Home > Press releases > 2001
08 May 2001
A national campaign to boycott Esso was launched in London today by
the Stop Esso campaign, an alliance founded by Greenpeace, Friends of
the Earth and People & Planet(1). Bianca Jagger unveiled a 'Boycott
Esso' mobile billboard at the launch outside an Esso service station.
Annie Lennox, Jerome Flynn, The Body Shop, Damien Hirst and Keith Allen,
along with several politicians have already signed up to the boycott.
The Stop Esso Campaign is calling on the public not to buy any Esso
products until the US based oil company changes their stand on global
warming. The campaign is targeting Esso as the world's leading global
warming villain because:
The campaign will be urging the British public to avoid all Esso petrol
stations and pledge their support at
http://www.stopesso.com.
Campaigners will also focus on companies that buy Esso fuel in bulk
and ask them to switch suppliers. The boycott will continue until Esso
agree to support the Kyoto Protocol to fight global warming.
Stop Esso Campaign co-ordinator Lorne Stockman said,
“We're not going to let Esso get away with polluting the planet
to make their billions. They are not too big for the rest of us to stop
them. If Esso choose to sabotage the fight against global warming, we
can choose to sabotage their profits.”
Bianca Jagger, who was at today's launch, said,
“Often we as individuals feel powerless in the face of this catastrophe that is unfolding. But with this campaign we can make a difference. We can say enough, we can say stop. We will make our voices heard.”
Comedian Rory Bremner has said of Esso,
“Your choice is their income. Use your choice. Make a change.”
Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen Tindale said,
“Esso are the world's number one global warming villains. They
have paid George Bush to ditch the only international treaty to stop
global warming from devastating our lives. We should all take this personally
and stop buying from Esso”.
Charles Secrett, Executive Director at Friends of the Earth said,
"This campaign will demonstrate to Mr Bush and his corporate
backers that it doesn't pay to put profits before the planet. By supporting
the Stop Esso campaign the British public will show that it wants effective
action to tackle global climate change."
People & Planet Director, Kevin Steele said,
“Claims by Esso that burning oil might not cause global warming
are as believable as tobacco industry claims that cigarettes might not
cause cancer.”
Esso faces the threat of a worldwide boycott. Already in the UK, former
Environment Minister and Conservative MP, John Gummer has called for
consumers to stop buying petrol from Esso. Last month the Observer newspaper
told its readers that if they wanted to take direct action over climate
change they should not buy from Esso and “Don't put a tiger
in your tank.”(2)
Notes
Pledges to boycott Esso so far: Bianca Jagger, Annie Lennox (singer/songwriter),
Linus Roache (actor),Jerome Flynn (actor, musician), Goldie (musician/artist),
William Roache (actor), Ronny Jordan (jazz musician), Edward Goldsmith
(The Ecologist), Jeremy Thomas (film producer), Eski Thomas (screenwriter),Julien
Temple (film director), Amanda Temple (film producer), Sacha Puttnam
on behalf of the band Bush,Darren Johnson (GLA), Tony Lloyd MP (Labour),
Simon Thomas MP (Plaid Cymru), The Body Shop (Anita and Gordon Roddick),
Dan Morell (Future Forests), Keith Allen (comedian/actor), Damien Hirst
(artist).
(1) “People & Planet is a national student network campaigning
to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.”
(2). John Gummer interviewed on Channel 4 News, 3/4/01 and Observer
Editorial 22/4/01
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
