Home
        
      
U.S.
      
World
      
Entertainment
   
Sports
      
Business
      
Health
      
Science
      
Technology
      
Politics
Offbeat
Environment
Travel
 
  
News
Articles
 
 
  
Faux Spokesman Hoped To Highlight Organization's "Absurd" Climate Stance
October 20, 2009 12:24 p.m. EST
 
 
Melvin Baker - AHN Reporter
 
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Will the real chamber of commerce please stand up? That was the question, at least for a moment, on Monday when a man identifying himself as a spokesman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held a press conference to announce that the Chamber was radically changing its controversial position on climate change.
The meeting at the National Press Club ended abruptly when the real Chamber spokesman, Eric Wohlschlegel, entered the room declaring "This is not an official Chamber of Commerce event. This is a fraudulent press activity and a stunt."
The man conducting the press conference, who called himself Hingo Sembra, was later identified by Mother Jones magazine as Andy Bichlbaum, one half of a duo who call themselves the "Yes Men," an activist group.
Bichlbaum told the magazine that the event was staged to call attention to the Chamber's "absurd stance" on climate change.
"[T]he chamber is opposing climate change legislation and the whole rest of the world is saying we need to do something," Bichlbaum said. "Even a lot of big companies are saying we need to do something. The chamber, representing the biggest and stodgiest and most powerful corporations in America is just saying, 'Nah, let's let the whole planet go to rot.' We just wanted to show what it would look like if they didn't take that absurd stance."
In response to the fake news conference, Chamber Senior Vice President Thomas Collamore said in a statement that "These irresponsible tactics are a foolish distraction from the serious effort by our nation to reduce greenhouse gases. The U.S. Chamber believes that strong climate legislation is compatible with the goals of improving our economy and creating jobs. We continuously seek opportunities to engage in a constructive dialogue to achieve these goals"
Collamore said he would ask law enforcement officials to investigate the incident.
On its website, the Chamber said it "strongly supports comprehensive legislation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases while providing for a strong American economy. The Chamber will work to discourage ill-conceived climate change policies and measures that could severely damage the security and economy of the United States. At the same time, the U.S. Chamber encourages positive measures, such as long-term technological innovation and clean technology development and deployment."
That policy has recently caused several high-profile companies to leave the organization. California's Pacific Gas & Electric and Apple have resigned in recent months, as well as New Mexico utility company PNM Resource Inc. and Exelon Corp., the nation's largest power company. Shoe maker Nike resigned from the Chamber's board of directors but remains a member.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce claims 3 million members.
 
 
 
  
 
Copyright © 2003 - 2009 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication.
  
 
  
 
Recent Posts
Most Popular Comments
Recent Comments
 
Popular Threads
 
  
Home  |  U.S.  |  World  |  Entertainment  |  Sports  |  Business  |  Health  |  Sci / Tech  |  Politics  |  Weird / Offbeat
Follow AHN on Twitter
AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news 
Client Login  | Submit News  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use  |  Contact  |  Content Services  © 2009 AHN  All Rights Reserved
 
 
 
  
 
