Filed under: Stop climate change | Tags: API, astroturfing, c2c, Climate Change, Copenhagen
Following our exposure of a secret oil industry plan to fake public concern over US climate legislation – we’re putting big oil companies in the spotlight to make sure nobody falls for their dirty tricks. The leaked memo from the American Petroleum Institute (API) revealed its request for members to have employees masquerade as concerned ‘Energy Citizens’ at rallies held across the US this month.
This attempt to deceive politicians and the public by forging a grass roots campaign (known as “astroturfing”) was highlighted by our activists who laid real Astroturf outside the API headquaters in Washington D.C. They also held a sign reading “Climate fraud funded by big oil” and branded the Astroturf with the logos of oil giants ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Chevron.
Take Action Now! – Tell big oil companies to stop the lies and come clean on climate
Game plan known
The API memo, leaked to Greenpeace last week, called on the CEOs of some of the world’s biggest oil companies to “indicate to your company leadership – your strong support for employee participation in the rallies.” The API’s President, Jack Gerard, further warns the world’s oil barons to treat the memo as “sensitive,” arguing that “we don’t want our critics to know our game plan”.
This memo and the rallies are in direct contradiction to many of its members’ stated support for “cap and trade” climate legislation in the US. Not only that, but the API was citing misleading economic statistics to back its campaign.
Come clean
This scam makes a mockery of the public debate on climate action. Energy companies could be putting their workers to work on an energy revolution, rather than busing them out of their workplaces to attend bogus rallies.
So far this year, over US$ 82 million has been spent on corporate lobbying including against climate change legislation, by the oil and gas industry alone. The CEOs and Presidents of API member companies like ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, General Electric and others must publicly denounce these dirty tricks. They must make clear to Governments their support for strong climate action at the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
Government climate and energy policy must be based on climate science and the genuine expression of public opinion – not vested interests.
World leaders
The UN Climate Summit is rapidly approaching – in addition to calling on big oil to stop the lies – we’re also asking for all Heads of State to show up to the meeting in Copenhagen this December – and take personal responsibility for a good climate deal.
5 Comments so far
Leave a comment
[…] seems that almost everyone from the big oil industry (in hopes of maintaining a fossil fuel dependent to the status quo), to the TckTckTck formation, to […]
Pingback by The gears are in motion for the Copenhagen meeting « Greenpeace Southeast Asia August 21, 2009 @ 5:22 amHow is that different from the union goons being sent to Tea Parties and Town Halls? For that matter, the union people that are showing up at Whole Foods to supress free speech?
Comment by dhydar August 26, 2009 @ 7:38 pmhello,
Comment by Chuck Baclagon August 27, 2009 @ 3:40 amperhaps there is no difference. as it obscures open and intelligent debate on an issue. and in this case it even makes a mockery out of scientific consensus
[…] For me the person of Mr. Burns can be seen in the people behind the American Petroleum Institute. […]
Pingback by Whatever happened to Mr. Burns? « Greenpeace Southeast Asia August 28, 2009 @ 5:21 pm[…] It sounds nice but truth is so far from what is said as Chevron among other petroleum corporations s… What’s interesting though about this is how the niffy use of keywords is being used to turn the tide of debate to posture as part of the wide movement for climate action. […]
Pingback by Chevron, keywords and climate change « Greenpeace Southeast Asia December 17, 2009 @ 9:14 am