Pope Francis’s Crusade Against Fossil Fuels by Alex Epstein

This week, Pope Francis is meeting with the President, addressing a joint session of Congress, and speaking to a crowd of over a million in Philadelphia, sharing his views in the name of concern for humanity, particularly the poor.

But the Pope is calling not for energy abundance, but energy poverty. He seems to be unable to see how much better fossil fuels have made our world. Why?

I explain in my latest Forbes column:

“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” This was Pope Francis’s summary of his Encyclical earlier this year on the alleged destruction of our planet. The leading culprit, in his view, is humanity’s use of fossil fuels, which he believes are immoral and should largely be illegal.

“Like no pope before him,” according to the New York Times, “Francis is using the grand stage of his trip to the United States to demonstrate that the church exists to serve the poor and marginalized.”

But if he wants to help humanity, especially the poorest human beings, Pope Francis needs to recognize that fossil fuels make Earth not a “pile of filth,” but a far better, healthier, cleaner, and more bountiful place to live.

Read More

Power Hour: Dr. Patrick Moore on a Rational, Pro-Human Approach to Ecology

On the latest episode of Power Hour I talk to Patrick Moore, ecologist and a co-founder (and defector) of Greenpeace about how the science of ecology has been corrupted over the decades, and how it can be fixed.

Download Episode 112 with Dr. Patrick Moore

As always, if you’d like to suggest a new guest for Power Hour, or have me appear on your show, you can send me an email at support@industrialprogress.net, or just reply to this one.

Speaking in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Kansas and More

I’ve spoken at a lot of events to a wide variety of audiences this month, from the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance to the all-girls Wellesley College in Boston.

On the right is my talk at the Eastern Kansas Oil and Gas Association last week. One highlight: I was introduced by my Duke classmate David Powell, whom I met back in 2000.

ABOUT ALEX EPSTEIN

AlexAlex Epstein, President and Founder of the Center for Industrial Progress, is the author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels and an expert on energy and industrial policy. Called “most original thinker of the year” by political commentator John McLaughlin, he champions the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas and has changed the way thousands of people think about energy. He has risen to prominence as the nation’s leading free-market energy debater, promoting a philosophy that is “anti-pollution but pro-development.” He challenges many popularly held ideas about energy, industry, and the environment, including the big picture benefits (and costs) of fossil fuels and nuclear power. He draws on cutting-edge research and original insights to offer an alternate perspective on the energy debate and shares eye-opening thoughts into how fossil fuels and technology will improve the lives of people – safely, cleanly, and effectively – for years to come.

RELATED ARTICLES: 

Pope Francis Endorses Obama’s Climate Agenda, Which Critics Say Will Be ‘Devastating’ to the Poor

As Pope Francis Visits the US, Here Are 5 Facts About American Catholics

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