In 'Industrial-Strength Denial,' Barbara Freese uncovers the chilling truth about humanity’s refusal to confront climate change and the powerful forces behind this denial. The book explores how industries manipulate information and public perception to prioritize profit over environmental sustainability. Freese delves into the psychology of denial, revealing why even the most obvious dangers are often ignored. Through compelling anecdotes and rigorous research, she highlights the urgent need for acknowledgment and action. This thought-provoking read challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and inspires a call to change.
By Barbara Freese
Published: 2020
""In a world where evidence meets willful ignorance, the greatest challenge we face is not the facts, but the acceptance of their truth.""
Corporations faced with proof that they are hurting people or the planet have a long history of denying evidence, blaming victims, complaining of witch hunts, attacking their critics’ motives, and otherwise rationalizing their harmful activities. Denial campaigns have let corporations continue dangerous practices that cause widespread suffering, death, and environmental destruction. And, by undermining social trust in science and government, corporate denial has made it harder for our democracy to function. Barbara Freese, an environmental attorney, confronted corporate denial years ago when cross-examining coal industry witnesses who were disputing the science of climate change. She set out to discover how far from reality corporate denial had led society in the past and what damage it had done. Her resulting, deeply-researched book is an epic tour through eight campaigns of denial waged by industries defending the slave trade, radium consumption, unsafe cars, leaded gasoline, ozone-destroying chemicals, tobacco, the investment products that caused the financial crisis, and the fossil fuels destabilizing our climate. Some of the denials are appalling (slave ships are festive). Some are absurd (nicotine is not addictive). Some are dangerously comforting (natural systems prevent ozone depletion). Together they reveal much about the group dynamics of delusion and deception. Industrial-Strength Denial delves into the larger social dramas surrounding these denials, including how people outside the industries fought back using evidence and the tools of democracy. It also explores what it is about the corporation itself that reliably promotes such denial, drawing on psychological research into how cognition and morality are altered by tribalism, power, conflict, anonymity, social norms, market ideology, and of course, money. Industrial-Strength Denial warns that the corporate form gives people tremendous power to inadvertently cause harm while making it especially hard for them to recognize and feel responsible for that harm.
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“"In a world where evidence meets willful ignorance, the greatest challenge we face is not the facts, but the acceptance of their truth."”
Industrial-Strength Denial
By Barbara Freese
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Barbara Freese is an acclaimed author and environmental advocate known for her insightful exploration of climate change and its impact on society. Her notable works include "Coal: A Human History," which provides a comprehensive historical perspective on coal's role in shaping our world, and "Heat Advisory: Protecting Yourself from the Climate Crisis," which offers practical guidance for individuals facing climate-related challenges. Freese's writing style is characterized by a blend of rigorous research and engaging narrative, making complex scientific issues accessible and compelling to a broad audience. She serves as a powerful voice in the conversation on sustainability and the urgent need for environmental stewardship.
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