Boycott BP?

[Juneboarder]

BP is causing a lot of trouble right now; potentially devastating our entire ocean life. I, for one, feel everyone in this country should boycott BP completely, FOREVER...

BP runs the following stations:
1. BP
2. Amoco
3. Arco
4. am/pm

They also have an entire biodiesel division, solar division, motor oils and lubricants to name a few of their other products and services. Here is a link to their website that shows all of their products and services: http://www.bp.com/productsservices.do?categoryId=37&contentId=2007985

What do you think?

[Juneboarder]

1. So far...

7 Yes votes

5 No votes

2 Why? votes

If you voted "No", can you please explain yourself and why you feel it's okay to continue support to this forein oil corporation?

If you voted "Why", I would love to know what it is that keeps you in limbo on a decision. In my opinion, you are either for or against this corporation, as they are in the process of destroying one of our most pristine ecosystems and threating our entire oceanic life as we know it.

[Llewlladdwr]

3. Voted No.

Because this is a totally meaningless action which will have no impact on BP at all. The only people you hurt are local merchants who happen to sell BP products.

[LanternWaste]

18. One may believe it's meaningless...

One may believe it's meaningless, yet on a wholly personal level, a declaration of intent or a statement of belief can render quite a bit of meaning to quite a fair number of people.

Unless of course your statement applies only to fiscal, rather than moral positions...

[Juneboarder]

21. My approach is more for the morality of it all...

Look at what this company has done to our southern coastline in a matter of 12 days. This saddens me deeply...

[LanternWaste]

24. Sadness and frustration on my part too....

Sadness and frustration on my part too....

And you can bet your sweet bippy that BP joins the ranks of Exxon in my decisions on where to purchase fuel. :)

[crazyjoe]

22. +1

[el_bryanto]

4. Why is the fact that they are foreign relevant to this discussion?

Do you believe that American Oil Corporations are more responsible?

Bryant

[Juneboarder]

5. No sorry...

Just the fact that a foreign company that comes to our country to drill. Where they come from, they have the required protection that we do not require. Shame on them for knowing and still avoiding the necessary safety measures. Shame on the US for allowing companies to be self-regulated.

There's a lot of blame that can be passed around, but shame on BP...

I will not buy their gasoline; actually I haven't in years. Their gas is crap.

[Statistical]

17. "Their gas is crap."

:rofl:

Its all the same gasoline!

Come from the same damn refinery. Whatever refinery is closest to where you buy gas SUPPLIES ALL THE GAS STATIONS.

If you can find your closest refinery drive over their one weekend. You will see an Exxon tanker in line behind a BP tanker in line behind a Hess tanker in line behind a tanker with a brand you never heard of (supplies independents). It is the same damn gas.

:rofl:

[Juneboarder]

20. I bet you...

that Exxon, Mobil, 76, BP, Shell, and any other oil company would not agree with you. Each company has their own recipe and additives. Would you prefer links for this information?

[Statistical]

26. Additive package sure. It is added at the refinery but they don't make much difference.

The same exact gasoline made at the refinery goes into the tanks of a dozen brands.
Kinda like me and you get spaghetti and I get spaghetti from the Same dinner. You put 2 dashes of pepper and 1 dash of salt on it and I put 1 dash of pepper and 2 dashes of salt. Then we both claim how "superior" our own spaghetti is.

I mean lets look at it realistically.

If Exxon (as an example) had 100% the superior gasoline on the planet due to their additives. Why not get a peer reviewed double blind study to support it. Hell if it really did reduce emissions Exxon could patent it, lobby Congress for all fuel to use it and then force every other gas company to buy their additive package. Can you imagine what additives would be worth is they really did put a "tiger in your tank".

It is all marketing. Every study on one brand over another brand has been done by the company owning the "good brand". Imagine that. According to Exxon, Exxon has the best gasoline (which all comes from same place).

Additives are useful but there is very little difference between the major companies when it comes to additives and detergents. Their main purpose is to prevent gas from breaking down and to prevent water from entering the fuel supply. The rest is pure marketing.

[TexasObserver]

2. Yes

[Toucano]

6. If it's forever, it's not really a boycott.

A boycott has a goal of altering the behavior of the object of the boycott.

The goal is clearly stated and something the the object of the boycott can realize.

A boycott is both stick and carrot ie, our patronage is withdrawn but will return when you comply with the correct behavior.

If you attempt to boycott an entity to the point of its demise as your stated goal, you give them only incentive to resist and no incentive to comply.


This is really why the majority of modern boycotts don't work. The goal is either not clearly stated or it provides zero room for the object of the boycott to acquiesce.

In contrast, the threats of boycott against advertisers of Glenn Beck has been successful because it demanded the object of the boycott do something that it could realize: advertise elsewhere.

The boycotts against cosmetic companies' animal testing practices were largely successful because the goal was within their ability to comply.

