3/13/2006

Have an Exxon Sucks Party!

Those of you involved with the Sierra Club may recall the "Oil and Ice" effort in opposition to drilling in ANWR- the 'house party' concept. The idea was to gather up a few friends, neighbors, etc. and have a party around a specific action/issue. We have done this in many formats, on different topics, with great results. Why not consider this? You might have friends and co-workers that are a little bit wary of 'activism'. What better way to engage them casually? Why not order the dvd, print some talking points, have stamps and letters, and do some action over cocktails? (or espresso, or a beer keg, or green tea, doesn't matter!)
Here's how,and more about the Exxon Valdez issue...(continued)
Go to the Sierra Club website and learn more about the issues, print information, and plan your get together after ordering the free dvd. Organize with friends or family, and watch it together. Then take some concrete action steps you can commit to. Mail letters, provide bumper stickers, brochures from local organizations, invite people from community groups- any format that works for you. Many of us enjoy an excuse to get together and do something at the same time- learning with socializing.

From the website:
"In January, ExxonMobil announced a record-breaking annual profit. Yet the world's largest oil company has yet to pay a penny in the damages owed to the Alaskan fishermen from the Exxon Valdez oil spill almost 17 years ago. After a January hearing at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the fishermen are awaiting a decision about whether the 30,000 plaintiffs affected by the spill will get the $4.5 billion in punitive damages they were awarded.

Help send Exxon a message. Host a house party on Friday, March 24 -- the anniversary of the spill -- to screen the episode, "The Day the Water Died." After watching the episode, you can host a discussion and take action through our Web site. You can even call-in toll free to listen to Sierra Club's Alaska Representative and special guests provide more background on the fight with Exxon. For details on hosting a house party, like the recent "Stitch and Bitch" in Atlanta, and to order your free DVD, go to www.sierraclubtv.org."

I hope that some of you will consider this idea! We have done what we call the 'tupperware party' format on different kinds of issues and it feels almost like a 'meet up' which is another great way to connect with people.

I think it is energizing and empowering to work with other people and be active on what matters to you. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now...

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have they paid anything?

Anonymous said...

NO, thats the point, if you look at the rest of the post. They still have not paid.

Frederick said...

Can we burn Gale Norton in effigy?

Anonymous said...

I remember her being interviewed on ANWR and the lies, lies, lies, unreal! She really distorted the truth on that and made it sound like a security issue, decreaase the dependence.

But where does it say that America would get that oil? Thats right, it doesn't say that anywhere. More like a security issue for the Japanese.

Anonymous said...

Can we burn Gale Norton in effigy?

Too late, Gale has left the building. Do you think that like Philip Cooney, she'll return to a "lucrative" job in the private sector?

Anonymous said...

What did they call it at Neil's? Wingnut Welfare? Thinktankery?

Unknown said...

Ummm it wouldn't go over too big here in my neck of the woods..seeing as how most of the jobs created are in the Oil industry..Kern County drills more oil wells than any other county in the lower 48.

You can't swing a cat without hitting an oil worker.

But its a good idea.

Rhino-itall said...

cooney, the great white hope. Larry Holmes kicked the crap out of him in the 80's and that was that....who? phillip cooney? oh never heard of him.

Anonymous said...

Not Jerry Cooney you damned pachyderm. Did you ever drink at Cooney's bar on LI?

Graeme said...

I am afraid no oil company will be held accountable under this regime, unless their is huge public outrage.

my grandfather was on the Manitoba Sierra club board of directors in the early nineties. I was a member two years ago in the dakota chapter but, I wasn't too active. trying to do too much at once. anyway, it is a great idea. put some pressure on those bastards

Lew Scannon said...

More than likely they're waiting for a pardon at the end of Bush's term.More than likely they'll get one too.

Anonymous said...

...who? phillip cooney? oh never heard of him.

Rhino, here's a refresher.

Rhino-itall said...

Thanks kvatch that clears it up for me.
Except i don't know why we're talking about him. I would much rather talk about jerry.
I never did go to his bar, i wonder if it's still around.

Yukkione said...

Damned Lily I dindt see untill now we posted on the same topic. I guess when reports of world record profits come out for these guys, people start thinking.

Anonymous said...

I don't know. The only action my friends do over drinks is whoring and getting numbers. If they tell guys Exxon sucks it while asking for their numbers, does that count as activism?

Just askin'

Anonymous said...

Yeah- that counts. But give them the number for your representatives instead.

Anonymous said...

Hi ;)
heh... what unhinged news!
what do U suppose about it?

Anonymous said...

I didn't understand the concluding part of your article, could you please explain it more?

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