I Asked a Mining Billionaire About His Environmental Philanthropy. It Didn’t Go Well.
Vox reporter Benji Jones explores the complexities of environmental philanthropy through a conversation with billionaire Tom Kaplan. Despite his generous donations to wildlife conservation, Kaplan's mining activities raise questions about the environmental impact of his business. The article highlights the tension between his philanthropic efforts and the destructive nature of the mining industry.
- ▪Tom Kaplan auctioned a Rembrandt drawing and pledged the proceeds to Panthera, an organization he co-founded for wildlife conservation.
- ▪Kaplan is a billionaire involved in mining precious metals, which is known to have detrimental effects on the environment.
- ▪Experts dispute Kaplan's claims that mining does not harm wildlife, citing evidence that it threatens various cat species.
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freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "motherjones_right_rail_1", slotId: "ROS_ATF_300x600" }); Vox reporter Benji Jones delves into the contradictions at the heart of big-money environmental philanthropy, inspired by a conversation with one billionaire about the impact of his mining work on animals and the environment. Pete Ryan for Vox Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. This story was originally published by Vox and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Earlier this year, a billionaire investor and philanthropist named Tom Kaplan auctioned off a small Rembrandt drawing of a lion at Sotheby’s in New York City. It sold for nearly $18 million.
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