Prop. 23: Avatar's James Cameron kicks in $1 million

James Cameron, the director of Avatar, the environmental fable masquerading as a 3-D blockbuster, popped a million dollars Friday into the campaign to defeat Proposition 23, a California ballot initiative to suspend the state's global warming law.

Cameron, who has previously embraced such environmental causes as saving the Amazon and battling Canadian tar sands development, is the first entertainment industry figure to make a major donation in the initiative fight. However, another player with deep Hollywood ties, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, held a fundraiser at his home in Brentwood last month to raise money to fight the measure, which he sees as a threat to his legacy of promoting clean energy.

"Mr. Cameron is not only a filmmaker with a conscience," said No on Prop. 23 spokesman Steve Maviglio, "he is willing to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to a fight for California jobs and our clean energy future."

California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, known as AB 32, is the most aggressive law in the country aimed at controlling pollution from fossil fuel burning that scientists say is disrupting Earth’s climate. It would slash greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 through regulations that would force utilities to get a third of their electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind plants, improve the fuel efficiency of automobiles and cap emissions from industrial plants.

Prop. 23 is mainly funded by oil refiners whose costs would rise under the global warming law. It would suspend the law until unemployment in California drops to 5.5% for a year — a level that historically has rarely been achieved. Current joblessness is over 12%.

Cameron's donation comes as contributions from clean-tech executives, environmental groups and wealthy conservationists opposing Prop. 23 have surged to more than $20 million in the last month, outpacing the $9 million raised so far by the initiative's backers.

Maviglio said opponents of the measure fear that oil companies and other industries affected by the global warming law could pour money into the fight at the last minute. “We are girding for what the oil companies traditionally have done on California ballot measures, when they've dumped millions of dollars into the campaign in the final stretch," he said.

Bill Day, a spokesman for Valero Energy Corp., a Texas-based oil refiner who is the largest contributor to the initiative, said the company "has not made any decisions at this point about additional financial support to the Prop. 23 campaign.”

--Margot Roosevelt

RELATED:

Avatar director urges slow-down for Canadian Tar Sands

Proposition 23 poll shows a dead heat among California voters

Meg Whitman wants to "fix" California's global warming law

Prop. 23 campaigns go head-to-head in TV spots

Photo: Characters in Avatar, an environmentally themed film directed by James Cameron. Credit: 20th Century Fox

Comments

[Wayne]

The key thing to keep in mind is that, according to CARB, AB 32 will do NOTHING to help global warming, will cost jobs and have a negative effect on the economy. This comes from the very people who drew it up!

AB 32 does nothing for local pollution.

Prop 23 leaves us with the toughest pollution laws in the country, among the toughest in the world. It will NOT increase local pollution

If Proposition 23 is rejected, here is what will happen according to expert sources:

•A 60 percent increase in your electricity bill according to the Southern California Public Power Authority.

•An 8 percent increase in your natural gas bill according to CARB’s economic analysis.

•$50,000 more for the price of a new home according to an analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

•$3.7 billion a year more for gasoline and diesel according to Sierra Research.

•A $1,000-$3,000 additional cost for a new car according to CARB and automaker studies.

On top of all that, a study conducted for the California Small Business Roundtable found that AB 32 regulations would cost small business alone nearly $200 billion, and would result in more than 1 million lost jobs.

The more I learn about AB 32, the more I fear it. It just gets worse. Please vote yes on Prop23.

For months, John and Ken have made Prop 23 their top priority, calling it a necessary step to stop a law they say will kill jobs and cost Californians a fortune in higher gas and energy prices. With an estimated one million listeners per week, these two guys usually manage to rally enough votes to get their way.

""2 Guys on the Bay Area Transportation Board told the CARB people, "If you try to do what you are going to do(AB 32) we'll have gas at $9.07 a gallon and we have freeway tolls at up to $4,500 a year to drive during rush hour."

"Part of the plan is to stop suburban development, get people to stop driving, make driving too expensive for people to live out there, force them to live in high-rises, condos, in the city."

The video has John and Ken explaining why they think this bill is the most important measure on the ballot.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39853750

[Celia Alario]

For readers working to figure out all the complex propositions, it is always helpful to FOLLOW THE MONEY: Check out http://prop26.dirtyenergymoney.com/ and http://prop23.dirtyenergymoney.com/ to see who is behind these Propositions.

[Sweet!]

I taste the sweetness of victory. America has lost its mind, but we can still believe in California as a beacon of light. Screw you BIG OIL!

[thetruecost]

Environmental Hypocrites like James Cameron want to defeat Prop 23 but here is how he lives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKZ4RolQxec

[Jay C.]

To see a breakdown of all the top contributors supporting and opposing Prop. 23, check out MAPLight.org's Prop. 23 page: http://maplight.org/content/california-prop-23-nov-2010

[John]

NO on Prop 23 and three cheers for Cameron...for that I'll go see Avatar again. The greedy Texas oil companies trying to subvert our environment and clean energy economy are definitely the bad guys in this movie.

[AndreaU8]

A reason ALONE to vote YES on 23!

Yes on 23!

We need to save California and its people - without it, what good is some regulation that the current so-called green jobs cannot even meet.......

Yes on 23!

[Jim]

How much oil did he use to make the movie Avatar?

[Valeria Damiroxa]

"Avatar" James made an effort to paralyse the development of the Belo Monte Hydrodam in Brazil - which is wanted by ALL the candidates for the presidency in Brazil and their parties and followers, and by 7 of the 11 indigenous ethnic groups in the region. Cameron told the indigenous: "I am telling you that coming from our civilization: Do not become like we, remain with your lifestyle!" Now, after many year - the big scandal finally has gone international: The indigenous in that Amazonregion have and some are still, killing the newborns of single mothers, twins, triplets, and small children with subnormal development. See "Sandra Terena Breaking the Silence".