Other News on Thursday, 22 October 2009 Israelis say deal near with U.S. on Mideast talks  
Deutsche Bank posts three-fold rise in quarterly profit  
Tropical storm Rick threatens flash floods in Mexico  
Vatican move to welcome Anglicans splits critics  
Swiss Authorities Admit To Tipping Off U.S. About Roman Polanski  
South Sudan finds no sign of feared Ebola outbreak  
Wells Fargo profit jumps to record $3.2 bln  
Six hostages freed in Paris siege  
Six hostages freed in Paris supermarket siege  
Appeals Court Rules Judge Wrongly Imprisoned Soap Star Brenda Dickson  
Second Afghan vote 'will not be perfect': UN envoy  
Iran makes bomb arrests, Pakistan vows help  
Burberry Suing Pet Accessories Store For Copyright Infringement  
"Dr. No" Villain Joseph Wiseman Dies At 91  
Industrialised nations' CO2 emissions rose in 2007: UN  
Bomb kills journalist, wounds another in Iraq  
Rio police kill 7; total of 33 dead in drug war
| International
|  
Israeli police arrest convicted American pedophile  
Draft agreement on Iran uranium deal: IAEA chief  
Asia demand for ivory, sharks' fins set for scrutiny  
Iraq's parliament fails to agree on election law
| International
|  
Iran, powers get draft deal for approval by Friday  
Bomb kills US soldier in Afghanistan: NATO  
Hostages held at gunpoint in Canada office building
| International
|  
Disaffected Anglican dioceses may switch to Rome: group
| International
|  
Bomb hits Bangladesh MP's car, several hurt
| International
|  
Microsoft's Bing seals Facebook, Twitter deals
| Technology
|  
Google, labels partner on music search: sources
| Technology
|  
Pakistan hits Taliban as schools ordered shut  
Chinese group says Google violating copyrights  
Canada allows Internet throttling as last resort
| Technology
|  
Lawyer denies reports Lockerbie bomber dead  
Cambodian PM offers to host fugitive Thai ex-PM  
Skype working on business sector expansion
| Technology
|  
Gore: China, US must cooperate on climate change  
Key lawmaker backs FCC on eve of Web rule
| Technology
|  
US 'jihadist' charged in anti-American plots  
Wikipedia founder in HP online magazine print deal
| Technology
|  
AZ Councilman makes remarks insensitive to Jews  
US, China to meet next week for trade talks  
Cambodia leader: Ousted Thai PM is always welcome  
Safety board issues wake-up call on sleep disorder  
Fearing fresh attacks, Pakistan shuts schools  
Second Afghan vote 'will not be perfect': UN envoy  
Pakistan advance into Taliban leader's hometown  
U.S. revokes more visas to pressure Honduran solution  
Marine pleads guilty in hero hoax, to be sentenced  
Woman in W.Va. torture case now says she lied  
AP NewsAlert  
Even Help From Higher Power Fails To Stop Ministerial Layoffs  
Beige Book: Economy Leveling Off, But Still Has Weakness  
Microsoft Hopes XP Users Switch To Windows 7  
Massachusetts Man Charged With Terrorism, Plotting To Attack Shopping Malls  
Suspected Jihadist Arrested For Plotting Mall Attack  
Poll: Crist's Conservative Rival Gains Ground In Senate Race  
India economy seen growing 6.5 pct this year  
Secret CIA Prison In Lithuania To Be Investigated  
Longworth House Building Evacuated  
US seeks progress in high level trade talks with China  
Tankers Collide In Gulf Of Mexico  
Colorado Residents Charged With Illegal Interstate Traffic, Sale Of Bobcats, Pelts  
India's Tata Motors buys out Spain's Hispano  
India court suggests arbitration for feuding Ambanis: report  
Electric cars take on hybrids at Tokyo show  
China says economic recovery 'consolidated'  
China signals economic shift to curb overcapacity  
Tokyo car show spurned as foreign firms eye China  
China wants to boost trade at Asian summit  
New managers vow to resurrect storied HK studio  
Veiled Iranian women suspected of drug smuggling  
Hollywood film recreates Russia-Georgia war  
Horror movie marks MTV's drive into scripted shows
| Entertainment
|  
Canadian author named new president of PEN  
Sesame Street seeks Gaza access  
Japan dolphin hunting town threatens to sue over 'The Cove'  
Europe's 'Hot d'Or' porn film awards return  
Taiwan group says China trip cancelled over Kadeer film  
Migrant workers face abuse in SKorea: Amnesty  
100,000 Italian women protest 'offensive' Berlusconi  
Families divided as Bhutan refugees start new lives  
Lil Wayne appears for DNA hearing in NYC gun case  
For sale: Stage where James Dean's career began  
No Surprise Here: Simon Cowell's Mother Admits He Was A "Difficult Child"  
Colorado Residents Charged With Illegal Interstate Traffic, Sale Of Bobcats, Pelts  
Canadian Sex Workers Seek Safer Work Environment  
Blue Roses Hit Japan Stores, Sell For Up To $33 Per Stem  
Armed Robbery Suspect Used Bra To Disguise Face  
Faux Spokesman Hoped To Highlight Organization's "Absurd" Climate Stance  
Police Detectives Save Bronx Cat Trapped In Car Engine  
Scientists Developing Tools To Give Future 100-Year-Olds A Body 50 Years Younger  
Blood Sucking Leeches Lead Police To Criminal  
Astronomers Find 32 New Extrasolar Planets  
UN details 'devastating' impact of Afghan opium  
Berlusconi in Russia on 'private' visit, meets Putin  
eBay net profit slides for fourth quarter in a row  
Gates says moving ahead on Afghan troop policy
| International
|  
Galleon funds to close amid insider trading scandal  
'Sahrawi Gandhi' awarded New York peace prize  
Pakistani brigadier, driver killed in shooting
| International
|  
More Internet users sharing status updates: report  
Gates pledges nuclear umbrella to counter North Korea
| International
|  
China mulls military rescue of hijacked sailors
| International
|  
Iraqi lawmakers deadlocked over election law  
Rio police kill 7; total of 33 dead in drug war
| International
|  
UN pushes draft Iran nuclear deal  
Israelis say deal near with U.S. on Mideast talks
| International
|  
Microsoft, Google integrating Twitter into search  
