Feature story - 23 June, 2002
ExxonMobil is worried about the reputation of its brand, and is attempting to sue Greenpeace to protect it.
Greenpeace StopEsso campaign.
It's not worried about the fact that it has tried to convince
the public that global warming isn't happening. It's not worried
about getting criticism because it has sabotaged international
climate agreements. Nor has it expressed concern that it has chosen
to prioritise selling more petrol over scientific warnings of
famine, floods, and disease for future generations.
It's worried that Greenpeace is making fun of its logo.
It thinks that Greenpeace is deliberately trying to create "a
repulsion, which turns away customers from the ESSO brand" by
swapping two letters in its brand with dollar signs. It is even
suggesting that Greenpeace is attempting to draw a connection
between the world's biggest climate criminal and "the infamous
SS."
In a suit filed with the French courts over Greenpeace's use of
the Esso logo, the corporation is demanding a penalty of 80
thousand euros for reputational damage and 80 thousand euros a day
per logo should Greenpeace fail to comply. It also demands removal
of all use of the term "StopEsso".
StopEsso, a coalition of groups including Greenpeace, is
campaigning around the world to stop ExxonMobil from sabotaging
international action to address climate change, such as the Kyoto
Protocol.
The French website over which ExxonMobil wants to sue, is one of
several StopEsso sites
globally.
Executive Director of Greenpeace Gerd Leipold says that
Greenpeace is not backing down.
"This is just ridiculous. Esso knows it can't win a debate about
climate change, and it won't discuss the content of the website.
Instead Esso is trying to gag us with legal threats. We will fight
this in court."
A initial legal decision is expected around the 6-7th of
July.
In the meantime, Greenpeace agrees that the public's repulsion
with the Esso brand should not be based on a logo. It should be
based on the facts of ExxonMobil's record of endangering our
future. Therefore, we encourage readers to join in discussions at
StopEsso.org and encourage
others to do so by taking the action listed below and informing
friends of the issue using the ecard links in the side bar to the
right.
Tell Exxon what
you think of its climate policy and decision to sue Greenpeace
rather than tackling the problem of climate change.