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BP Boycott: Facebook Page Launched By Public Citizen Watchdog

by NowPublic Staff | May 26, 2010 at 09:26 am

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BP Boycott Launched: Public Citizen Says Don't Buy Gas From BP

Public Citizen, a public interest advocacy group has launched a BP Boycott campaign, complete with an online petition and Facebook page.

The Boycott BP Facebook page has about 100 thousand members and so far is growing at a steady click of 25,000 people per day.

“BP made a conscious decision not to install a $500,000 safety device that could have prevented the Gulf disaster,” said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program. “A company that made $14 billion in profits in 2009 - a bad year - refused to spend a fraction of a percent of its profits to safeguard against what is fast becoming the worst oil spill of all time. The sheer greed at the expense of safety and the environment is mind-boggling.”

Though consumer anger at BP is understandable some question how effective a Boycott BP campaign would be since the 11,500 BP gas stations in the USA are independent franchises. One oil executive quoted by CNN, Patrick Eakins of Edison Oil says a boycott if futile.

Those stations pumped an average of more than 42-million gallons of gas per day last year. Eakins says BP can easily unload its gasoline, whether or not Americans avoid BP stations."You can boycott all you want. But BP can sell product wherever they need to," said Eakins. "They are one of the largest trading companies that trade oil on the open market. It's a global economy. Those gallons will shift elsewhere if the U.S. doesn't want them."

Beyond Petroleum, BP products are everywhere, from soda cans to motor oil under myriad of product names.

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johnypaycut (not verified)

at 10:22 on May 26th, 2010

The business that purchases a Bp product will not agree with the idea that millions of people chose not to buy anthing from bp? a customerboycott can be punishing , when you know the product the company sells. if word gets out the business retails bp's merchandise i would surelyhope the owner would drop it like the nasty extenshion of a imoral british national corporate attempt to rip off the american consumers. let Obama tlak about his "special relationship" with the foreign nationswe'v had it with him to.

JoshArizona

at 11:16 on May 26th, 2010

Boycotts of multi-national corporations do not usually work.

babblingdweeb

at 11:33 on May 26th, 2010

(It's been too long, but this deserves a comment)

I support all boycotts, regardless of what they are, because traditionally...they just make you feel better. I like it when people feel better so I try not to break the hearts of those that have a passion for a cause. However, a boycott of BP...or a boycott because gas prices are too high will NOT solve any problems. It won't hurt the company. Nothing will change.

Grop Dynamics: You would need an extremely large amount of support for something like this, it's unimaginable. However, even if you have the support of the people, your efforts are for naught.

Economics 101: Supply & Demand. If you stop demanding (buying) gas from BP, you are only substituting with another vendor. Let's say enough people substitute with Shell -guess who now has a choice to either ramp up production or purchase from BP? Shell. In the short run, Shell would probably purchase from BP and plan to ramp up production in the future if the trend continued.

I won't bore you with the details of how BP could actually make more money if people boycotted them...or how oil contracts work...or how impossible it would be for people in developed countries to go a month without touching a product made form oil.

The efforts of the boycotters would be much better spent lobbying congress for:

Better safety standards
R&D Funding for oil clean up
Going after the root of the problem

I don't support BP. I'm mad as hell about the oil spill...I want to punch the CEO just like all of you. In the end, buying or not buying gas won't make a difference. Call your representatives.

Michael R (not verified)

at 23:06 on May 28th, 2010

Sadly but clearly the ring of truth. Well said.

EC (not verified)

at 10:37 on May 27th, 2010

You are right babblingdweeb boycotting is not the "SOLUTION" but it is a START to send a clear message to our Representatives. Money speaks louder than words, just ask any lobbyist, therefore boycotting is our voice. Besides, what message are we sending to our representatives and to the CEO of BP when we claim to be 'angry' at the spill they have caused but there sales are untouched? Every step towards eliminating BP, weather destroying the brand or helping our congressmen and congresswomen kick them off our country is a step in the right direction. In the end everyone should do there part to have there voices hear however little or big it may be.

Roberta Lehde (not verified)

at 19:34 on May 30th, 2010

10 days ago I made a statement on facebook to boycot BP and any sub products.If they had the tech to drill they should also have had a plan in place for such a disaster.Boils down to the FAT CATS once again lining thier pockets to the cost of our delicate eco-balance.The people in that region that depend on the sea,wildlife that is chocking on this contamimnate.Shame on BP.Did we not learn anything from the Exxon Valdese disater?We all have to live together on this planet and protect what little we have.I am just one person but I would like my voice to be heard.I will boycot