Movement terrifies youth for no reason

Dear Editor:

When I heard about Michael Shellenberger’s new book “Apocalypse Never,” I ordered the digital edition on the day it was released.

I have long felt the environmental movement had corrupted into an anti-oil movement and become shill for expensive, socalled renewable energy such as wind and solar. I also felt the movement had gone too far in terrifying young people with claims of environmental apocalypse, coming soon, and created anxiety about their very survival rather than just saving the environment.

As a media hound, I’ve also watched how these groups have dominated the media with dire claims creating outrageous headlines. Before ordering, I checked out Shellenberg’s background and discovered he was not a shill for big oil, but was a respected environmentalist, who had simply gotten tired of how the movement had lost its way. It bothered him that groups like Extinction Rebellion had used lies and misinformation to create fear in school-age children about their very future.

The book also delves into how these groups twist studies on climate change to get media attention and influence governments pandering for votes. Shellenberg is not a climate-change denier and, in fact, explores ways to rationally deal with climate change.

If you care about the environment, but are confused about what is real and what isn’t, you need to read this book.

I can tell the book has shaken the so-called environmental movement by the vitriol from environmental activists on social media, even before they’ve read it.

To my fellow Summerland residents. I suggest you get the book and skip ahead to the chapter that deals with solar energy before July 13.

Andy Richards

Summerland