DEPARTMENTS
DIPLOMACY
A hopeful approach for the future of international relations.
HELP
FOR TEENS
Redirect teen rebellion towards idealism and self improvement.
SCIENCE
AND RELIGION
Read
excerpts from unpublished book: Science,
Religion and the Search for God Bridging the Gap.
POETRY
Poems of society, the human condition, and spiritual discovery.
TEACHERS'
RESOURCES
Our
student activities and curriculum materials instill an environmental,
cultural, and global perspective, and integrate various academic
disciplines.
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Why
Boycott Exxon-Mobil and Chevron-Texaco?
"Over
the past four decades, a succession of U.S. petroleum
companies including Texaco (now owned by Chevron Corporation),
have cut through Ecuador's Amazon in search of oil.
Environmental and human rights defenders claim that
Chevron has left behind a trail of environmental destruction,
which continues to pose serious threats to survival
of Amazon communities. You can hold Chevron accountable
and help put a stop to this suffering." Amnesty
International |
For
13 years as chairman and chief executive, Lee R. Raymond
propelled Exxon to the pinnacle of the oil world. Net
income soared from $4.8 billion in 1992 to last year's
record-setting $36.13 billion.
For
his efforts, Mr. Raymond, who retired in December,
was compensated more than $686 million from 1993 to
2005, according to an analysis done for The New York
Times by Brian Foley, an independent compensation consultant.
That is $144,573 for each day he spent leading Exxon's "God
pod," as the executive suite at the company's
headquarters in Irving, Tex., is known.
“For
Leading Exxon to Its Riches, $144,573 a Day”
The New York Times 4-15-06 |
I
have to buy gas, but I hate supporting companies that destroy
the environment and negatively impact people's lives while supplying
me with it.
Since
gasoline is a necessity in our society we must find
ways to make a statement about how it is extracted and sold,
and what we feel are the oil companies' responsibilities. If
the companies that do the greatest harm and earn the most profits
while doing so are boycotted, perhaps all the companies will
realize that the consumers are fed up with how they are
conducting business.
The
most dramatic way that consumers can express their opinions
is to vote with their
dollars. Each purchase we
make empowers those receiving our money and implies consent
with their business practices. This enables them
to continue their practices unchecked by and immune to the
opinions of their customers.
A
boycott is the first step to start influencing the companies
that provide us gasoline. At least it may get their attention
if their profits decrease. Below are some questions to consider
when making the personal decision to boycott a company:
Oil Company Rights versus Human Rights
The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted
by the members of the United Nations in 1948 outlines the principles
and responsibilities upon which life on our planet should be
governed. Article 3 of the declaration states that, Everyone
has the right to life, liberty and security of person. When governments
or businesses jeopardize the well-being of people and the well-being
of our planet they are in violation of this agreement.
“Our
health has been damaged seriously by the contamination caused
by Texaco. Many people in our community now have red stains
on their skin and others have been vomiting and fainting. Some
little children have died because their parents did not know
they should not drink the river water.”
Excerpt: Affidavit of the Secoya tribe given by Elias Piaguaie
-Aguinda, et al v. Texaco Inc. - Case # 93-CV-7527.
The right to profit from the extraction and sale
of oil may be legitimate as long as the process does not harm
people or the environment, as long as it serves the common
good and as long as profits are made without exploiting the consumers
for the benefit of a few.
Who
owns the world's resources?
Presently,
the right of ownership of natural resources rests with those
who extract them. Many, if not most of the oil comes from territories
which are not deeded to an individual or to a corporation.
Most comes from beneath undeveloped regions or from beneath
the oceans. Does not all the world's resources belong
to humanity in common? Who owns the sun, the oceans, the rivers,
the air we breathe, the forests? Humanity needs to assert its
custodianship over these resources, and those that use them
for profit need to be held to standards beneficial to humanity.
Does gasoline constitute a public utility along
the lines electricity, water, natural gas, etc.?
Since
gasoline is presently a necessity, it ought to be governed
as a utility. In my state of Arizona we have a Corporation
Commission in charge of balancing the rights of the utilities
with the rights of the consumer. These are elected officials.
The guidelines are for fairness and the health of both the
utility industry and the consumer. The commission
sets the rates based on the needs of all the stakeholders.
The interests of the environment, the elderly and needy are
also taken into consideration. Decisions of the Corporation
Commission have the force of law. Currently there are no laws
binding the exploitation of oil, especially by American corporations
in developing countries. This is a grave cause for concern.
What are the rights and responsibilities of those
making profits from natural resources?
A
corporation that profits from the extraction, refinement and
sale of natural resources must see their business as a public
service. As such they must not harm people or the environment
in the course of their business. They must not charge arbitrary
or excessive prices. The huge profits earned by oil companies
can only be justified if some is used for restoring the environment,
cleaning up the toxic wastes caused by extraction or accidents
in shipping, and to improve the lives of people from the areas
impacted by their business. They must also be responsible to
encourage and not prevent the development of alternative and
renewable sources of energy. Their rights are contingent upon
the fulfillment of their duties as responsible benefactors
of society and custodians of human and environmental well-being.
What are the rights of people impacted by oil development
and mining?
They
are entitled to the rights of all people to be respected and
not put at risk by the oil companies. They should have a say
in the development of their lands and also share the responsibility
of custodianship of their environment and the integrity of
their culture. They should benefit by the use of their
resources to be demonstrated by improved quality of life.
What are the rights and responsibilities of consumers?
The
rights of consumers are to use products which conform to standards
that they agree with in terms of their effects on people and
the environment, and the right to be fairly treated in terms
of what they are charged for the products. Health and safety
of consumers ought not be compromised in the use of products.
Consumers have the responsibility to not waste natural resources.
Also they have the responsibility to demand practices of the
suppliers which respect the rights and needs of people and which
protect the future sustainability of life and economic stability.
Consumers have the responsibility to not support companies
that do not have business practices beneficial to the common
good. Shareholder of stock in these companies are responsible
for improving the policies of the companies.
It
is our opinion that Exxon/Mobil and Texaco/Chevron be boycotted
until they demonstrate responsible practices that do not harm
the future of society and our planet. The strength of a boycott
is determined by wide ranging support. We hope our readers
will join us in publicizing this option for expressing our
values and demand that oil companies be held accountable for
the consequences of their business practices.
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