Hordes of Angry Activists and a $27 Billion Court Case Is Making Oil Giant Chevron Pretty Nervous

[StarfarerBill]

By Peter Asmus, East Bay Express

"The oil industry is more powerful today than at any other time in history save the early 20th century. Thanks to last year's record run-up in oil prices, seven of the world's most valuable corporations are now oil companies. Yet just one of those companies has become the focus of intense consumer ire.

"Perhaps the largest coordinated activist campaign in history is being launched against the San Ramon-based Chevron Corporation. Foregoing boycotts and other traditional market campaign techniques, non-governmental organizations are creatively communicating the business case for why Chevron should change its ways, focusing on mobilizing company shareholders and consumers to compel the company to come clean and pursue social and environmental leadership.

"This unprecedented campaign to make Chevron the poster child of corporate irresponsibility has already persuaded pension funds in California, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania to consider selling a total of $12 billion in Chevron shares on the grounds that the firm is mismanaging its operations around the globe. The prime focus of this ongoing anti-Chevron effort has been the company's annual shareholder meetings, but protests at the Richmond refinery and a series of movie and PR stunts have been also been effective tactics."

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/144652/hordes_of_angry_activists_and_a_%2427_billion_court_case_is_making_oil_giant_chevron_pretty_nervous

[gratuitous]

1. It will be interesting to see what happens

Does money matter to Chevron? Will the prospect of losing some money be enough to persuade them to change their rapacious ways? And how many "progressives" will wail and moan about how unfair it all is to poor Chevron to expect some decent corporate behavior out of them?

[Goldstein1984]

2. We should all pay attention to this

Something that could be built upon.