WHAT OCTAVIA E. BUTLER SAW WHEN SHE LANDED ON THE SITE
The climate crisis we are currently facing is largely a product of the notoriously
profit-hungry fossil fuel industry. They knew about the climate risks 60 years ago and spent billions to cover up the truth, all to protect their profits.
The fossil fuel industry has proved willing to do just about anything to protect its bottom line - including threatening the very existence of our planet and covering up the reality of this ongoing destruction. The industry has amassed a
significant level of power and influence through its strategic campaign spending and extensive lobbying operations.
In the last decade, oil and gas interests have spent over $1.5 billion lobbying the federal government and put over $529 million towards influencing the outcome of elections. And that's just the money we know about.
The industry also works to place industry-friendly figures in key government roles. For example, during the Trump administration, about one-third of the political staff who worked on energy and environmental issues had ties to the fossil fuel industry or the Koch brothers' empire.
This unchecked political influence has allowed the industry to evade accountability and manipulate the government into prioritizing industry profits above public interest - endangering our water, air, health, safety and the very existence of our planet.