a lot more that we don't know about.

[ohio2007]

13. Branson knows a lot of responsibility falls on non government organizations

to actually make change.Same thing can be said about the space program. Nothing wrong with a little competition from Virgin Space to get NASA focused and leave low earth orbit to free enterprise.

[Jersey Ginny]

16. Good news and good publicity

We are all hypocrites regarding our use of fossil fuels that contribute to global warming (especially all of us Americans, except the monks) yet we have a real desire to tackle this issue . That being said, for those who are famous/finaicially able to get the word out about the seriouness of this problem and the need to do something NOW, bravo to them! Thanks Al and Richard!

[USA No. 1]

18. Finally someone is doing SOMETHING!

[gauguin57]

23. "They've got the whoooole woooorld ... in their hands ...

They've got the whoooole woooorld ... in their hands..." EVERYBODY SING ...

[Javaman]

24. Good guys 1. bad guys zero.

exxon announces 10k to anyone who can disprove climate change. This is from the same company that made a world record profit. Granted, I wouldn't be happy if they offered more, it's just another example of just how corrupt and tightwadish they are.

Here comes Branson and Gore offering real money, not to prove that climate change is real but offering money for a solution.

They don't make anywhere the money that exxon does but they know the bigger the prize the better chance there is for someone coming up with a solution.

We are living in interesting times.

Go Gore 08!!!