Forwarded with Compliments of Government of the USA in Exile (GUSAE):Ý Free Americans Proclaiming Total Emancipation and Working Towards Democracy.ÝÝ NOTE:Ý Thanks to Rick Davis for the piece at bottom.ÝÝ --Ý kl, pp

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Busting Exxon Charged as world's #1 climate criminal Ý

Tue 27 May 2003 UNITED STATES/Irving, Texas

How come we're the ones being arrested and not Exxon/Mobil executives? All we did was disrupt preparations for their annual general meeting, where they'll conduct business as usual. The real crime? Business as usual for ExxonMobil is frying the planet.

The Greenpeace Global Warming Crimes Unit converged on ExxonMobil's compound in Irving, Texas, to charge the oil giant with crimes against the climate. The bust was timed to coincide with the arrival of ExxonMobil's Board of Directors and international executives, gathering from across the world for their Annual General Meeting May 28th.

Greenpeace infiltrators, cleverly disguised in suits and ties, delivered the charges against Exxon executives at about 8 am. Exxon's crimes include sabotage of efforts to address climate change, fraudulently manipulating respected scientific studies and organizations, and lying to the American public, elected officials in the United States and the global community at large. Greenpeace technical operatives monitored the progress of talks with a hidden briefcase camera which emailed blurry evidence of the lead team's presence inside.

It was then that Team Tiger headed for the roof. Activists dressed in hot, furry costumes in the sweltering Texas sun deployed banners and beamed video of their demands that Exxon do something about Climate change. The video feed failed shortly after security guards were seen scrambling up toward them. (Exxon\Esso has used the tiger in its advertising for many years, and continues to do so despite arresting costumed ones on its roof and threatening the habitats of real ones with its blinkered policies on climate change.)

36 Greenpeace activists were arrested for securing themselves to the main gates, trespassing as tigers, infiltrating Exxon Headquarters, or displaying banners on the roof of the building. News helicopters buzzed overhead, roads were blocked, police turned up with swat equipment and visitors were turned away, despite Exxon claims that the peaceful action "did not disrupt operations" at their corporate headquarters.

You can read more about the charges against Exxon/Mobil/Esso, the activists involved in this action, and what you can do to help, at http://www.dontbuyexxonmobil.org/

Say you won't buy Exxon/Mobil: You can upload your picture to the speech bubble gallery here (which automatically forwards it to the ExxonMobil board): http://act.greenpeace.org/gpdesigner2/SubmitImage

and you can send a personal letter to the board of ExxonMobil here: http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=esso_board&s=blue2ÝÝÝ Ý

Activist tigers head for Exxon headquarters in Irving, Texas. Part of the Global Warming Crimes Unit, they charged Exxon with being climate criminal #1. Ý May 28: 36 activists spent the night in jail: 31 Americans, 2 Italians, 1 Australian, and 2 British citizens. See the record of live coverage of the action from our action blogger, Eric.

From GRIST Magazine:

Gas and oil giant Exxon Mobil has increased its donations to organizations that oppose government regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions and question the notion that humans cause global climate change.Ý Although the company has pledged $10 million a year for 10 years to climate research at Stanford University, it is also giving generously to the likes of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Frontiers of Freedom, and other groups that challenge the scientific consensus on global warming.Ý Exxon is the largest corporate donor to some of these groups, accounting in some cases for more than 10 percent of their annual budgets.Ý In many cases, Exxon's donations to such organizations increased by more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2002.Ý Exxon's stance marks a widening gap between it and other companies in the industry, such as BP, Shell, and ChevronTexaco, which have backed away from challenging global warming and developed strategic plans that include renewable energy, carbon trading, and emissions reductions.

straight to the source:Ý New York Times, Jennifer 8. Lee, 28 May 2003