Sadly, I have been going to an Exxon here on the Westside of LA for a couple of years now because they're the cheapest place for gas these days. However, I'll be thinking twice the next time I need to fuel up the Godphoenix (my 80cc Honda Elite Scooter, yes, I named it, what's it to you?). See, it turns out that not only is Exxon at fault for one of the worst environmental disasters in modern history, but they are actively fighting the progression of the human race.
Not consciously, of course. See, over at Treehugger.com, they've blogged on a site called ExxposeExxon.com which exists to point out all of the nasty things Exxon is doing that, in my opinion, amount to stunting the progression of humankind.
Now, some of my readers might want to label me as an anti-corporate hippie liberal, but that is not the case. I believe in moderation in all things and that extremism of any kind is bad. So, when a company funds (and founds?) groups that exist solely to fight the idea that global warming is a threat to humans and our environment, I call that corporate extremism. I mean, why would you get involved in the GW debate at all? If all you care about is selling oil-based products, why get involved in science?
...unless it helps you sell more oil-based products.
The fact of the matter is that any attempt to wean America off of oil (even a little) serves as a mechanism for oil companies to lose money. Of course, if they were really smart, they'd have diversified already so that no one product or substance going bye-bye would ruin them. Instead, they've got all of their eggs in the oil-basket, just like America.
Treehugger.com and ExxposeExxon.com are both calling for a boycott of not only Exxon gas stations but to also avoid anything related to them. One of the commenters [http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/07/boycott_exxon_1.php|on that Treehugger post] points out that Exxon makes a tiny amount of money from their gas stations. Boycotting the companies that buy oil-related products from Exxon is a good idea, too. Head over to ExxposeExxon.com if you want to learn more.
In the meantime, I say do more than just boycott a single oil company. Most of them are pretty extreme like Exxon. It's just that Exxon is more obvious about it.
I say boycott all of them as much as you can. HOWEVER, if there is a Citgo in your area get your gas there. It's the only way buying gas can actually support democracy. [http://thepete.com/buy-gas-from-a-democracy/|Find out why.]
Sure, no one can fully avoid oil-based products and traditionally "boycott" means to completely avoid something, which is impossible with oil, but do your best. I sold my car two years ago and have been zipping around LA on a Honda Elite that I fill up once a week and spend about $10-15 a month to fuel. You don't have to go completely carless, but you could sell your money pit of a car to a junk yard then buy yourself a hybrid Honda. You can even wait a bit for the ultra-good-gas-mileaged Smart Cars are made available from Daimler-Chrystler. These things are cute and are pretty damn efficient.
Another alternative is to move to either a city with good mass transit (NOT LA) or move to a small town where you can commute by bike. I know a guy who is planning on doing the latter once he finishes getting his college degree. I'm toying with doing the former once I get some steady scratch coming into my bank account.
Even if you can't do something drastic, take a baby-step or two.
Hey, it won't hurt much and even if it'll help the environment just a little, it's worth it.
The environment--it's that thing you're living in.
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