Chevron, the largest and most polluting corporation in the state of California, was targeted by environmental activists on December 7th for undermining efforts to combat global warming. Demonstrators said that Chevron is using its immense financial resources to influence federal environmental policy. They interrupted business as usual at Chevron by blocking entrances to the corporation’s headquarters in San Ramon. Police arrested 31 demonstrators, who were cited and released.

Cathy Kunkel of Mobilization for Climate Justice said, "By working to derail effective climate change policy in the U.S., Chevron is undermining the UN climate negotiations where other nations are looking to the U.S. to make binding commitments to reduce emissions." Climate preservation activists report that that Chevron’s opposition to significant action on climate change is in line with its history of environmental and human rights abuses in communities all over the world.

The protest and non-violent civil disobedience was organized by a coalition representing more than 30 Bay Area social justice, environmental justice, and human rights groups, and was timed to coincide with the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. The San Ramon Chevron demonstration was one of many protests this week both nationally and globally.

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