Oil companies: Bush should pay a political price for not giving a damn

[icarus]

Okay, since Bush has been so slow to respond and the oil companies have sustained minimal damage (largely they've lost profits because they had to shut down for the storm) let's contact his main supporters: the oil companies.

Let them know that his lack of response has forced us to ask them directly what they are doing to help, since clearly we can't expect anything from the president. He has cut FEMA's budget. He has turned away foreign assistance from Canada.

The companies to call are:

Noble Energy
Email: info@nobleenergyinc.com
Phone: (281) 872-3100

Marathon (has donated 1.5 million)
Email: sscheffler@marathonoil.com or peweeditz@marathonoil.com
Phone: (713) 629-6600

Devon Energy
Brian Engel
brian.engel@dvn.com
Phone: 405-228-7750

Chip Minty
chip.minty@dvn.com
Phone: 405-228-8647

Forest Oil
Phone: 303.812.1400

Woodside Energy (Yes, it's an Australian company that bought Gryphon.)
CompanyInfo@woodside.com.au
(Obviously I'm not going to ask you to make a call to Australia unless you live there.)

W&T Offshore, Inc.
Manuel Mondragon
Assistant Treasurer
mondragon@wtoffshore.net
Phone: (713) 626-8525

Gulf Coast Oil & Gas (web site seems to be down)
5847 San Felipe, Suite 1700
Houston, TX 77057 U.S.A.
info@gcoil.com

Shell (has donated 2 million plus employee matching)
Phone: +1 888 GO SHELL
Shell U.S. Media Relations: 713-241-4544
Here's their annoying form for emails

Apache Corp (has donated 1 million)
tony.lentini@apachecorp.com
(713) 296-6107

bill.mintz@apachecorp.com
(713) 296-7276

david.higgins@apachecorp.com
(713) 296-6690

lisa.nutting@apachecorp.com
(713) 296-7279

Occidental (has donated 1 million)
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
10889 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024-4201
(310) 208-8800
information@oxy.com

BP (has donated 1 million)

Chevron (has donated 5 million)

ExxonMobil (has donated 2 million, plus employee matching)

Amerada Hess (has donated 1 million)

MTS


I'll have addresses and phone numbers shortly. They need his lack of response to come to their doorstep. All of these companies maintain operations in that region.

Comments

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

i bet he is, and i hope this is what everyones tlking about over the holiday! Do you have any samples/suggestions for letters, I'm crap at that and know others are more likely to send letters if guided through making one.
I'll include a reminder link on this over the weekend, plus add it as a PSA to our fic updates which go out usually sunday/monday via email

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll keep working on the contacts over the weekend.

I'll see if I can come up with some talking points.

First before writing, generate the attitude that the person who reads it will probably be well-meaning and want to help. Very possibly their own families or people they know will have been effected. They will be reigned in a little by company policy and a certain defensiveness of course.

Then I recommend some open-ended questions:

- What is the company currently doing to help the 500,000 homeless in the region?

- I understand the company has helicopters. Are those in use or have they been offered for use in the rescue/relief operations?

(Here's the loaded one) -> Since President Bush has cut FEMA's budget and asks private industry take up the slack, what private company resources will be dedicated to help restore the 100 billion dollars in damage? Do they feel this will be sufficient?

Then thank them for taking the time to reply, with the hope that they and their associates are safe.

The key is the phrase that "private industry" has been asked to take up the slack.

President Bush has used the phrase "private citizens" but of course only businesses (or the government) have the money to restore this kind of damage. It is likely the fear of the oil industry that they will have to foot the bill to "fix" the entire region -- or if it isn't, it soon will be. My hope is to encourage them to apply pressure on the president to reinstate funding for important federal programs.

I would like to drag the war in Iraq into this, the observations that we don't have the manpower to respond to a disaster on this scale, but I believe it's best to keep the talking points simple, direct, and close to home.

Icarus