Posted on 01/08/2003 12:44:03 PM PST by nypokerface
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Oil giant Exxon Mobil is suing environmental group Greenpeace over a protest last year in Luxembourg, in which activists chained to petrol pumps brought business to a standstill, Greenpeace has said.
The company said it wanted compensation after 600 campaigners shut down all its 28 Esso petrol stations in the country for 14 hours last October, accusing Exxon of lobbying Washington to pullout of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Exxon Mobil is the world's biggest publicly traded oil firm and the parent company of Esso. Greenpeace said on Wednesday the company was suing it in Luxembourg and the Netherlands for 225,000 euros (146,000 pounds).
"Esso is simply trying to squash all opposition by dragging anyone who dares to protest against its behaviour through the courts," said Pascal Husting, executive director of Greenpeace Luxembourg.
Exxon said it wanted the suit to be an indictment on Greenpeace's actions, which it called blatantly illegal and a violation of its freedom to do business.
"Esso Luxembourg...not only wishes to ask reimbursement for the incurred economic damage, but also to condemn the serious misconduct of Greenpeace militants," the company said in a statement earlier this week.
The Kyoto pact commits signatories to reduce "greenhouse gas" emissions linked to global warming. President George W. Bush walked away from the treaty, saying it would do too much damage to the U.S. economy.
Exxon denies allegations that it is not concerned about global warming and says it is tackling greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency and working with engine manufacturers.
Drivers from neighbouring countries often buy petrol in Luxembourg, because it has one of the lowest motor fuel tax rates in the European Union. Four of every five cars filling up in the country are registered outside it.
Greenpeace backed a "StopEsso" campaign, which has protested twice at Esso stations across Britain and boasts celebrities such as Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and Bianca Jagger, former wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
A poll commissioned by Greenpeace said a significant number of British motorists had stopped buying petrol from Esso stations and switched to other retailers. Esso says the campaign has not affected its retail sales.
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