FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are the answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about StopExxonMobil:

Q: How can I get involved in the StopExxonMobil campaign?

A: You can sign up as a local activist with the StopExxonMobil campaign and download a Do It Yourself action kit. Also see our Campaign Action section for further action ideas.

GLOBAL WARMING FAQs

Q: Aren't all oil companies responsible for global warming?

A: Yes they are, but ExxonMobil stands out. ExxonMobil is the only major oil company that refuses to accept that burning oil causes global warming. They have undermined international efforts to combat climate change more than any other oil company. Additionally, unlike other major oil companies ExxonMobil spend no money on clean renewable technologies and only looks for new areas to drill for oil.

Q: Why would ExxonMobil, an oil company, support a Treaty that may eventually put it out of business?

A: There are booming industries developing in wind, wave and solar power and green fuels for transport. Wind energy was the single fastest growing source of power in 2001. ExxonMobil's way of business is not only dirty and dangerous it is archaic and out-moded. To be successful in the long term they must switch away from fossil fuels and switch to clean renewable energy sources. The Kyoto Treaty sets an even playing field for different oil and energy companies and promotes the needed change in the energy industry.

Q: Where should I buy gas if I need to?

A: It is a shame that no U.S. gas stations offer genuine green fuels that do not cause global warming. We can't advise you where to buy gas, but would venture to say that ExxonMobil should be at the bottom of your list.

Q: How can I get campaign materials to use in my area?

A: From this website! There are some downloadable leaflets and other materials here.

Q: I'm not from the U.S. and I would like to know which companies I could boycott to support this campaign?

A: ExxonMobil is a global brand, operating world-wide, in over 200 countries. There are ongoing campaigns in the U.S., UK, Canada and other countries are continuing to develop their own campaigns. You can check out www.stopesso.org to see what is happening internationally.

HUMAN RIGHTS FAQs

Q: Does ExxonMobil have a company human rights policy governing its global business operations?

A: ExxonMobil claims that its standard codes of business practices is adequate to cover all "ethical questions" including its activities with respect to human rights. AIUSA disagrees with this claim and is calling on the company to develop and adopt an explicit and verifiable human rights policy based upon the principles and values of the Universal Declaration of Human rights. We believe that any adequate company human rights policy should also include:

1. A policy on the use of security personnel, both private security and security forces provided by the government of a host country, that is based upon and consistent with internationally accepted human rights norms.
2. A policy requiring a human rights and social impact assessment be conducted prior to a company's decision to invest in countries that are experiencing civil conflict or that have poor human rights records such as Chad or Indonesia.
3. A plan for implementing these commitments and policies throughout the company's global operations that provides for a secure and independent complaint mechanism, provisions for consultation with local affected communities about human rights and environmental concerns, provisions for social auditing by credible independent agencies, complete annual disclosure of all payments made by the company or its subsidiaries to host governments and security personnel, and annual public reporting of performance under these policies.

At present, the company appears to have none of these policies in place, and in addition, has refused to participate in the development of the Joint Security Principles for Oil Companies that was launched in December 2000, the UN Global Compact Initiative, the Global Reporting initiative, or any other corporate social responsibility initiative or agreement. AIUSA believes that it is in the best interest of the company, as well as of the communities that are or may be affected by ExxonMobil's worldwide operations, for the company to adopt a comprehensive human rights policy of this kind.

Q: Why focus on ExxonMobil's refineries and chemical plants?

A: The refining of oil and the manufacture of gasoline, plastics and chemicals is the most polluting industry on the face of the earth. From cradle to grave, the oil and chemical industry uses and produces a wide variety of some of the most health destroying substances known to man.

36 states -125 cities-67 million people breathe air polluted by oil refineries!

ExxonMobil & Bush Backing the "Smokestack Rollback" of our Clean Air Laws!

Refinery pollution impacts have often been considered "toxic hot spot" problems in Texas and Louisiana where 50% are concentrated.

But refineries are a national public health crisis. Thirty-six states and 125 U.S. cities, where more than 67 million people breathe air polluted by refineries.

ExxonMobil operates the largest and most polluting oil refinery in the nation located in the Baytown, near Houston, Texas.

For years, a vast majority of the nation's refineries have evaded regulatory scrutiny, including compliance with basic provisions of the Clean Air Act.

ExxonMobil's Baytown Texas refinery has been investigated for violating a portion of the Clean Air Act that the company wants changed.

Many refineries are concentrated in heavily populated urban areas and disproportionately impact low-income and minority communities.

Refineries are the nation's major source of tons of toxic volatile organic compounds, like cancer-causing benzene, and chemicals which cause asthma and childhood development problems.

Most refinery toxic air pollution is from product leaks in equipment not smokestacks. Technology to prevent these leaks has been widely available for decades, but oil companies refuse to invest in cleaner.

Under proposals now being considered by the Bush administration and supported by ExxonMobil, refineries will be able to dramatically increase their emissions by avoiding requirements for pollution controls.

Q: Aren't all oil companies responsible polluting communities?

A: Yes they are, but ExxonMobil stands out. ExxonMobil refuses to accept that pollution that crosses their fenceline is harming their neighbors. ExxonMobil battles regulatory agencies like the EPA when they have brake the law, rather than clean up their act and accept responsibility.

Q: I thought gasoline came from gas stations?

A: No it doesn't; it comes from giant polluting refineries located near where people live, work and play. ExxonMobil refineries are some of the largest and most polluting of their kind in the nation. The manufacturing of gasoline and petrochemical products produces many tons of air, water and land pollution every day.

The Stop ExxonMobil Alliance is a broad association of rights groups working to influence ExxonMobil's behavior in the human rights, environment, governance and community relations areas. Alliance members support each others' demands but do not have expertise or take public position on all the issue areas.