Drevna lashes out at green group's 'divestment' effort

The head of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers said Wednesday that if an environmental group feels so strongly about getting people to drop investments in fossil fuels, then its founder should go a week without anything powered or made with coal, oil or natural gas.

AFPM CEO Charles Drevna challenged 350.org founder Bill McKibben to spend a week without relying on fossil fuels. The challenge was in response to the environmental organization's call for people around the world to divest themselves of fossil fuel stocks, bonds and investment funds this Friday and Saturday.

"We find Mr. McKibben's rhetoric most ironic, not to mention totally hypocritical, as he lectures universities, religious institutions, U.S. companies and others to divest from investing in fossil fuels-related firms," Drevna said. "If he were a person of true conviction, Mr. McKibben would lead the way by divesting himself from the use of any products made from fossil fuels for at least one week."

McKibben, a prominent author and environmental activist, had not responded to Drevna's challenge as of Thursday afternoon. http://bit.ly/1zZQKOa

The divestment movement has had a handful of successes. Most recently, the University of Maine announced it would drop all its direct holdings in coal companies.http://bit.ly/1zapUQy