Progressive Democrat Issue 38: ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION: Keep up the Pressure on Exxon!

Congress just passed an Energy Bill that (big surprise) favors oil companies, largely ignores alternative energy and conservation and basically continues the stupid oil addiction of America. We are oil addicts and we need some kind of national 12-step program to get us off the oil. But, in the meantime, we can focus on Exxon/Mobil, the world's biggest oil company, and the prime architect and beneficiary of many of the bad provisions in the energy bill. I have been focusing on the Exxon/Mobil boycott for a few weeks now, but the Energy Bill just adds further reason to boycott Exxon/Mobil, to bombard them and the media with our complaints, and to spread the word about them and the boycott.

First, write the CEO of Exxon/Mobil and tell him why you are boycotting his company. If you have already done this, it doesn’t hurt to do it again. But there is a lot more you can do. Please go to the Exxpose Exxon Action Center and find out all the things you can do to nail the worst of the oil companies. Companies really don’t like determined boycotts, and we really do have the power to hold Exxon/Mobil accountable. But only if we really are determined and vocal about our boycott. Please do what you can to spread the word.

I also want to give you some alternatives to Exxon/Mobil. I feel anyone who advocates a boycott has a responsibility to offer alternatives to the target of the boycott. Three oil companies, while still oil companies and thus inherently bad for the environment, stand out as being better than the rest of the pack. First there is Citgo. Many progressives are favoring Citgo these days. The main reason progressives are pushing this company is that Citgo buys NO OIL WHATSOEVER from Saudi Arabia. They are strictly Venezuelan oil and are a nationalized Venezuelan. So buying Citgo helps President Chavez, the popular and populist Venezuelan president that Bush hates so much. Bush has been trying to marginalize Venezuela the way America has marginalized Cuba. Bush has tried to influence Venezuelan elections. Now it is our turn. Support real democracy in Venezuela by buying Citgo gas. In addition to Citgo I can recommend BP and Chevron because overall their environmental records are far better than any other oil companies. Their records are NOT as good as they want you to believe. But they are still better than anyone else's. So please patronize Citgo, Chevron, and/or BP over Exxon/Mobil.

Finally, we all should make an effort to cut back on our oil use. This is not easy in most places, but it really is absolutely critical for our environment and, quite possibly, for the stability of our society. Given the increasing threat of global warming, we really have to start cutting back on our production of greenhouse gasses. So, as a further alternative to Exxon/Mobil gasoline, join the nationwide eRideshare network and start carpooling.
It is one more step you can take to protest the lousy Energy Bill.