[Jasse Basse]

It is shame that corporations and their henchmen among politcians always oppose to progressive development. In that respect the US is a clearly underdeveloped country compared with many Western Europe states.
Let us just hope that progressive people like Cameron can curb the will of the corporations so that the US at last can join the civilized world when it concerns environmental matters.

[Raleigh Latham]

Nothing but respect for James Cameron. Our state RELIES on innovation driven by Clean Energy and laws limiting greenhouse gases. Prop 23 is an attempt to subvert the democracy of our state by letting Valero and Tesoro kill AB-32, the nations only forward looking law on greenhouse gas emissions which was passed by California Voters in 2006.

Prop 23 is insidious, disgusting, and entirely paid for by Texas oil. Our state must lead the way in the fight against corporate takeover, and protect our future, the environment, and renewable energy.

[Tony B]

Brian, Perhaps you should read more of the Times before making such ridiculous statements. Here's an excerpt from the business section today... "But the vast redwood hangar where it was built is still in demand as a sound stage and generates about $1.3 million a year in rent from filmmakers, Ratkovich said. Much of director James Cameron's 3-D epic "Avatar" was shot there."
Read it here: http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-playa-vista-20101015,0,5702847.story
We need to regulate polution of all types, period. It's what seperates us from third world countries. It's what'll allow life to continue on this planet. Money grubbing heads of corporations should not and cannot dictate our quality of life in decades to come while they're off living out their retirement on some far away island separated from the destruction they've caused.

[epespinoza43]

@Brian's position is that technology is going to remain dormant. Oil IS dormant. It has been for 100 years. It has some saving graces: It's used to make plastics and some fertilizers. Else, all it's good for is burning.

As for the sun, the issue for the oil people is that they can't own the sun. It's free to all who will utilize it. Just like gravity.

As for technology breakthroughs, I suspect that solar power efficiency will double in 5 years, 3x in 10 years and in 15 years efficiencies will be in the high 80s or low 90s. What does this mean? Less cost for power and less polution, plant life won't have such a hard time fighting to breath just as humans and the film of ash you see on your hood each morning if you park outside in the curb will be almost non-existent. And the electric car and truck will be a reality whose time will have arrived..........BIG TIME.

As for oil, those who are now enjoying their lifestyles will sustain their lifestyles but will not grow. Oil will rise because of an ever dwindling supply and new sources will not be found fast enough to keep price low.

So seems the best long term winner is to go after something that will be around long, long after "oil" has been taken off of Websters Collegiate.

Like all resources, it has its place under the sun and it did its contribution to our civilization; but along with its contributions it also brought its curse.

[Paul Taylor Examiner]

Cameron, as with all celebrities, lives and works in a fantasy world.
Over the last thirty years, Californians have developed a fetish for environmental causes. With little or no concern for the costs or provable benefits of these green initiatives, California has embedded exorbitant costs in all services, products, fuels, land uses and daily activities in the solemn belief that all environmental issues must receive immediate government attention and funding. Litigious, fear mongering eco-groups have brainwashed legions of followers that will leap over a cliff to save a wayward Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly. Capitalism, corporate profits, and ultimately, prosperity are the enemies of environmental activism. And, you the taxpayer pick up the tab for all of their theatrics.

The green fetish has driven California to spend on reflex, rather than reality. The U.S. spends about 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on environmental controls. California probably spends twice that for environmental regulations, enforcements, energy subsidies and gratuitous taxes at both state and local levels. California environmentalists are a partisan political special interest, and are as militant and destructive as the labor unions that have spent the state into endless budget deficits.

Before the economic recession, Californians blindly approved the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32) that mandates 2012 reductions of greenhouse gases through carbon taxes, and alternative and renewable fuel subsidies. All new climate laws increase the unit production costs and corresponding consumer prices of all goods and services. A study by the Governor's Small Business Advocate reports that small businesses pay more than $134,000 each in annual California regulatory costs – significantly in green regulations. Estimates are that the total cost of California regulations is about $493 billion annually – the equivalent of 3.8 million jobs. A.B. 32 could cost the state an additional 1 million in job losses with its cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels.

California voters can delay the California Global Warming Solutions Act (A.B. 32) by voting for Prop. 23 November 2nd. Prop. 23 would suspend implementation of A.B. 32 until the state’s unemployment rate is reduced to below 5.5%. California’s high 2010 unemployment (12%) has been approached twice in the last 30 years – in 1982 (11%) and 1992 (10%). In each of these economic downturns, it took 5 to 7 years of economic recovery to achieve the target 5.5% unemployment.

What is clear in California is that partisan ideologies and cultish environmentalism have replaced prudent science and economic realities in climate policy. What is also clear is that radical environmentalism no longer offers any product or service in support of our future security and prosperity. Militant environmentalism and green-obsessed bureaucrats have become an “axis of antagonism” that we can no longer afford.

[Brian]

I wonder if James Cameron makes ALL of his movies in California? Or even any of them? If not, why not? Could it be the huge taxes? Just wait until AB32 taxes kick in. AB32 must be killed. It cant be allowed to kick in. Everyone Vote Yes on 23.

[Wayne]

Which just goes to show that being a Hollywood director does not make you an expert on jobs.

Businesses are leaving California in record numbers already. In the first half of the year, companies spent over 4 billion just to leave California. They have taken hundreds of billions worth of jobs and revenue with them. AB 32 will only increase the outward flow. There is NO way that AB 32 will replace the lost income.

We need to be easing up on businesses, cutting taxes, simplifying regulations and making a business friendly climate in California. AB 32 will only make it worse.

Some interesting and frightening facts on companies leaving California.
http://thebusinessrelocationcoach.blogspot.com/