[StuartDH]

Richard Branson has just pledged $3 billion to develop green fuels and other environmental projects. He's barely got his words out and already some have jumped on him by saying that he's not doing enough. What does this mean for the environment and environmentalists? Yesterday, I had a conversation with a few people who felt that it was showing the environmentalists in a poor light:

"Richard Branson gives $3m and he's told he's not doing enough, what does that say about us?"
"Will the ecomentalists ever be happy?"
"Why not wait a year and then pan him if he doesn't keep his promise?"
"What does this do to the next billionaire who thinks about giving his money to environment projects?"

I've never been one for the doom and gloom, "welcome to dystopia", views on bird flu, the environment, terrorism etc. This seems to be another example of "whatever you do, it's never enough", and I sometimes wish that there would be a more positive message forom the environmentalists to provide support for new initiatives.

Yes, he will probably make money out of it. Yes, it'll be good PR for Virgin. But, it might just do something to improve the environment at the same time.

Stu