The Boycott was called in April by Global Greens to press the U.S. to rejoin the Kyoto Treaty and reverse climate change.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens and Green Parties in the United States and around the world have christened Wednesday, July 11 as a "National Day of Action" to urge the boycott of major oil companies initiated at the Global Greens 2001 conference held in Canberra, Australia in mid April.

Actions will take place on Wednesday in major American cities and at least 15 countries, leading up to next week's planned Kyoto negotiations in Bonn, Germany.  Lists of confirmed U.S. events can be read at the following web sites: 

http://www.greenparties.org/articles/exxonmobil.html
http://www.pressurepoint.org.

"Representatives of Green Parties from 80 nations voted unanimously in favor of a worldwide boycott of Exxon Mobil (Esso), Texaco, and Chevron in order to pressure the George W. Bush Administration into signing back on to the Kyoto Treaty," said [Annie Goeke, co-chair of the Association of State Green Parties and a member of ASGP's International Committee].  "Greens call Kyoto a minimal but necessary step to slow global  warming."

Pressure Point, a Seattle-based nonprofit, leads grassroots organizations promoting the boycott and planning various actions, including street theater, displays of signs and banners, and rallies near corporate offices and gas stations. Pressure Point has focused on Exxon Mobil, which it calls the worst of the "Greenhouse Gangsters." 

Exxon Mobil continues to fund greenhouse skeptics, has spent millions on greenwash advertisements, was a major corporate contributor  to Bush's election ($1.2 million to theRepublican Party), lobbied the U.S. government to reject the Kyoto Protocol, lobbied for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and invests virtually nothing in renewable energy.  

Exxon Mobil leads corporations in support for anti-democratic "free trade" pacts that hold the power to override environmental, labor, and human rights protections.  Exxon Mobil pushed for the World Bank's destructive Chad/Cameroon pipeline project, holds a record of violations against the environment and human rights in Nigeria, Colombia, and Russia, and refuses to reinstate a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation. 

After the Clinton Administration obstructed implementation of the Kyoto measures in November, 2000, President Bush crushed worldwide hopes for reducing global warming by withdrawing the U.S. from the treaty.  Since the U.S., with 4% of the world's population, produces 25% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. policies on climate change have outraged the international community. 

About a hundred members of the European Parliament have signed the boycott petition (see <http://www.europarl.ep.ec/greens-efa>); many will participate in public rallies and other events in Europe to urge the public to boycott Exxon Mobil, Texaco, and Chevron.  

Greens stress the need for rapid conversion from fossil fuels to solar and wind power and other forms of clean, efficient, and mostly low-cost alternative sources of energy.  "If Exxon owned the sun, we'd have solar energy tomorrow," Green Party candidate Ralph Nader said during his 2000 campaign for the White House. 

MORE INFORMATION:

The Global Greens Oil Boycott http://www.greenparties.org/articles/exxonmobil.html 
Pressure Point  http://www.pressurepoint.org/ 

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