Canada gunman surrenders after 10-hour standoff
| International
|  
Key U.S. lawmaker backs FCC on eve of Web rule  
Honduras regime uses noise attack as U.S. cuts visas
| International
|  
Iran arrests suspects in attack on military chiefs  
Australia sheik charged over Afghan widow hate mail
| International
|  
Canada allows Internet "throttling" as last resort  
Iraqi lawmakers stuck over election law  
HP partners with university to print digital books  
Wikipedia founder in HP online magazine print deal  
RIM launches new Bold, but challenge looms for Storm  
Skype working on business sector expansion  
Microsoft launches Windows 7, eyes PC sales rebound
| Technology
|  
Windows 7 may help kickstart delayed corporate spend
| Technology
|  
Microsoft, Google seal Twitter search deals
| Technology
|  
Like Windows 7, Vista got good reviews too
| Technology
|  
Hulu trying out models to boost revenue: NBC
| Technology
|  
US committed to defence of SKorea: Gates  
Taiwan school pupils 'made to eat fire': TV report  
Judge: Notices must be in formats blind can read  
Gates pledges nuclear umbrella to counter N. Korea  
Key U.S. lawmaker backs FCC on eve of Web rule
| Technology
|  
Video makers release tape of Philly ACORN visit  
Woman in W.Va. torture case now says she lied  
Kan. lawmaker agrees to new 'rap' on YouTube  
Multiple fires rage in NKorea, satellite images show  
Dems go after antitrust exemption for insurers  
US warns of 'slow, painful' talks with Myanmar  
Marine gets 18 months confinement for hero hoax  
US will never have 'normal' ties with a nuclear NKorea  
Housing regs to add protections for gays  
Gang crackdown, lurid mob trials transfix China  
2nd trial begins in Seattle Jewish center shooting  
Navy petty officer to face punishment in hazing  
Pohang outgun Umm-Salal, Al Ittihad rout Nagoya  
US House demands Vietnam free bloggers  
Indonesia's Yudhoyono unveils rainbow cabinet  
First Year Enrollment In Medical Schools Up By 2%  
Feds Plan To Sharply Cut Pay, Perks For Bailout Firms  
Nicole Kidman highlights violence against women  
S.Korea fin minister sees property prices stabilising  
No plan for foreign bank liquidity controls -S.Korea fin min  
Bahamas declares mistrial in John Travolta extortion
| Entertainment
|  
Michael Buble still tops on U.S. album chart
| Entertainment
|  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Former KISS drummer: men get breast cancer too  
Former KISS drummer: men get breast cancer too
| Entertainment
|  
Mockingbird actress Collin Wilcox Paxton dies
| Entertainment
|  
"The Big Man" on life with and without Springsteen  
Nicole Kidman highlights violence against women  
Hulu trying out models to boost revenue: NBC  
Disney project aims to play films on any device  
List of new Indonesian Cabinet appointees  
Hulu trying out models to boost revenue: NBC
| Entertainment
|  
R. Kelly sets album date, claims R&B chart record  
The Big Man on life with and without Springsteen
| Entertainment
|  
R. Kelly sets album date, claims R&B chart record
| Entertainment
|  
Indonesian president announces new Cabinet  
Michael Buble still tops on U.S. album chart  
Validity of DNA test argued in Lil Wayne gun case  
Joshua Bell plays for Poland's Jewish Museum  
Iran, Israel traded barbs at nuclear talks: delegate  
Microsoft launches Windows 7  
Security big worry as Afghans gear up for run-off
| International
|  
Credit Suisse joins surge in bank profits  
Two Koreas held secret talks for summit: report
| International
|  
Newspaper, Internet titans duel at Web 2.0 Summit  
Afghan MP sees role as king-maker in runoff  
US-TECH Summary  
Ethiopia appeals for food aid for 6.2 million
| International
|  
U.S. sees Israel drill helping Europe missile shield
| International
|  
Senior Iranian MP casts doubt on atom fuel deal
| International
|  
Dalai Lama to visit disputed Indian state on November 8
| International
|  
Smear trial tarnishes French political elite
| International
|  
Karadzic boycott throws war trial start into doubt
| International
|  
China authors says Google violated copyrights
| Technology
|  
Nokia sues Apple for patent infringement
| Technology
|  
Cheney: Stop the 'dithering' as troops face danger  
One size fits all phone chargers on the way: ITU
| Technology
|  
Australian PM sickened by hate mail sent to war widows  
Court rejects Calif. plan to cut prison population  
FCC staff recommends open Internet rule
| Technology
|  
Family row stops NKorea succession talk: researcher  
Microsoft befriends Twitter in Google search duel  
French fund invests in YouTube rival Dailymotion
| Technology
|  
Australia denies 'terrorists' on asylum boats  
Navajos may try to buy popular Arizona ski resort  
Japan urges US to respect 'democracy' over base  
'Balloon boy' parents heard crying in 911 call  
Thailand rejects US pressure over 'Merchant of Death'  
Mass. man accused of plot to kill shoppers, troops  
Malaysian couple arrested for beating maid  
Remains found in Utah not poet Everett Ruess  
3 Tijuana drug figures plead guilty in US  
India's Congress party wins state polls  
Insecurity, jobs drive Sri Lanka's boat people  
FACTBOX-S.Korea's recent overseas energy investments  
Taiwan jobless rate falls from record highs  
Taiwan's AU Optronics returns to profit  
Japan's trade surplus hits 18-month high  
China's economy revs up with 8.9% growth  
Toshiba launches portable fuel-cell for mobiles  
India's Tata mulls checks on world's cheapest car  
Kidman: Hollywood probably contributes to violence  
Seoul shares end 1.4 pct lower on LG Elec, banks  
Trade ministers to begin talks on Pacific deal  
Myanmar allows first mobile phones in remote capital  
Drag queen movie challenges Russian attitudes  
McCartney to launch Europe tour in Hamburg  
Once-tame Baghdad zoo now a roaring success  
Kidman: Hollywood probably contributes to violence  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights