Susan Smith argues businesses taking out a full-page advert criticising a charity is a dangerous move to undermine charity campaigning
The manipulative full page advert in national newspapers targeted at RSPB Scotland this week was nothing more than a cynical move from big business to gang up on legitimate charity campaigning.
Full of conciliatory and emotive language, it pitches the coalition of energy companies and other key stakeholders calling themselves Offshore Wind Farm Coalition, as reasonable, passionate, environmentally conscious and caring.
“These are real people, real jobs and real environmental benefits” a coalition spokesman is quoted as saying in related articles.
It is a worrying sign for charity campaigning that these companies believe they can win the moral high ground on this issue
RSPB Scotland could equally argue the development risks real birds, real wildlife and real habitats already struggling with the impact of changing environmental conditions.
The truth is, the advert is a cynical move from the coalition to win public sympathy for its development and turn hearts against RSPB Scotland.
It is surprising and upsetting because it turns the tables on the charity sector and its natural position as an upholder of social justice, often through advertising.
It is a worrying sign for charity campaigning that these companies believe they can win the moral high ground on this issue. It is a dangerous move in an on-going media war against charity campaigning, capitalising on insidious anti-charity rhetoric that depicts charities as self-serving and profligate.
It’s rare that charities take court action – they simply don’t have the resources to do it. They also worry about the implications of taking on the might of big business.
Earlier this year, John Muir Trust faced the results after it was forced to pay £50,000 to Scottish and Southern Energy (a reduction from an initial £350,000 claim) after losing its challenge to the Stronelairg windfarm development.
This current case is clearly a difficult one, it’s been ping-ponging back and forth between judges and appeal judges for three years already. The truth is windfarms are not a black and white issue, they are not all good as the coalition would suggest and neither would RSPB Scotland argue they are all bad. Therefore, it’s right that the charity, which feels just as passionately about its case, should exhaust all possible legal routes before giving up.
The rest of the charity sector should stand behind RSPB Scotland and its right to fight an injustice through all the legal means open to it.
It is a brave move that sets an excellent example to the rest of the charity sector that you don't have to be bullied by business interests.
Susan Smith is editor of Third Force News.
