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Top 10 anti-BP protests
Growing fury over the Gulf oil spill has spawned numerous online and real-world protests against BP. Here are the top 10.
Tue, Jun 08 2010 at 2:23 AM
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Photo: Mac McClelland/Mother Jones on Grand Isle
From a technical standpoint, BP has botched nearly every aspect of the Gulf oil spill — from malfunctioning equipment and lax operational protocols to undeployed booms, failed containment attempts, and banned dispersants. Even the act of simply cleaning up the oil was called into question when BP hired untrained fisherman, provided no safety gear and then asked them to sign liability waivers.
There are almost a hundred reasons to hate the oil giant. But it’s in the arena of corporate communications that BP has astonished with a list of epic foot-in-mouth insertions:
The company continues to misinform the public about the quantity of oil leaking into the Gulf; they said Americans are to blame for driving too much; they rejected help from scientists; they blocked journalists from documenting the spill; they made moronic statements like “the ocean can absorb a lot,” then colluded with local sheriff’s offices to threaten photographers with arrest documenting the oil — all textbook examples of how NOT to handle a corporate communications “situation” like the Gulf spill.
And then there are the repeated gaffes by BP CEO Tony Hayward — his jocularity at the initial Congressional hearings, out-of-touch sentiments like “I want my life back” and now a horrendously timed $50 million ad campaign aimed at making the soulless corporation appear caring (when it should be spending funds on immediate aid to a region in crisis).
It’s not surprising that an entire nation has been brought together in unified condemnation of BP, giving birth to a bipartisan, anti-BP movement that has many different expressions. Here are the top 10 protests — both online and real-world — that are gaining the quickest traction:
Shortly after the Gulf spill occurred, 350.org — a leading international climate advocacy group — started a Facebook page calling for a full moratorium on offshore drilling. They are growing steadily with 135,000 fans and counting.
2. Boycott BP
Unquestionably the fastest-growing online movement, Boycott BP started as a Facebook group and is now expanding to multiple international websites. The ask is simple — boycott all BP stations including Castrol, Arco, Aral and AM/PM. Last week they had 350,000 followers, this week they’re at 450,000. (Photo: Johann Lammer, New York)
3. BPGlobalPR
They say the fiercest weapon is a sharp wit and in this case, the satirical twitter feed @BPGlobalPR may be one of the best (and certainly the funniest) online protest against the evildoing oil giant. With tweets like: “Taking the day off to go fish fighting with the boys. Tony Hayward punched a dolphin so hard it puked!” how can you not feel at least a little vindicated?
On June 4, a coalition on nonprofit organizations including Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Energy Action Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org and the Center for Biological Diversity gathered in D.C. to make a “citizen’s arrest” of an effigy of BP CEO Tony Hayward. They are now calling for a three-month boycott of BP.
June 12 will mark a worldwide protest of BP and the corporate irresponsibility they have come to represent. Also being organized on Facebook, the group now has commitments for a march in 33 cities. They have recently aligned with Boycott BP and will be endorsing the boycott.
6. Code Pink
You have to love the brave, nude and impassioned Code Pink Women for Peace. On May 21, they led a colorful and bawdy march at BP headquarters in Houston, Texas, and are calling for a boycott of BP and ARCO stations.
7. Seize BP
One small group of activists has gained international press attention for promoting the strongest (and most outlandish) demand — they want the U.S. government to seize all of BP’s assets and use them to pay back the damages from the oil spill. Not likely … but they make their point! Seize BP rallies are happening all week long.
Change.org is putting forth a less histrionic put infinitely more strategic call to action: push the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recommend a full "discretionary debarment" of BP, which means no more U.S. government contracts, no new leases in the U.S., and all existing leases cancelled. Due to BP’s lengthy criminal record, the EPA was already investigating the possibility for debarment and it is expected the agency will open the issue to public comment in the near future.
9. Beyond Oil
For some reason the big environmental nonprofits like NRDC, Nature Conservancy, WWF, even Al Gore’s well-funded Alliance for Climate Protection have been noticeably quiet about the oil spill for reasons that elude even the most astute political observers. Finally, the Sierra Club has issued a “wake-up call” — that it is time to get off oil now, before it is too late. Michael Brune, the new head of the Sierra Club, gives a firsthand account of his trip to the Gulf and what we can do to loosen Big Oil’s grip on American energy policy.