So what are your demands?

[Juneboarder]

8. My demands?

My demands are that BP fix this situation 110%. We have people that have lost their livelihood. The ocean is currently being destroyed. Soon this will not just be a US problem, but an international problem. BP has a lot of answers to dish out and needs to put their wallet where their mouths are. $5000 per person so that they don't get sued is effing ridiculous.

Do you support BP?

[Toucano]

11. Specifically.

"...fix the situation 110%..." is vague.

You need specific demands. For example:

We will not patronize your companies and will demonstrate outside of your retail locations until BP complies with the following:

1. Establish a fund that pays for the entire clean up


2. Establish a separate fund that compensates those who have lost income


3. Agree to not engage in any litigation that would delay payment


4. Agree to not appeal any fine or assessment imposed by any regulatory agency


5. Allow federal regulators and inspectors to inspect all other existing platforms


6. Fire all lobbyists and promise to never again lobby any federal, state, or local government or author any legislation

Do I support BP? Why would I?

Do I support an aimless, disorganized, half-baked, Quixotic "boycott" that undermines the credibility of the left? No, thanks.

[Juneboarder]

19. People are so quick to bash others online.

Yes, maybe my approach might be simplistic or "aimless and disorganized" in your opinion, however the thought can go far. Just simply stating my opinion can get folks thinking. I'm done responding to you, as your solution to name calling is redundant.

Thanks for your input, though :)

[Toucano]

30. Challenging a half-baked idea is not bashing someone.

I am truly sorry if you feel bashed.

You lack an understanding of what a boycott actually is (not your fault - it appears many people don't understand), hence your proposal is aimless and disorganized and half-baked.

I criticized your proposal, not you.

If you want to be a successful activist you're going to require a thicker skin, I think.


By the way, closing your response to me with "Do you support BP?" is pretty much the same thing as saying you either with me or against me. Let's leave that black and white thinking to the teabaggers.

[Juneboarder]

34. Teabaggers...

Well we both dislike them apparently :)

I feel my approach is a good idea. I am sorry you disagree. It is obvious that not everyone feels the same way you do here and an attempt is better than nothing at all.

Posting on DU does not make me an activist. I don't feel I need thick skin to chat amongst people in a forum...

[hugo_from_TN]

7. No - why do think BP's practices are any different than other oil companies?

By boycotting BP you increase buying from other companies that may be just as bad or worse in their practices. Without knowledge of what companies are more or less responsible, you may be throwing support to a worse company.

[Juneboarder]

9. I'd prefer not to buy from BP

if I have the choice. I refuse to give my money to someone that has already royally effed our country, and would rather offer my consumption to a company that has yet to eff us up.

[Statistical]

13. They have all effed up the country.

Before BP it was Exxon before Exxon Valdez the largest spill in the US was from a Hess owned tanker.

Please name the "responsible" oil company.

[Juneboarder]

23. For the current oil spill?

That would be BP and TransOcean.

[Statistical]

27. In 6 months will someone else has a spill will you boytcott them? Will you "unboycott" BP?

If you boycotted every company and never stopped then today you wouldn't even own a car because you would have nowhere to buy gasoline.

Not single one has a clean environmental record. Not one.

Well consumption is the hard but real way to have real change. Everything else is just about feeling good while doing the same old thing but with a new brand.

[Juneboarder]

29. Yes and No

I would continue my boycott with BP, as I have with Exxon for the last 20 years or so. It may not do good in your eyes, but I sure as heck feel great about not putting my money towards blatant polluters.

Are you saying that you are for buying BP products?

[Statistical]

31. Hardly. I will go to the first gas station I see if really low and if not pick the cheapest.

Exxon and BP aren't the only companies to spill millions of gallons. Just because they are the only ones you are aware of seems to be a silly metric to base a boycott on.

[Juneboarder]

33. Name some others that have damaged our country recently....

Also, can you post links?

Thank you :)

[Statistical]

37. Here is just a tiny fraction of them....

Cosco Busan Spill (2008)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosco_Busan_oil_spill

New Orleans Spill (2008)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_New_Orleans_oil_spill

Citgo refinery leak (2007)
http://kplc.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/Citgo/CitgoIncident.pdf

Sunoco refinery fire (1985)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Philadelphia_Refinery_Fire

Santa Barabara Spill (1969) -Unocal now Chevron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Santa_Barbara_oil_spill

Hess lethally contaminated 17 states drinking waters with gasoline additive MTBE (2008)
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/may/11/dallas-law-firm-baron-budd-wins-422-million-water-/

Hess responsible for 2.5 million gallon oil spill the largest in the world at that time (1977)

Sunoco spills 200,000 gallons of oil from pipeline DIRECTLY into wildlife refuge (2000)
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m-ANAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HnADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6725,5114591&dq=pipeline+spill+sunoco&hl=en


-------------------------

Ironically BP & Sunoco were named by Sierra Club as "most environmentally friendly" oil companies (what an oxymoron) in their "pick your posion" study.
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/pickyourpoison/

[Juneboarder]

40. Thank you

It appears the majority of ones you listed are very minor in comparison with what we are dealing with today. Every oil spill is horrible, however.

