am I alone in loathing the BP advertising campaign?

[cosmicdot]

am I off here?

BP ... British Petroleum ... and, those actors acting so environmentally concerned ... suggesting that if it was them, they'd become 'an energy company' ... of the ad's variations, I think the one that I loathe the most, is the one with 'Cini Bow' who, when asked, "If you ran an oil company, what would it be like?",

says:

"Well, the lobby would be fabulous. Let's see. I don't think that I would keep it to just oil. I think that I would be an energy company and would be really looking at all different sources of energy" - Cini Bow

it's a start

throw in solar energy blurb to make it sound good

"We're doing things differently, listening to the concerns and criticisms of real people, letting them know what we as a company are doing. It's about openness, honesty and a commitment to change."

view the ads
http://www.bp.com/subsection.do?categoryId=2011768&contentId=2017240

BP in Alaska
Alaska has become a major part of BP’s exploration and production activities. Our Prudhoe Bay field has produced 11 billion barrels of oil since its discovery and accounts for half of Alaska’s daily output.

BP in the Gulf of Mexico
We believe oil yet to be discovered in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico can meet America’s energy needs for years to come. That’s why we’re investing $15 billion over 10 years to explore for and produce new energy supplies. So far, we have an equity stake in nine of the ten largest deepwater discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico. We estimate the Gulf of Mexico has reserves of 3.5 billion barrels of oil. We are producing 335,000 barrels per day, maintaining a commanding presence in the gulf.

[Alpharetta]

1. you are not alone

It's some weird form of implied democracy. "We are who you want us to be."

It's revolting because it's true: BP is who the majority of petroleum addicts want it to be. Whatever crimes they commit are forgivable because they bring us our fix.

[progressiveBadger]

2. Reminds me of Phillip Morris

And their commercials about how they give all this money to schools, etc.
It's funny how corporations run friendly ad campaigns right when they are being criticized the most. I guess it's not that surprising, but it's pretty sad.

[gristy]

3. My sister works for BP

I haven't disowned her, though. She's quite the ourdoorsy person, though not an activist really.

Oil companies are in the business of maximizing their profits. Anything they might do that would reduce their profits, if NOT required by law to do, they simply won't do. I'm sure they even do some things that are against the law too.

The point I'm trying to make is that the gov't is the only entity that has the power to force the oil companies to shape up and be good global citizens. They will not do it on their own, regardless of what their advertising campaigns say.

First thing I'd do is force some % of oil company profits to be spent on research on renewable energy and the sequestering of generated carbon dioxide as an inert solid.

[NNadir]

4. Personally I think that companies paying attention to environmental issues

is something to be desired.

BP has set internal global warming reduction goals and is working to meet them. Now would anyone like to compare this with the various state owned Oil Companies in the world? Stalin, as I recall, seldom thought about environmental issues, even though he had complete control of some of the world's largest oil reserves.

No corporation, no person, can be 100% esteemable all of the time, but some corporations, like some people, are better than others. I use gasoline and I make a point of buying mine from BP, if only because BP acknowledges the existence of global warming. If you can't stomach energy companies, I will assume that you don't use any energy. Am I correct in that assumption? If not, tell me what YOU are doing about the environmental impact of energy?

Personally I have been doing everything in my power to encourage the weaning from oil that I can, since I regard all fossil fuels as environmentally unacceptable. One step in this direction would be to have oil companies think of themselves as energy companies. Please inform me if Exxon Mobile, Shell, Chevron Texaco or any other oil company has a business unit comparable to BP Solar. How much exactly have Exxon Mobile, Shell, Chevron Texaco invested in solar research.

You will have a very poor record of encouraging good corporate citizenship if you immediately assume that every corporation is composed of your moral inferiors. Rather smug, and rather unhelpful in my opinion.

http://www.bpsolar.com/

[cosmicdot]

5. I'll chalk that up as you like the advertising campaign

... and, ignore the smug, condescending remarks, comments directed at "me" as "YOU" ... you know what they say about the word 'assume' ...

- "If you can't stomach energy companies, I will assume that you don't use any energy. Am I correct in that assumption? If not, tell me what YOU are doing about the environmental impact of energy?"

- "You will have a very poor record of encouraging good corporate citizenship if you immediately assume that every corporation is composed of your moral inferiors. Rather smug, and rather unhelpful in my opinion."