BIANCA JAGGER, ANNIE LENNOX, LINUS ROACHE AND KEITH ALLEN JOIN NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BOYCOTT ESSO

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday 8th May 2001
For more information contact:
Lorne Stockman from the Stop Esso campaign on 0207 354 5708
or the Greenpeace Press Office on 0207 865 8255
or Friends of the Earth Press Office on 0207 566 1649

A national campaign to boycott Esso was launched in London today by the Stop Esso Campaign, an alliance founded by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People & Planet ⁽¹⁾. Bianca Jagger unveiled a 'Boycott Esso' mobile billboard at the campaign launch Annie Lennox, Ralph Fiennes, Jerome Flynn, The Body Shop, Damien Hirst and Keith Allen, along with several politicians have already signed up to the boycott.

The Stop Esso Campaign is calling on the public not to buy any Esso products until the US based oil company changes their stand on global warming. The campaign is targeting Esso as the world's leading global warming villain because:

1. Esso are the financial power behind George Bush - Esso donated more dollars than any other oil company to help Bush win the election and soon reaped the rewards when Bush ditched an international agreement to stop global warming. Esso have been the most active company undermining this treaty, the Kyoto protocol.
2. Esso refuse to accept the link between their oil and global warming.
3. Esso don't invest any of their massive profits in renewable energy or green fuels.

The campaign will be urging the British public to avoid all Esso petrol stations and pledge their support at http://www.stopesso.com. Campaigners will also focus on companies that buy Esso fuel in bulk and ask them to switch suppliers. The boycott will continue until Esso agree to support the Kyoto Protocol to fight global warming.

Stop Esso Campaign co-ordinator Lorne Stockman said,

"We're not going to let Esso get away with polluting the planet to make their billions. They are not too big for the rest of us to stop them. If Esso choose to sabotage the fight against global warming, we can choose to sabotage their profits."

Bianca Jagger, who was at today's launch, said,

"Often we as individuals feel powerless in the face of this catastrophe that is unfolding. But with this campaign we can make a difference. We can say enough, we can say stop. We will make our voices heard."

Comedian Rory Bremner said of Esso,

"Your choice is their income. Use your choice. Make a change."

Anita and Gordon Roddick said,

"At The Body Shop we're all taking this very personally. The Body Shop will be launching the Stop Esso campaign in their shops in the UK and we'll be encouraging all of our customers to take it personally".

Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen Tindale said,

"Esso are the world's number one global warming villains. They have paid George Bush to ditch the only international treaty to stop global warming from devastating our lives. We should all take this personally and stop buying from Esso".

Charles Secrett, Executive Director at Friends of the Earth said,

"This campaign will demonstrate to Mr Bush and his corporate backers that it doesn't pay to put profits before the planet. By supporting the Stop Esso campaign the British public will show that it wants effective action to tackle global climate change."

People & Planet Director, Kevin Steele said,

"Claims by Esso that burning oil might not cause global warming are as believable as tobacco industry claims that cigarettes might not cause cancer."

Esso faces the threat of a worldwide boycott. Already in the UK, former Environment Minister and Conservative MP, John Gummer has called for consumers to stop buying petrol from Esso. Last month the Observer newspaper told its readers that if they wanted to take direct action over climate change they should not buy from Esso and "Don't put a tiger in your tank."⁽²⁾

Notes:

Photos and video of today's launch and jpegs of Stop Esso campaign logo available from the Greenpeace Press Office. Media Briefing on the campaign to boycott Esso available from the at http://www.stopesso.com

Pledges to boycott Esso so far: Bianca Jagger, Annie Lennox (singer/songwriter), Ralph Fiennes (actor), Linus Roache (actor), Jerome Flynn (actor, musician), Goldie (musician/artist), William Roache (actor), Ronny Jordan (jazz musician), Edward Goldsmith (The Ecologist), Jeremy Thomas (film producer), Eski Thomas (screenwriter), Julien Temple (film director), Amanda Temple (film producer), Sacha Puttnam on behalf of the band Bush, Darren Johnson (GLA), Tony Lloyd MP (Labour), Simon Thomas MP (Plaid Cymru), Robin Harper MSP (Green Party),(, The Body Shop (Anita and Gordon Roddick), Dan Morell (Future Forests), Keith Allen (comedian/actor), Damien Hirst (artist).

1. People & Planet is a national student network campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.
2. John Gummer interviewed on Channel 4 News, 3/4/01 and Observer Editorial 22/4/01

For further information please contact Lorne Stockman from the Stop Esso campaign on 0207 354 5708 or the Greenpeace Press Office on 0207 865 8255 or Friends of the Earth Press Office on 0207 566 1649