“Americans Who Tell The Truth,” an exhibit of 18 portraits, was shown at the Meeting House Art Gallery here in Freeport last October. Maine artist Robert Shetterly painted these masterly portraits of Americans who have spoken truth to power. Many of these Americans have spoken truth about the climate crisis we face. “The crisis of climate change and environmental degradation is the greatest crisis humanity has ever confronted, and it is made many times harder because so many powerful institutions, governments, and corporations are invested in an economy of exploitation,” Shetterly writes.

L.L.Bean, with its reputation as a corporation that cares for the environment, has an opportunity to speak truth to power by encouraging Citibank, which services the L.L.Bean credit card, to stop financing new fossil fuel infrastructure. L.L.Bean could enhance its voice with Citibank by enlisting other large retailers, such as Costco, in a coalition of concerned corporate citizens. This coalition could then use their combined economic influence to speak truth to Citibank. L.L.Bean could bolster its reputation of being good stewards of the environment. L.L.Bean could be a leader in speaking the truth about “the greatest crisis humanity has ever confronted.”

William Rixon
Freeport