NEW Action-in-a-Box for Boycott BP & Carbon Tax Actions
06/20/2010
UPDATE: Backbone E.D. appeared on Fox Business calling for BP's corporate capital punishment, and Federalization of abatement and clean-up efforts. Strong citizen actions have resulted in stronger leadership from the Obama Administration. As the situation evolves, so must our tactics and demands. This is the time to celebrate our recent victories and evolve the Boycott BP with a set of unified demands. Here are some ideas:
"Debar BP" - No more US taxpayer money for the corporate criminal. The Pentagon needs to find other sources of fuel, or better yet use less. Read article Fueling War: Pentagon Still Buying Most of Its Oil and Gas from BP by Jeremy Scahill (here)
Demand 8 rather than 2 relief wells to maximize chance of success at stopping the gusher
Redirect all Big Oil federal subsidies to clean, renewable energy;
Institute a "Separation of Oil and State" calling on all candidates to refuse or return any campaign money from Oil & Gas industry;
Create a national plan to be fossil fuel free by 2050;
Institute Carbon Fee & Refund system to make clean renewable energy competitive w/fossil fuels (See info on Carbon Tax below).
Backbone created a new Action-in-a-Box Toolkit to help YOU take action against Big Oil. We also produced a special webcast - Transforming Catastrophe into Opportunity - available as a podcast. (See below) This is our way of responding to the heart wrenching devastation caused by BP. We hope this helps you to channel sorrow and anger into action.
Start by joining us in the call to Boycott BP. A boycott has unique potential as tool to enforce accountability for their eco-trocity in the Gulf of Mexico. Public Citizen is also calling for a Boycott of BP and set up an online great online form where everyone can take the Boycott BP Pledge.
We must seize this opportunity to move our society in the direction of clean renewable energy. We must mobilize to send a clear message to legislators that it's time to dump Wall Street centric "solutions" and get real about transitioning off fossil fuels. One way to do that is the carbon tax & refund (see below).
Action-in-a-Box Toolkit - Create a fun and easy action!
11x17 Spine Card for you member of Congress. (Print on heavy paper/cardstock for best results). Perfect for an office visit on Friday - or - send by mail. Editable Word.doc, PDF
Example press advisory HERE.IF you want to amplify your action by alerting the press, then be sure to organize your friends to be at the location at least 30 minutes before the time advertised in your press advisory. (This qualifies as a "hard learned lesson.")
Transforming Catastrophe into Opportunity: A Conversation on Gulf Eco-Crime, Big Oil, & Carbon Tax as a Tool to Transition Off Fossil Fuels Featuring Antonia Juhasz, James Handley, and Kathy Callan
As we recoil in horror that not 1,000 - not 5,000 - BUT 25,000 barrels of oil per day are gushing into ocean waters poisoning the Gulf of Mexico, let us prepare for action. Backbone Campaign organized Monday's (5-10) Conversation with the Cabinet conference call/interview/webcast to help you channel your rage into action with the strongest possible demands.
Antonia Juhasz opened with her stunning comprehension of the oil industry and their manipulation of our appointed and elected government. You can find much more at her site http://www.tyrannyofoil.org/
What's a Carbon Tax? Here's a great explanation by James Handley of CarbonTax.org.
The idea is that everyone gets the same "dividend" or payroll tax exemption. But the fuel hogs pay more carbon tax -- indirectly as it's passed downstream in electricity, gasoline, heating fuel and other prices. Those using more than average would pay a net amount to those who use less.
Here's an example:
1) Mr Fuelish. Uses 80 units of carbon fuel. Pays $8 in carbon tax.
2) Ms. Average. Uses 50 units of carbon fuel. Pays $5 in carbon tax.
3) Ms. Conserver. (or Mr. Low Income). Uses 20 units of carbon fuel. Pays $2 in carbon tax.
All three get a "dividend" of $5. In effect, Fuelish pays a $3 net penalty. Average breaks even, and Conserver makes $3 from Fuelish. Government gets nothing.
As the C tax rises, coal generated-electricity which started at say 8 cents/kw-hr rises to 11 because of the 3 cent C tax. That makes wind-generated power, which is say 10 cents per kw-hr cheaper than coal. So capital investment flows to wind and out of coal.
Protect EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Direct carbon pricing (an upstream carbon fee or tax on oil, coal, and natural gas) with revenue recycling to consumers.
Emissions reduction targets that will reduce CO2 levels to the 350 ppm current scientific evidence says is necessary to avoid a climate crisis.
Eliminating or significantly reducing offsets, with a strengthening of offset quality.
Eliminating subsidies for dirty/dangerous energy sources such as nuclear power, expanded domestic oil drilling, "clean coal," and carbon capture and sequestration technology (CCS).
Protecting low and middle-income families by eliminating free allowances for industry and by recycling revenue from carbon fees directly to households.
BP'S OIL SPILL LIVE FEED We Demand Corporate Capital Punishment for BP
Recent Press Coverage & Action Photos:
Komo 4 covers June 7, 2010 Boycott BP Protest in Seattle:
King 5 News video from May 28, 2010 Action
Q13 Fox TV Covers First Action -Friday May 14, 2010 Our first rolling action in Seattle received a lot of media attention. Q13Fox and Kiro7 TV, Komo News Radio, and the Seattle PI Online/ AP all reported on our actions. Check out the Q13 coverage below, in which our own Bill Moyer champions the BP/Arco Boycott and the notion of corporate capital punishment.
