27/05/2004

How to stop Esso locally

May 2004

Chichester, UK
It was my girlfriend who first found out about the StopEsso campaign and educated me on the issues. I immediately sent off for a campaign pack and when it arrived we thought about ways to put our opinions into action.

The following Saturday was Mayday and so we thought a demo outside a local esso station would be great fun. We went to work talking to friends about it.

Luckily in the town that I live, in Chichester, I have contacts inside all the different schools and colleges and so before long we had put a broad coalition together that wanted to join us on the Saturday.

Bearing in mind it was only a week away, many people couldn't attend for reasons of work.

I managed to get some posters sent to me from People and Planet. When they arrived I took a long look at them and scratched my head trying to figure out how I would turn them into placards.

Thankfully, with a bit of help from the more artisticly-minded campaigners, I was able to get card from an art shop and staple them on. All I needed next was bamboo sticks available from any home shop which I stuck onto the back using masking tape.

I must say I was quite impressed with the placards we ended up with. Although I decided that we needed an even larger visual presence outside the forcourt. Simply take one bed sheet and some spray paint and I had managed to produce the Esso logo with the words 'bad company' underneath. Needless to say I was very chuffed!

Next, I sent off a press release to the local paper and to my surprise they actually responded by saying they would send down a photographer. Getting the media's attention was easier than I thought. I thought I would push my luck by sending the same press release to the local radio station. No response. Nethertheless, I opened up the local paper the next day and found they had published info about our upcoming demo and used my quotes where I strongly attacked the company.

I then decided to give the local radio station a call to subtly inquire as to if they had received my press release. Yes, they said, and they would like me to come down to the station for an interview. I was ecstatic, I grabbed some notes and headed off.

I arrived a bit early and so sat in the reception revising all the facts, figures and opinions about Esso and our campaign I could possibly find. I went into the studio and had a great chat with their news broadcaster.

The next day was Saturday. I woke nice and early and put on the local radio. They were reporting about the upcoming demo and were playing my interview. I had breakfast and headed off to the station. We set up all our posters and materials and waited.

A man from Esso came out and talked to us. He asked me why I hadn't returned his calls. Is this really a guy from Esso - or some stalker I thought to myself. I looked at my phone and yes, somebody had left messages on it, but Esso forgot to take one thing into account - I'm a student; I can't afford credit to listen to my messages!

He said Esso couldn't stop us protesting as long as we didn't go onto the forecourt - pretty much what we already knew. I shook his hand and he went back inside. Straight away people started arriving. We switched on the radio to find out that my quotes had been replaced by the quotes from an Esso spokesman.

Their PR machine is certainly fast. All the usual garbage starting spewing out of the airwaves - we take global warming seriously, fuel cell vehicles - you know the rest.

We stayed there for about seven hours in total. It was a fun day and one which I look forward to repeating again soon. All day along the road outside the station was a chorus of beeping drivers. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a car driving up with its indicators on to refuel only to cancel them at the last moment and drive on after seeing us. Many people who did fill up apologetically told us they didn’t have enough fuel to make it to the next station.

I told the local paper about the day including the part about Esso getting my mobile number. They told me that an Esso spokesman *Cough* David Eglington*Cough* had leant on them to hand over all my details but they refused. The finger of suspicion remains on the local radio station. At least I know who my stalker is.

The local paper ran half a page on our story, with a great picture alongside it. In the article I warned Esso not to confuse us with your average MayDay demonstraters who only come out once a year.

We are here to stay.

Before this campaign I couldnt even make a placard, now we know how to effectivly organise a campaign such as this and mark my words we will be back.

This isn't the end of my story because it is always ongoing. I read on the StopEsso site that Esso have never entered into a public debate. Despite none of us being good public speakers, I thought I would call their bluff. I told the local paper that we wanted to challenge Esso to a public debate in the city to settle the matter once and for all. The paper contacted Esso and they sent an entire page outlining why they don't want to.

They described it as 'unfruitful'. I am now awaiting the edition of the next paper to cover the debate that never was.

Us 1, Esso 0.

Adam from Chichester

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