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Exxon seeks clean-up of global villain image
Terry Macalister Monday October 13, 2003 The Guardian
"ExxonMobil has been holding a series of secret meetings with environmental and human rights groups worldwide in an effort to change its hard-nosed public image.
The moves have been seized on by the Stop Esso campaign as a sign that its boycott activities aimed at changing the company's anti-Kyoto treaty views are working. The group insists that it has not changed its mind on substantive issues but believes it has become misunderstood and needs to engage more with the outside world.
The charm offensive does appear to indicate fears at Exxon's Texas headquarters that a negative public image is threatening to damage its Esso petrol brand. The world's largest listed oil group has been presented by critics as playing a pivotal role in encouraging President George Bush to reject the Kyoto treaty.
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Cindy Baxter, a spokeswoman for the Stop Esso campaign, remains unconvinced. "This looks like PR. They need to stop funding rightwing groups and climate change sceptics if they want to convince anyone they are really changing," she said.
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http//www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1061517,00.html
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