Poor Big Oil. They’ve really been taking a hit lately. Between weak climate legislation that would marginally take a bite out of their mammoth profits, billion-dollar lawsuits accusing them of dumping wastewater in some rainforest somewhere, and direct actions blaming them for cooking the climate, oil companies have really been feeling the heat. And I’m sure that many of you, like me, have been saddened that this great American energy giant has been humbled by a bunch of Washington liberals and pinko commie hippie environmentalists.
But never fear: there’s a “grassroots movement” afoot to protect Big Oil’s American right to profit off of environmental destruction!
Recently, Greenpeace leaked a memo from that valiant defender of the oil industry’s rights, the American Petroleum Institute, to “API Member Company CEO/Executives.” The memo showed that a grassroots movement is afoot – led by API’s Executive Committee, with help from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and “a highly experienced events management company” – to fight for Big Oil’s right to profits! This grassroots citizen-led movement (after all, the API are citizens, right??) will be organizing “Energy Citizen rallies” in 20 states across the country!
The objective of these rallies is to put a human face on the impacts of unsound energy policy and to aim a loud message at those states’ U.S. Senators to avoid the mistakes embodied in the House climate bill and the Obama Administration’s tax increases on our industry. … It’s important that our views be heard.
That’s right! After all, spending $700 million on lobbying over ten years – and billions more on advertising – can only get you so much publicity. It’s time for ordinary citizens to stand up and publicly demand justice for the oil industry!
And how will API build this movement? Why, by using all-American grassroots organizing, of course.
The measure of success for these events will be the diversity of the participants expressing the same message, as well as turnouts of several hundred attendees. In the 11 states with an industry core, our member company local leadership—including your facility manager’s commitment to provide significant attendance—is essential to achieving the participation level that Senators cannot ignore. In addition, please include all vendors, suppliers, contractors, retirees and others who have an interest in our success. …
We need two actions from each participating company:
Please provide us with the name of one central coordinator for your company’s involvement in the rallies. …
Please indicate to your company leadership your strong support for employee participation in the rallies. … Once the list of venues and exact rally dates are determined, we will contact your company’s coordinator to distribute the information internally and to coordinate transportation to the venues, if required, for your employees.
Look out, Big Green bureaucrats! A new grassroots movement is forming – and they won’t stop fighting for justice until they end discrimination against the oil industry!