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News :: Miscellaneous |
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US Greens Sign On to the Boycott of US Oil Companies |
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by Association of State Green Parties
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2001
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Widespread anger over Bush's withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty -- and ExxonMobil's record profits during an "energy crisis" -- may help the boycott gain momentum |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 24, 2001
CONTACT: Association of State Green Parties (ASGP)
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator 207-326-4576, nallen (at) acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator 202-518-5624, scottmclarty (at) yahoo.com
Greg Gerritt, Secretary of the Association of State Green Parties 401-331-0529, gerritt (at) mindspring.com
WASHINGTON - April 24 - The Association of State Green Parties (ASGP), the U.S. federation of state parties that organized last year\'s Green Party Nomination Convention in Denver, voted to sign on to the boycott of major U.S. oil companies that funded the campaign to elect George W. Bush last year.
The goal of the boycott is to pressure President Bush to rejoin the Kyoto Treaty and begin implementing steps in the United States to reverse global warming. \"U.S. oil companies -- the main target -- have been given ten days to detach themselves from the Bush decision,\" said Arnold Cassola, secretary general of the European Federation of Green Parties.
The boycott was called and approved unanimously by Green Parties from 70-plus nations attending the Global Greens 2001 Conference in Canberra, Australia, from April 14 through 16.
Greens around the world urge consumers, governments, and organizations to boycott ExxonMobil, Texaco, Chevron, and their subsidiaries around the world. Greens in the U.S. urge American-based organizations concerned about climate change and the Bush Administration\'s reckless policy to endorse the boycott.
\"Energy crisis\" or manipulation of public policy?
Popular anger directed against the oil industry, after the Monday, April 23 announcement of ExxonMobil\'s record 51% first quarter profit increases over last year, the result of rises in oil and gas prices during an \"energy crisis,\" is expected to help propel the boycott.
Greens have insisted that the energy crisis and high prices are the result of deregulation of the oil industry and manipulation of public sentiment in order to win greater economic leverage, greater control over public policy, and unlimited access to oil in restricted sites in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and other environmentally sensitive areas.
In targeting three global corporate contributors to George W. Bush\'s national campaign, the Green call for an oil boycott addresses both the crisis in global climate change and the control corporations maintain over the American political system and policy on the environment, labor and other human rights, international trade, etc.
RESOLUTION FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE GREEN PARTIES
(passage reported by Greg Gerritt, ASGP secretary, on Monday, April 23, 2001)
\"A resolution sponsored by the Steering Committee of the ASGP endorsing the global boycott of Exxon-Mobil, Texaco, and Chevron corporations due to their activities on global warming issues.
\"Background: The Executive Branch of the government of the United States has decided that it does not wish to go forward with the Agreement negotiated in Kyoto, Japan, the Kyoto Agreement, which provides a framework for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. The United States has demonstrated its disregard for this important issue by not moving forward on standards for Carbon Dioxide emissions and by public statements on the Kyoto Agreement. \"It is reasonable to assume that the Executive Branch has been influenced in its decision by the campaign contributions by gigantic corporations in the Oil Business, specifically Exxon-Mobil, Texaco, and Chevron, and the close association between President Bush and these corporations. At the recent Global Green Summit delegations from Green Parties around the world called upon people everywhere who are concerned out Global Warming to join a boycott of irresponsible oil companies.
\"Resolution: The Association of State Green Parties wholeheartedly endorses a boycott of the products of Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, and Texaco, and will do publicity for the boycott, call on others to endorse and join the boycott, and especially help State Green Parties to coordinate their efforts around this boycott. This boycott shall continue until the United States Government takes substantial and concrete steps towards both the dramatic reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions and Global Treaties to ensure greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically lowered. The boycott against a particular member of the corporate triumvirate can be called off if that corporation publicly repudiates the policies of George W. Bush, swears off campaign contributions to politicians who support polluters, and takes concrete steps to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.\"
MORE INFORMATION:
The Association of State Green Parties http://www.greenparties.org
Global Greens 2001 Conference http://www.global.greens.org.au/
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See also:
http://www.greenparties.org
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