I analyze energy economics and related public policy issues.
On Friday, Moscow Times announced The closure of Greenpeace Russia follows the government’s decision to label the organization “unwanted”, a designation that makes all its activities illegal. Office of the Prosecutor General declare that the group “interferes in the internal affairs of Russia,” financially supports “foreign agents,” and that its activities “pose a threat to the very foundation of the constitutional system.” and security of the Russian Federation.” It also said that after the start of the war in Ukraine, “Greenpeace activists engaged in anti-Russian propaganda, calling for further economic isolation of our country and increased measures to sanctions” against Moscow.
In response, Greenpeace Russia speak “By killing Greenpeace for criticizing environmental issues, the country loses one of its leading experts in solving environmental problems.” For more than 30 years, the organization has played a role in attracting the attention of society and policymakers on a multitude of environmental issues in the country, from illegal deforestation to river and lake pollution, waste management and recycling, etc. Organization Debate that “We are doing everything we can to ensure that the people in our country live in favorable environmental conditions…Can the protection of the country’s nature go against the interests of the land? water or not?”
It should come as no surprise that the green chattering classes in the West will regard the event as yet another example of how Putin’s autocratic government has suppressed an organization that speaks on behalf of ordinary people in Russia. . Alas, it’s that simple.
India’s Experience with Greenpeace
In 2015, the government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancel foreign funding of about 10,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for “non-compliance with tax codes”. The ban on Greenpeace India caused much controversy in the Western press (This And This). The mainstream Western media considers the government’s action a reflection of the BJP’s “intolerable nationalism”. However, it did little against the country’s Intelligence Bureau expense that Green Peace is a threat to national economic security, leading to protests against nuclear and coal power plants, mining projects and genetically modified foods. According to the bureau’s report, Greenpeace alone is leading a “major effort to dismantle India’s coal-fired power plant and coal mining operation.” Based on Reuters viewed an excerpt of the report, the cancellation, interruption or delay of various development projects has reduced gross domestic product growth by 2 to 3 percent a year.
Greenpeace India protect itself from the accusations, claiming that it represented “sustainable development”. We have the legal right to express our views in the world’s largest democracy. We believe this report is designed to silence and silence civil society who speak out against injustices against people and the environment by asking uncomfortable questions about growth patterns. Present.”
Good For example Greenpeace’s concept of “sustainable development” relates to the case of the village of Dharnai in India’s poorest state (Bihar) with severe electricity shortages. Greenpeace activists set up a solar-powered microgrid for the village in 2014 with much publicity. Problems immediately arose with the load placed on the solar “grid” as households began to connect appliances such as televisions, electric water heaters, irons and air conditioners. When the solar power system officially opened, villagers protested with banners saying, “we want real electricity, not fake electricity.” “Real” means that the energy from the central grid is generated primarily by coal. “Fake” is solar energy that is discontinuous and dilute. Ironically, state officials were embarrassed to face the press at the opening gala of a solar exhibition promoted by Greenpeace that had ensured the village would soon be connected to a coal-fired power grid.
According to one report announced last week, state-run Coal India Ltd has developed 52 coal mining projects, including 13 new coal lots as part of its plan to achieve its one billion tonnes coal production target by fiscal 2025– 26. Due to the strong coal mining development in the past few years, India has maintained electricity prices are relatively stable despite the rise in global energy prices after the Ukraine war. Greenpeace should have had it despite claiming to represent the interests of India’s disenfranchised citizens.
Western-funded environmental NGOs in the Third World
Greenpeace is headquartered in Amsterdam, has a large budget with contributions from wealthy foundations such as Rockefeller Family Foundation. It controls huge resources of litigation and lobbying, often beyond the financial capacity of governments for many small developing countries. Well-funded NGOs like Greenpeace represent large bureaucracies that have an interest in creating environmental concerns in order to maximize employee income, wages and privileges. and key executives. The classic example of Greenpeace raising cash through bogus alarm reports involves polar bears is thought to be facing extinction.
Are Western-funded environmental NGOs like Greenpeace operating in the Southern Hemisphere ethical arbiter of environmental issues affecting the poor and marginalized socially marginalized? Are they “global saviors” bring help to “the afflicted of the earth”? Do they promote “sustainable development” in the face of predatory capitalists and their government advocates? As the late classical economist Deepak Lal asked in a opinion on the ban on foreign-funded NGOs, “what do we do with their local representatives who seek to influence their nation’s public policy on the financiers agenda?” their foreign aid”?
