Fossil Fool of the Year 2008: Ken Lewis of Bank of America

RAN's Robin Beck attempts to present Ken Lewis, CEO of Bank of America, with an award for the global financial institution's massive support for dirty coal. Bank of America is the leading financial backer of mountaintop removal coal mining in the United States and a top funder of new coal-fired power plants.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• kenlewis
• coal
• mtr
• mountaintopremoval
• bank
• finance
• bofa
• bankofamerica
• foolies
• fossilfools
• ran
• rainforestactionnetwork

[andreyisgood]

Question: If not fossil fuels, how would you power homes that use all of the electricity produced by the fossil fuel plants?

Question 2: Isn't the root of the problem in electricity usage of Americans and shouldn't you focus your energy towards eliminating excessive electricity usage?

All Bank of America is doing is supplying the demand for financing Coal Plants BECAUSE people need the electricity. Go to the root of the problem, not the stem.

[RANVideo]

We need to act quickly to address climate change by pressuring the most influential actors to change their behavior. Efficiency is important, but you don't turn a ship by asking the passengers to get out and push.

[andreyisgood]

I understand your point, but - no offense - you did not answer any of my questions.

[RANVideo]

So (1) invest in renewables, not new fossil fuels (like BofA does) and (2) no, because of exactly the issue I mentioned above: asking each individual to change on their own is not a solution nor does it address root structural causes; the climate crisis can only be addressed through collective decision-making through organizing to influence crucial institutions and policies.

My question for you: what's the plan for continuing to fund fossil fuel expansion while avoiding global warming?

[RANVideo]

That's not to say that each individual's contribution is not important -- it's just not sufficient.

[RANVideo]

Also, although advocating efficiency could reduce demand, it could never differentiate between carbon-intensive energy (like coal) and low-carbon energy (like wind). So market pressure would not be brought to bear in a way that would maximally reduce emissions.

[CordDragonzord]

Ken Lewis is America's biggest joke.

[Cindi3847]

plaidjedi83

I nominate you for a fossil fool award for 2009. May be your hero, "Sticky" Lewis, would let you ride in his LIMO for being a "fool" who would support him. These not many left.

[Cindi3847]

Edisto54

It's amazing how many employees will come to the defense of this horrid person. I hope you commented on B of A time.

[plaidjedi83]

Idea! Let's wander aimlessly around NYC shooting a webisode! Let's make a nice shiny and useless plaque! Let's pretend we're frustrated when we aren't guided to a CEO who has no time to waste on wannabe activists!

And let's make this all about criticizing someone ELSE for completely wasting resources.

Pot. Kettle. Find a better way to invest your time and energy into causes you care for, or at least don't expose your short sightedness in the process.

[hustlr288]

hahahahah your an idiot for promoting bofa and ken lewis

[hustlr288]

hahahahahaha bank of america made me rich fakew all

[Edisto54]

Yes, Mr. Lewis will have to answer to a goofy unshaved tree-hugger. I can see why he was sneaking around. His organization provides hundreds of thousands of people with jobs and clients, which range in the millions, with financial products needed to live a proper life. Ken, what an asshole!!

[MykalxKnife]

Nobody should EVER bank with them.

[MykalxKnife]

Ken Lewis is not in NY! He's in NC on N. Tryon Street

[lemonrain82]

SERIOUSLY!!! SO STUPID!!!