the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Apr 22, 2024
Earth Day is Monday, April 22. The theme this year is “Planet vs Plastics.” Plastic is a huge problem today. It is everywhere. In our food, our water, and yes, inside of us.
We know now that big oil companies lied about the causal relationship between burning fossil fuels and warming the planet. Since the 1950s their scientists knew this would be a problem. But Big Oil’s concern was for profit, not life on this planet. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that they also have been lying about plastic recycling.
A new report by Climate Integrity Organization revealed evidence that for the last six decades Big Oil has used the false promise of plastic recycling to exponentially increase new plastic production. These lies have created and perpetuated the global plastic waste crisis and imposed significant costs on communities that are left to pay for the consequences.
“Recycling cannot go on indefinitely and does not solve the solid waste problem.” This is according to ExxonMobil, founding member of the Vinyl Institute at their 1989 conference!
Despite this knowledge, fossil fuel and other petrochemical companies have fraudulently marketed plastic recycling as a solution for decades, in order to escape regulation and protect their profits. Their lies were summed up by an Exxon employee, who told staffers at the American Plastics Council in 1994 that when it comes to plastic recycling, “we are committed to the activities, but not committed to the results.”