Friday, September 4, 2009

Why we Boycott Exon

I used to boycott Exon because of their response ( or lack of it) to the Exon Valdez disaster. Now I have another reason...

Turns out Exon pays people to question climate science. I work in tobacco control and this is a classic big industry tactic.

Here's how it works. Let's say you make a lot of money making a product ( say cigarettes) and research shows cigarettes kill people. You don't have to disprove that science. You can create your own...that shows the opposite. All you have you have to do is create doubt.

For years the tobacco industry could point to research that questioned whether tobacco was really bad for your health. We found out later...it was research they had funded.

Looks like Exon is borrowing a page from tobacco industry play books.

When you are driving...where do you get gas? I wish I had a clear cut ethical winner..but I don't
"There is no socially responsible oil company" ( according to Green America's Director, Vicki Kreha, but some are a little better than others.

According to Responsibleshopper.org, the top three are Sunoco, Hess and BP. (They were rated on environment, human rights, labor, ethics, and health.) Exonmobil is at the bottom of the list.

So for now, we fill up at BP..the only one in the top three I have been able to find in our area.

1 comment:

Beth Albright said...

We have also boycotted Citgo since it is connected to the Venezuelan government (Hugo Chavez). As you said, there really aren't socially responsible gas companies. Of the 3 you mentioned, only BP is in our area, so BP it will be. Thanks for the info.