This report from FrackingFreeIreland comes from a campaigner from Germany who decided to build a people map of the pro fracking lobby in Germany. The links he uncovered and the techniques have a lot to say about all other issues and how many of the most undemocratic practices are pushed forward. The principle used applies not just in Germany but is widespread including here in Ireland.
Campaigner from Germany
I have done a new graphic on all these lobby and pr firms trying to
manage public perception in Germany.
To be perfectly honest, this is the most depressing work i ever done in my life. to see how these groups are trying & managing to influence politics that should be democratic destroys the little rest of faith i had in this country and especially in Europe.
Plus the reaction of XOM (Exxon) PR people on twitter to this was really sad and scary. they were laughing their heads of and like ‘what you gonna do about it?’ we are going to do this anyway. what has happened to democracy i am asking. it is all out there for sale.
and the only reason why our gov will fail to pass this bill is because of its own incompetence, not because they give any shit about what they promised before last election or even what the people want. you can see this same pattern in our bill on mass data retention and on all the debate on CETA, TTIP & TISA and on the panel for investigation of NSA surveillence.
Ed update
In the image map, WEG is the Oil and Gas research institute, BGR is office for science and materials, CDU is the political party of same name, Offentlichkeit in Deutschland is public in Germany and Deutscher Bundestag is German Bundestag or parliament