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.
I wish someone would explain to Reuters that President Clinton's signature on Kyoto was in no way ratification of that treaty, therefore there is no agreement for the United States to pull out of.
No, Pascal. Esso is just exercising their right to protest the behavior of some malcontents.
If I Owned a pumping station, I would simply cut the chains immediatley, and forcibly eject them from the premises...follow on with a complaint to police to arrest them for trespassing if they entered the premise again...
Was Exxon originally guilty of apeasment?
That's a good question.. Does he have an amphibious limo by chance?
No kidding, talk about the mother of all PR stunts..
Clinton signs, then doesn't submit for ratification because he knows it would be laughed out of congress and the public would hang him for it.. But he still get's full credit from the greenies somehow?
Why aren't they calling him "coward" and spitting on him for this half hearted, public ditching of Koyoto?
Agreed, and even if Exxon doesn't win its stand will at least give other companies courage to take a stand. Fair warning, Greenpeace, this suit by Exxon is the thin edge of the wedge.
Maybe that someone should be FOX. On news program after news program, they should point out how Reuters got it wrong, again, and make the above correction. I believe that FOX, as a fair and balanced news outlet, is obligated to shed much light on how the mainstream media lies and acts as socialist activists.
Give each a $1.00 squirt and pull out a Zippo...they'ed unlock themselves pretty quick.
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