BP spotted cavorting amongst the spoils of Middle Eastern civilisation: British Museum, July 19th 2004
And indeed it came to pass that our intelligence was good, and we were perfectly positioned to question, challenge, cajole and possible occasionally charm the guests arriving at BP's secret shindig at the British Museum.
And indeed it came to pass that our intelligence was good, and we were perfectly positioned to question, challenge, cajole and possible occasionally charm the guests arriving at BP's secret shindig at the British Museum.
Part of London Rising Tide's dripdrip of pressure to dissolve BP's cosy relationship with London's landmark cultural institutions, this time we were on hand with the old faithful 'Oil fuels climate chaos' banner', homemade on-the-spot climate chaos tunes and spot-on heckles like "If BP paid any tax for its North Sea oil, there'd be enough in the government pot to pay for places like the British Museum." (Cue discussion amongst LRTers about whether anyone should be dragging oil out of the ground, tax or no tax, as well as the rights and wrongs of state-sponsored art. )
An employee, leaving for home on his bike after a long day sifting stolen property, stopped for a chat, arguing that the Museum had no choice but to stash the corporate silver, since government funding had plummeted. He did agree, however, that the Museum and its employees wouldn't take cigarette or arms money. Which is where we come in, since we only have to convince people that the oil industry is more destructive than these, (which isn't hard since the facts are out there), and we will have removed one of its most closely guarded weapons: sponsorship as cheap PR.
Another employee thanked us for respecting the building and the important objects within it, to which I replied that it was a pity that BP had so little respect for the world and the precious (living) objects upon it. What is it about these people? They know the score, but they continue to turn a blind, intelligent, civilised, liberal eye. About half those BP and friends of BP arriving took leaflets.
By the way, last week a similarly small but inspired and determined bunch threw another spanner in the PR works by leafletting people attending the BP-sponsored live relay of 'Tosca' from the Royal Opera House to Covent Garden Piazza. Sub-contracted security had been forewarned by BP to look out for particular known LRT trouble - sorry, better world - makers.
Where are BP out and about next? Let us know if you hear word, as we'd like to be on hand to give them a (globally) warm welcome.
Text of leaflet given out tonight:
curse of the mummy, or curse of bp & big oil?
Tonight, the British Museum plays host to bp, sponsor of the exhibition ‘Mummy – the inside story’. Here’s a message for bp employees:
* ‘BP and Shell have discussed with the government the prospect of claiming a stake in Iraq's oil reserves in the aftermath of war.’ Financial Times, 11.3.03.
Do you really support the war in iraq?
Did Iraq's oil reserves not help inspire the invasion?
* fossil fuel-induced climate chaos (or ‘global warming’) hit Europe in August 2003, killing tens of thousands of mostly older people in record-breaking temperatures.
Do you really think bp can expand oil & gas production by 3.5% per year & still be a ‘responsible corporate citizen’?
* ‘Exposed: BP, its pipeline, and an environmental timebomb’ Independent (26.6.04) on BP’s BTC pipelines, which will be a human rights disaster & produce over 150M tonnes of CO2 each year for 40 years, causing untold damage to the world’s climate. (baku.org.uk) did you know about this?
* BP invests less than 1% of its annual budget on solar & other renewable energy sources, a great deal less than what it spends on advertising, sponsorship & PR.
Could the 21st century see the human race fossilised and extinct like many of the stolen remains on display in the British Museum? If so, might the oil industry be complicit?
* ‘Alaska cites & fines BP over death of worker’, FT, 28.5.03.
Does bp Really have the safety and welfare of its workers at heart?
BP’s oil & gas operations throughout the world, eg. in Colombia (colombiasolidarity.org.uk/), West Papua (jatam.org),
Alaska (alaskaactioncenter.org), Russia, Angola and here in the UK continue to cause destitution and ecological devastation. In 2003, as you again saw your personal safety, union rights and wages in tatters (oilc.org), your boss (& British Museum board member) Lord Browne watched his own salary soar to £4.8m…
Fed up with working in a sunset industry that’s sure to become more and more a pariah as climate chaos kicks in? It’s not too late to fly the coop and make a living without killing the planet.
Let us know what you think of this leaflet, and, if you can, tell us more about what it’s like working for BP. Good luck with your transition!
e:
london@risingtide.org.uk c/o 62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES
Info: www.risingtide.org.uk
An employee, leaving for home on his bike after a long day sifting stolen property, stopped for a chat, arguing that the Museum had no choice but to stash the corporate silver, since government funding had plummeted. He did agree, however, that the Museum and its employees wouldn't take cigarette or arms money. Which is where we come in, since we only have to convince people that the oil industry is more destructive than these, (which isn't hard since the facts are out there), and we will have removed one of its most closely guarded weapons: sponsorship as cheap PR.
Another employee thanked us for respecting the building and the important objects within it, to which I replied that it was a pity that BP had so little respect for the world and the precious (living) objects upon it. What is it about these people? They know the score, but they continue to turn a blind, intelligent, civilised, liberal eye. About half those BP and friends of BP arriving took leaflets.
By the way, last week a similarly small but inspired and determined bunch threw another spanner in the PR works by leafletting people attending the BP-sponsored live relay of 'Tosca' from the Royal Opera House to Covent Garden Piazza. Sub-contracted security had been forewarned by BP to look out for particular known LRT trouble - sorry, better world - makers.
Where are BP out and about next? Let us know if you hear word, as we'd like to be on hand to give them a (globally) warm welcome.
Text of leaflet given out tonight:
curse of the mummy, or curse of bp & big oil?
Tonight, the British Museum plays host to bp, sponsor of the exhibition ‘Mummy – the inside story’. Here’s a message for bp employees:
* ‘BP and Shell have discussed with the government the prospect of claiming a stake in Iraq's oil reserves in the aftermath of war.’ Financial Times, 11.3.03.
Do you really support the war in iraq?
Did Iraq's oil reserves not help inspire the invasion?
* fossil fuel-induced climate chaos (or ‘global warming’) hit Europe in August 2003, killing tens of thousands of mostly older people in record-breaking temperatures.
Do you really think bp can expand oil & gas production by 3.5% per year & still be a ‘responsible corporate citizen’?
* ‘Exposed: BP, its pipeline, and an environmental timebomb’ Independent (26.6.04) on BP’s BTC pipelines, which will be a human rights disaster & produce over 150M tonnes of CO2 each year for 40 years, causing untold damage to the world’s climate. (baku.org.uk) did you know about this?
* BP invests less than 1% of its annual budget on solar & other renewable energy sources, a great deal less than what it spends on advertising, sponsorship & PR.
Could the 21st century see the human race fossilised and extinct like many of the stolen remains on display in the British Museum? If so, might the oil industry be complicit?
* ‘Alaska cites & fines BP over death of worker’, FT, 28.5.03.
Does bp Really have the safety and welfare of its workers at heart?
BP’s oil & gas operations throughout the world, eg. in Colombia (colombiasolidarity.org.uk/), West Papua (jatam.org),
Alaska (alaskaactioncenter.org), Russia, Angola and here in the UK continue to cause destitution and ecological devastation. In 2003, as you again saw your personal safety, union rights and wages in tatters (oilc.org), your boss (& British Museum board member) Lord Browne watched his own salary soar to £4.8m…
Fed up with working in a sunset industry that’s sure to become more and more a pariah as climate chaos kicks in? It’s not too late to fly the coop and make a living without killing the planet.
Let us know what you think of this leaflet, and, if you can, tell us more about what it’s like working for BP. Good luck with your transition!
e:
london@risingtide.org.uk c/o 62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES Info: www.risingtide.org.uk
