Branson In £1.6bn Pledge [Virgin Airlines giving $3 BILLION to the Left]

Sky News ^ | Sept 12, 2006 | staff

[TaxRelief]

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has committed £1.6bn over 10 years to fight global warming.... will hand over all the profits from the Virgin Group's transport business to support the cause. (snip) [Branson] said the profits from Virgin's train and airline businesses would be invested in efforts to find renewable, sustainable energy sources.

[TaxRelief]

Why bother with 527's when you can just funnel all of a company's profits straight into a "cause" that supports one side of the political spectrum?

No specifics yet as to how this "new Soros" will pump his money into the leftists' global warming causes. [Clinton happily patted Branson on the back at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York.]

[stephenjohnbanker]

Is his company public? If it is, this is all promotional BS, as his shareholders would never allow such a thing to happen : )

Branson is the Donald Trump of europe.

[P-40]

Who says he is giving it to the left?

[TaxRelief]

We have no idea yet which organizations will be the beneficiaries of this windfall, but we DO KNOW that the Clinton Global Initiative comprises 100% leftists members.

Which global warming research organizations do you know of that are not on the left?

[billbirmingham]

$3B to scare people about global warming. Branson is a terrorist.

[Enchante]

Hey, Branson -- just shut down your airline, stop flying, and get rid of all your personal vehicles...... you can purify yourself from any association with eviiilllll fossil fuels if you try hard enough. Sell of your extra homes, build one home that's perfectly "green" and then STFU.

[jpl]

It truly amazes me at times how some of the richest people on planet earth can be so stupid.

[BossLady]

There is something about this guy that creeps me out......

((running to take shower after seeing his picture))

[P-40]

He is just going to continue doing the exact same thing he has been doing for years. Virgin has been big in trying to find a new fuel...to control costs.

He said the profits from Virgin's train and airline businesses would be invested in efforts to find renewable, sustainable energy sources.

[New Girl]

Hey, Branson -- just shut down your airline, stop flying, and get rid of all your personal vehicles...... you can purify yourself from any association with eviiilllll fossil fuels if you try hard enough. Sell of your extra homes, build one home that's perfectly "green" and then STFU.

THANK YOU!

[TaxRelief]

Ping. Is their a new sugar daddy for the Clintons?

[TaxRelief]

Virgin has been big in trying to find a new fuel...to control costs. Has he made any progress yet? Nope.

The original article stated clearly that Branson will hand over all the profits.

No. He is not using his own researchers. I will not be surprised at all to watch as people discover that this money trail will lead to the Clintons and their political causes.

[P-40]

The original article stated clearly that Branson will hand over all the profits.

He will hand over the profits *to support the cause* and he will support the cause by doing what he has been doing for years...trying to find an alternative to traditional jet fuel. Kind of a sleazy way of saying things...

[TaxRelief]

According to a Humana Press Release

Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created more than 200 companies worldwide, employing approximately 35,000 people, in 29 countries. Revenues around the world in 2003 exceeded £4.5 billion (US$7.9 billion).

[M. Dodge Thomas]

renewable, sustainable energy sources

One of the things I really don't understand is why this is considered a "leftist" issue - for the last few year we have been looking very seriously at a geothermal system for our heating/cooling - the numbers get better every time I run them, and another 20% increase in NG prices will put GT this side of our payback target. And I'd LOVE for the US to less dependent on imported energy - every time I look, my energy spending is supporting more and more regimes I like less and less.

So if this guy is going to pump a billion or two into basic research and demonstration projects for alternatives I say more power to him. If it can be made cost competitive with nuclear and NG - including the externalities - a dollar I spend in Chicago for wind power from northern Wisconsin is a dollar that stays in the US and provides jobs for Americans and returns for (hopefull) US investors. And we are not going to run out of wind or sunlight, or wake up and find that moving air is suddenly twice as expensive per cu/ft.

[DustyMoment]

Hi Richard!! My name is Global Warming and I've come to collect the money you have just pledged.

Sure, I'll take a check.

Yes, I'll wait. (pause) No, just make it out to "G. Warming". (pause) So, I guess business has been good, huh? Oh, thank you!!! Wow, look at all the zeros. it's good, right? I don't have to wait until you sell some stocks or cash out some other assets, do I? I can cash it right away? I don't have to wait until you fill the next space adventures tour or anything like that, do I?? Great!! Well, thank you, Richard. See you next year!!!

[T. Jefferson]

"Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has committed £1.6bn over 10 years to fight global warming."

No matter how many checks he writes to the Sun, I doubt the Sun will alter it's orbit.

[caisson71]

He could start by parking all his planes and practice what he preaches.

[Tokra]

One of the things I really don't understand is why this is considered a "leftist" issue.

Because many on this forum are anti-science. Everytime some one posts a story about a new scientific discovery - within minutes a dozen Freepers write scoffing, unbelieving and derisive posts. One would think the chance to get out from under our dependence on the likes of Chavez and the oil-rich muslims would be cause for celebration instead of derision.

[Liz]

Well, if Branson hasn't gone go to the Clintons, the Clintons will sure go to him----knowing all that money is floating around.