Boycott Gasoline Made from Middle Eastern Oil - Analysis
UPDATE: Though latter-day versions of this email cite a Saudi boycott of U.S. goods instead of terrorism as the primary reason to boycott oil companies importing Saudi/Middle Eastern oil, the main arguments against the merits of this effort still apply.
It's perfectly understandable that people are willing to jump at any apparent opportunity to take action against such a diffuse and intangible menace as terrorism, but this is not a promising avenue. Here's why:1. It's a chain letter
Sure, there are still plenty of credulous folks quick to click their Forward buttons every time an email touting a worthy-sounding cause lands in their inbox, but that doesn't mean they'll follow through and act on it.
Previous experience (e.g., with the infamous "Gas Out" emails of 1999, 2000 and 2001) has shown that even when boycott chain letters circulate globally and receive non-stop media attention, their real-world effectiveness is negligible.
2. It's off-target
The boycott is based on the false assumption that all oil-producing countries in the Middle East fund or otherwise support terrorism. It would punish enemies and allies alike.
3. The facts and figures are mostly false
According to DOE statistics (and taking mergers/acquisitions into account), as of this writing (March 2005) only three of the companies lauded in these messages for allegedly not importing Middle Eastern oil actually belong on that list: Sinclair, Sunoco and Hess. All the other companies mentioned do, in fact, use varying amounts of petroleum imported from the Gulf region.
Therefore, to completely avoid buying gasoline made from Arab oil, a diligent consumer must refuel only at Sinclair, Sunoco and Hess service stations. Now, I don't know how readily available these brands are in your part of the country, but where I live I'd have to use up several tanks of "terrorism supporting" fuel just to find one of those stations. And that seems a wee bit counterproductive.
The bottom line is that this chain letter is so misinformed and misguided that it defeats its own purpose. To succeed, a boycott must be well thought out, organized and based on sound information. This effort fails on every count.
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Sources and further reading:
DOE: Oil Imports by Company/Country
Raw data compiled by the U.S Department of EnergyMaking a Political Statement at the Gas Pump
Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov 2002Internet-Fueled Gas Boycott Fizzles Around Bay Area
SF Chronicle, 1 May 1999Reno Motorists Can't Shun Gas
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2 May 1999Cyber 'Gas Out' Protest Loses Fire at Pump
Associated Press, 30 April 1999
Last updated: 03/14/05