Hess and Exxon are probably the only two you can truly compare this catastrophe with.

Hopefully our current mess gets plugged up so the clean up can begin. At 200,000 gallons/day being released (or at least that's what they tell us today), we'll have a huge mess on our hands very shortly.

I, myself, will refuse to purchase BP products and Exxon products. Hess is only on the east coast, so I will avoid them as well, when I venture to the east...

[Dr Morbius]

10. I voted no, because I think I have a better suggestion.

Drive less. Take public transportation for a few weeks. Hurt the entire industry, not just BP; then you'll get all of their attention.

[Toucano]

12. And once you have their attention you... start driving again?

What happens after you have their attention?

[Statistical]

14. They start to diversify and use that mountains of cash to invest into alternative energy.

Lower consumption would force energy companies to commit more resources to alternatives.
BP is more concerned about global "demand" that laughably tiny profits made on retail stations.

Of course it will take more than a few weeks. More like a few years.

[Statistical]

15. That is the real solution that most don't want to hear.

It is hard and requires effort, thinking, sacrifice.

Most want the American idol solution. You can pick the winner without having to do anything.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Do that permanently and then you have my attention

[Juneboarder]

25. I totally agree with you!!

It just seems a little less realistic for some more than other to use the public transportation. I am all for hurting the industry in whole however. It makes one think... where the heck is the US Energy Plan... we need one right about now.

[babsbunny]

28. I don't see any BP's in my area

oh well.......

[Juneboarder]

32. They're all over in Columbus!!

My first response to your post was, "Not oh well, oh yea since you don't even have them as an option"; however I searched their station locator and found 47 in Columbus, OH within a 10 mile radius...

[Sebastian Doyle]

35. The BP stations left this area years ago

I see they bought ARCO, but I haven't bought gas there in years anyway, since they water the shit down or something (no car I have ever owned will run on that shit)

So I'm already boycotting them. I used to boycott Exxon, even when they were the closest gas station to my house. Ironically they went out of business not because of the boycott, but because they had the old gas pumps that couldn't go over $2/gallon, and they couldn't afford the new pumps just to be able to raise gas prices.

[Juneboarder]

42. They left and came back with a different name :)

I noticed the same thing with am/pm gas. My wife used to work at a Conoco station and they spoke highly of how poor the ARCO and am/pm gasolines are. I couldn't find any links when looking online briefly...

[Uncle Joe]

36. I voted No, because of this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3176948

Ten Major U.S. Companies Endorse Mandatory Limits on Global Warming Pollution

The companies involved in today's announcement are well-known Fortune 500 corporations: Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, Florida Power and Light, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, Pacific Gas & Electric, and PNM Resources.

On the other hand I do boycott Exxon because they aggressively lobby against the overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming climate change.



Furthermore in this case I believe that it's possible Halliburton is at fault.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8272325&mesg_id=8272359

"Deepwater Horizon 's containment failure may have come in the cement injected between the well wall and its steel liner, experts say. According to press reports, workers had just finished that "cement job." A failure could have also come in the temporary cement plug set in the well. Problems with cement—a batch that fails to properly set up, for example—were the cause of 18 of 39 blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico over a 14-year period, according to a 2007 report from the U.S. Minerals Management Service, the agency that supervises offshore drilling."

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8242317

Regulators have previously identified problems in the cementing process as a leading cause of well blowouts, in which oil and natural gas surge out of a well with explosive force. When cement develops cracks or doesn't set properly, oil and gas can escape, ultimately flowing out of control. The gas is highly combustible and prone to ignite, as it appears to have done aboard the Deepwater Horizon, which was leased by BP PLC, the British oil giant.

The scrutiny on cementing will focus attention on Halliburton Co., the oilfield-services firm that was handling the cementing process on the rig, which burned and sank last week. The disaster, which killed 11, has left a gusher of oil streaming into the Gulf from a mile under the surface.

[Statistical]

38. BP is also the only major oil company to make Kyoto agreement to cut CO2 emissions.

Their goal was to cut CO2 emissions by 10% by year 2010. They reached the goal in 2001.

Compare that to Exxon & Chevron who deny global warming even exists.
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/pickyourpoison/

[Juneboarder]

41. Thank you Statistical...

This is good information to know... :)

[old mark]

39. No BP's here that I know of, and we have our "special places" we always

use,so it makes no difference to me. If you want to, by all means, feel free.

mark

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Other.. REDUCE your energy consumption regardles of where you shop

because of the nature of the beast... a boycott at the retail level will only transfer your addiction from one dealer to the next.