A simple idea dreamed up by a Florida resident several months before the Gulf oil spill, Hands Across the Sand is growing into a full-fledged movement of people from nearly every state who are sending a plea to President Obama and to Congress: it’s time for a full moratorium on offshore drilling with funding for safe, renewable alternatives. The poetic imagery of thousands holding hands in a protective embrace of our oceans will emerge on June 26, the national Hands Across the Sand day of protest.
I’m sure there are many more. If you find ones that I’ve missed, please include the links below.
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
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i am really amazed with the growth of Boycott BP in past few year . they have thousand of followers and number are still increasing rapidly .i also watch internet tv and here it is so popular and this is the main factor for its growth because its widely spread over the internet
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=129137517115027&ref=ts
South Elgin, IL
Join us!
Today the New York Times reports that BP is planning to drill in Alaska! See: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/us/24rig.html
What can we do!??? Who do we write/call/beg/!? This is insane! CLEARLY they are not prepared to fix whatever they break! They found a loop hole and plan to use it! Please advise.
what if BP doesn't have the resources or capitol to fix this?
What's so histrionic about calling for the seizure of BP assets? We need everything we've got, times about 100, to come even close to "fixing" this.
where is fema and the epa, i know, out spending all thier pay off's
Do you seriously think that the same scenario could not occur with any of those drilling in the Gulf?
Look at history and the 1979 Ixtoc disaster in the Gulf and the similarities to todays spill. Perhaps the Obama administration would answer the following question
'.. in the light of history what have they done to ensure a spill such as Ixtoc does not repeat itself?..'
One suspects NOTHING!
One suspects you're British...
God no! LOL
I like the BP bashing are people forgetting that the platform was operated by an American contractor on behalf of BP. OH yes the rest of the world are getting sick of the good old USA being so one eyed, Do you remember piper Alpha disaster in north sea 169 people died, who operated this an American company,
Stop defending BP with this tripe, you tarball !
Get off this site. Are you Tony Hayward.
And by the way - if the relief wells don't work, the entire world will be affected by this. You can sit back & point fingers all you want. The rest of us might be working to fix something.
It is important to raise public awareness on this issue before we start drilling in Alaska.
Hey u guys need to quit bash them offshore drilling when its done right and we dont have them copperate fags fuckin it up it can do alot of good and create alot of jobs
Please join us in Chicago to protest against BP and offshore drilling in general!
Here is the facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129395243756134&ref=mf
Check these out!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120904751277434&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=131329983548756
A boycott will do nothing if you just buy your gas down the street. Want to do something that will make a difference? GET OUT OF YOUR SUV, and make others understand that it's our dependence on oil that caused this mess and all future catastrophes. Urge governments to spend more on alternate fuels and demand electric vehicles now!
Today it is BP toorrow someone else. Governments prohibit every sea oil station, seize and use the funds on nature (for once!). And people stop using oil as much as you can! That is crucial cause since there are buyers there are going to be sellers. Adopt other means of energy and don't hesitate to pay more. On the long run you and nature will earn from that habit.
Let's get over with OIL - we don't need it.
Just like the law does. One company screws up and they are used as an example to others. It's the least BP deserves. AND we need to change our way of life. I'm sick of people sitting around making up excuses as to why public transportation won't work; why bike paths can't be put in; etc.
Surfrider Foundation has been beating the drum against offshore oil drilling for over a year prior to the Gulf oil spill. Check out their "Not the Answer" website at:
www.nottheanswer.org
Let's show corporations and the world we are ready to move beyond oil dependency. Don't buy oil on Febrauary 19th, Beyond Petroleum Day. Visit our facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/Beyond-Petroleum-Day) and "like" it to show your support. Start a discussion! Get involved. This is just a first step. In this future this could become an international day of action that involves a diverse range projects that raise awareness about how we can move beyond oil dependency. Spread the word!
Instead of standing around protesting, why can't people volunteer on the beaches and help clean-up? If they're so passionate about the ill-effects, find something positive to fix it
They're keeping people off the beaches. They are not accepting donations of hair for soaking up oil. BP and "its contractors," in addition to US Fish & Wildlife, are not allowing others in to help. You have to wonder why: WHAT IS IT THEY ARE HIDING? I think we all know the answer to that. This is a bunch of BS!
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