British Petroleum and the New Greenmail

by IAIN BOAL and STANDARD SCHAEFER (reposted)

Wed, Mar 28, 2007 6:19AM

British Petroleum's proposed biofuel research deal with the University of California has sparked a growing resistance from a coalition based in UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources, claiming the deal is essentially a continuation of BP's current greenwash campaign. After much unfavorable publicity surrounding the mismanagement of oil tankers, pipelines, and refineries, BP began airing commercials on business friendly television channels hyping their renewable energy projects with the slogan, "It's a start." It's a start all right, but a rather paltry one if you consider this: BP's net profit last year, in 2006, was $22 billion - roughly $600 per second. So the annual commitment to the UC Berkeley program represents 0.0005% of annual profits--just a few hours of the yearly take.

Still, the half-billion dollar windfall buys a lot of clout in a public university. Those who insist that BP's gift will not change the climate of research at UC Berkeley might consider BP's track record. It does not bode well for this partnership or for free and open inquiry. Here are the words of Greg Palast of BBC Newsnight:

"BP, which owns 46% of the Alaska pipline and is supposed to manage the system, had a habit of hunting down and destroying the careers of those who warn of pipeline problems. In one case, BP's CEO of Alaskan operations hired a former CIA expert to break into the home of a whistleblower, Chuck Hamel, who had complained of conditions at the pipe's tanker facility. BP tapped his phone calls with a US congressman and ran a surveillance and smear campaign against him. When caught, a US federal judge said BP's acts were 'reminiscent of Nazi Germany'. This was not an isolated case."

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http://counterpunch.com/boal03272007.html

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