James5

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Murdoch has become convinced that climate change is a problem and it seems like the real thing. BSkyB and NewsCorp have both become “carbon neutral”, pledging to do things like plant trees, use compact fluorescent lighbulbs and buy electricity from renewable sources. While it’s a positive move, it’s never good to rush to trust big business. In this case there is always the danger of the “polluter pays” principle being turned into “the payer can pollute” as these sort of measures can be used to justify unsustainable business in the wrong hands. Not to mention that this “ecological modernization” approach to the environment doesn’t have a good track record - most gains in efficiency are matched by increased consumption - as it doesn’t want to think about us having to change our way of life in any radical way.

That said, let’s stay positive, with some of Big Media on board with climate change it means people will actually be reading and listening about it in the papers and on TV - which can only be a good thing. Hopefully these moves to more eco-sustainability will provide a bit of a wedge to allow more articles through on other justice issues like human rights, fairer trade and the rest. Also, these more sustainable measures will encourage the whole sustainability industry, and make other companies think about their ecological position.

I’d never thought I’d be saying nice things about Murdoch - I’m glad he proved me wrong.

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