It’s getting to a point where a business can’t even greenwash anymore

Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist

From: rutherford@Monkwellstrategy.com

To: JohnJ@bigenergy.co.uk

John, I’m sorry to hear this, though we knew pressure on bodies to refuse fossil fuel money would grow. It is getting to a point where an honest business can’t launder its brand image. Once universities start turning down cash then you know things are difficult. I miss the 1990s. The Gaddafi School of Global Governance, the China Institute for Human Rights, the Kagame Centre for Open Borders. Those were the days when you knew where you stood with academia.

I’m happy to speak to Camford’s vice-chancellor but we probably need to start thinking about new vehicles for reputation augmentation, as we call it at Monkwell. Let’s start with anywhere that took money from the Sackler Trust or Russian oligarchs and is suddenly having to sever ties. 

PS. Check out my London to Brighton and weep.

Rutherford

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To: ProfHawkwind@VC.camford.ac.uk

Dear Prof Hawkwind,

John at Big Energy asked me to reach out to see if I can help with comms on the philanthropy issue. As you know Big Energy wants to be part of the solution by funding research into the fuels of tomorrow, and by supporting our great universities, hence the desire to endow a new Clean Energy Institute. We realise you are facing heat from those with less sensitivity to the energy security challenge and with no appreciation of the funding challenges affecting our greatest institutions. Shall we speak later this week?

Best, Rutherford Hall

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To: ProfHawkwind@VC.camford.ac.uk

Dear Prof Hawkwind, 

Thanks for the call and the insight into the issue. I can talk to John about some of the research projects Big Energy wants to prioritise at Camford. They are very excited by the potential of black hydrogen but you may be right to view it as the wrong launch project. Obviously they’d prefer the institute to carry their name but may be open to more subtle branding.

I can’t deny there will be protests. On the other hand we are talking about students so it’s probably just a question of what they protest. It may even be a welcome distraction from efforts to shut down the Union, tear down statues or decolonise the refectory.

I recognise your dilemma but at some point universities are going to have to take a stand against those attacking their funding streams. Only those with perfect images don’t need to worry about finding other ways to do good. Today’s activists have no appreciation of the upside of tainted cash. And between us, I don’t want to see UK universities falling behind because people like Big Energy put their money in institutions overseas. As you said, both choices are uncomfortable for you, but only one of them offers discomfort and penury. 

Best Rutherford

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WhatsApp to JohnJ: Sorry John, I did my best. 

To: JohnJ@bigenergy.co.uk

John, it’s great if museums are keen. They want the cash but they are full of do-goody arts types and an easy target for activists who can get a tonne of coverage by defacing something priceless, so curators get nervous. You probably need institutions with a bit more crowd control and high ticket prices.

Opera and sport are good bets. The former really needs the money and has high-value patrons. Sport has fabulous reach and we can slipstream behind more high-profile targets like Big Gambling and Big Autocracy. But if you did want to buy or sponsor a football club, or major sporting event it does seem to be a sphere where fewer questions are asked. Mind you, you would be competing with a lot of Saudi cash — funnily enough no one seems to mind national oil revenue if it buys you a good striker.

If the takers really dry up, there’s good mileage in establishing our own clean energy think-tank, which also counts towards our ESG spending. We can also change our narrative by funding research into other green causes like meat-free food or work on just transition, whatever that means. We just base you in an overseas university in a country with a more forward looking approach to dissent.

Food banks and medical causes are good but steer clear of fuel poverty charities. They might spark associations with oil profits. 

It’s up to you if you want to make a donation to the Conservative party, though I’m not entirely sure which one of you would be doing the brand-building at the moment. Is bluewashing a thing?

Best, R

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