Petrol Buyers Would Boycott Esso

A newly published MORI poll for the Stop Esso Campaign shows 53 percent of petrol buyers would boycott Esso because of the company's attempts to block action on global warming. Figures for Esso's existing customers are virtually identical. A telephone survey by Greenpeace of leading supermarkets revealed that ASDA, Tesco and Morrisons do not supply Esso fuels, Safeway's does supply Esso fuels and Sainsbury's refuse to reveal its suppliers.

The MORI poll asked:

'Environmental groups claim that the American oil company, Esso, is trying to block action to stop global warming. Environmental groups are suggesting that in order to change this company's behaviour, people stop buying petrol from Esso petrol stations. If asked, would you stop buying petrol or diesel from Esso petrol stations or not?'

Of those who only bought petrol (or diesel), they responded:

The supermarkets ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury, Safeway and Morrisons were asked by Greenpeace if they sold Esso's petrol on their supermarket forecourts. Only ASDA, Tesco and Morrisons confirmed that they do not stock petrol from Esso.

Stop Esso campaigner Rob Gueterbock said

"This is a clear signal that British people will not tolerate a US oil giant wrecking the only international treaty to stop global warming. We can't vote them out, but we can, and will, vote with our wallets and boycott Esso."

"Supermarkets have a choice whether or not to supply petrol from Esso, the world's number one global warming villain. If Safeway's are supplying Esso fuels and Sainsbury's refuse to rule it out, we can all choose to stop going to them for fuel."

Notes

MORI polled 879 petrol and diesel buyers by telephone. Respondents were aged 16+, and interviewed between 4-6 May 2001. Data were weighted to the equivalent British population profile. There were 127 Esso customers amongst the petrol and diesel buyers.

The Stop Esso Campaign was launched on Tuesday 8th May 2001 by an alliance of Britain's leading environmental groups: Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the student group People and Planet. It has attracted the support of many leading personalities and politicians, most notably Bianca Jagger. See www.stopesso.com/press/releases.php

The Stop Esso Campaign is calling on the public not to buy any Esso products until the US based oil company changes their position on the Kyoto global warming treaty.

The campaign is targeting Esso because:

1. Esso are the financial power behind George Bush, who ditched the Kyoto protocol to stop global warming.
2. Esso have been the most active company undermining this treaty.
3. Esso refuse to accept the link between their oil and global warming.
4. Esso don't invest any of their massive profits in renewable energy or green fuels.

The campaign is calling for a boycott of all Esso petrol stations and pledge their support at www.stopesso.com. The boycott will continue until Esso agree to support the Kyoto Protocol to fight global warming.

For further information please contact Lorne Stockman from the Stop Esso campaign on 020-7354 5708 or the Greenpeace Press Office on 020-7865 8255 or Friends of the Earth Press Office on 020-7566 1649