E2 Morning Roundup: Alleged Discovery gunman had militant green views, climate skeptics pounce on his ‘awakening’ from Al Gore flick, climate heats up Boxer-Fiorina debate, BP’s ad spending draws fire, and more

“Maybe Mr. Flores doesn’t understand what the Department of Energy does, but that is a very dangerous misunderstanding,” said Edwards (D-Waco) in a call with reporters. “This proposal would have serious consequences, both here in Texas and across our nation.”

“The criticism derives from comments that Flores made at a radio candidates’ forum in March, where he suggested cutting funds for the department.” The Flores camp called the attack “desperate,” the paper notes.

BP’s ad spending draws fire

On Wednesday, we reported on BP’s increase in ad spending during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The $93 million the company spent between April and the end of July drew criticism from Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has pressed for data on the company’s PR efforts and Wednesday said, “While BP’s advertising campaign is being executed like clockwork, business and state claims have languished.”

“BP’s extensive advertising campaign that is solely focused on polishing its corporate image in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon blowout disaster is making people angry. As small businesses, fishermen, and mom and pop motels, hotels and restaurants struggle to make ends meet, they are bombarded by BP’s corporate marketing largess day after day. BP should be doing more to address the damage to the Gulf Coast tourism industry, fishing industry, and for researchers and for the taxpayers,” she said in a prepared statement.

Financing in focus at climate change meeting

Reuters reports on an international meeting in Switzerland ahead of the big UN summit in Mexico late this year:

“A global fund to help poorer countries switch to green industrial technology is vital in any new international pact to battle global warming, Switzerland’s top climate change negotiator said on Wednesday,” their piece states.

“The official, Franz Perrez, was speaking at a news conference on the eve of a two-day gathering of environmental ministers and experts from some 45 countries to discuss how to reach agreement on a funding deal.”

“’An agreement on viable long-term financing is one of the very important building blocks for a new convention to combat the challenge of climate change,’ said Perrez, whose country has organised the informal meeting together with Mexico.”

Funding for oil sands film creates sticky questions

The Calgary Herald reports Thursday:

“The Alberta government is reviewing a provincial program that paid out nearly $55,000 in taxpayers’ cash to help bankroll the production of anti-oil sands film Dirty Oil, but stressed it’s not in the censorship business.”

“While the province re-evaluates how it funds Alberta-produced films, Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett said there are two pro-oilsands productions in the works that may get provincial funding.”

“Premier Ed Stelmach and Blackett both said Wednesday they’re livid that taxpayer dollars are funding an ‘anti-Alberta’ film — all the more stinging since the government in spending tens of millions of dollars trying to improve the province’s image.”

“I’m just as upset as other taxpayers that money coming from taxpayers was used to fund a film that was in many cases anti-Alberta and anti-oilsands,” Stelmach told reporters. 

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