PROTEST AGAINST EXXON EXPANDS ACROSS THE GLOBE

22 April 2002

Amsterdam, April 22, 2002: Esso/Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest oil company, will be the target of a week of global protests in May, sparked by its continuing and blatant manipulation of US and international climate change policy, Greenpeace said today.

"Yet again the Bush Administration is allowing Exxon to dictate how it should behave on energy and climate issues, with the highly politicised election of the new chair of the UN's panel on climate change," said Greenpeace campaigner, Stephanie Tunmore.

Earlier this month a memo to the White House from ExxonMobil was leaked to a US environment group. In the memo ExxonMobil asked if the US could remove the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Bob Watson. The elections were held in Geneva on Friday, and Dr. Watson was defeated after heavy lobbying by the US.

"This is despicable behaviour" said Tunmore. "Not only does Exxon continue to deny the link between fossil fuels and climate change but now, it is interfering with the group of scientists set up by United Nations to study climate change."

"Last year Exxon tried unsuccessfully to remove the reference in an IPCC report which linked human activities as a cause of climate change. Its strategy now seems to be if you don't like the science, change the scientists."

Exxon is marketed as Mobil, Exxon-Mobil and Esso in different parts of the world. For the past year a coalition of environmental groups, under the banner StopEsso, has led a successful boycott against the oil company in the United Kingdom.

"Greenpeace is calling for a global week of action in May, to protest against Exxon's outrageous behaviour," said Tunmore. "Customers have a right to know about the role this company is playing in undermining climate protection. They can then choose not to buy from Exxon, or make their protest via other means. Either way, they can join the expanding global campaign against this corporate climate villain."

The global Stop Exxon week will be held from May 12 to 18.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Stephanie Tunmore, Greenpeace climate campaigner on + 44 7796947451 or
Louise Fraser, Greenpeace Press Officer + 61 409 993 568
More information is available at www.stopesso.com