Chevron Tries A New PR Trick: Free Pizza to Neighbors of Exploded Gas Well

picture-14309-1371183830.jpg
on

Chevron is known for responding aggresively to anyone who tries to hold the company accountable. The creativity the company applies to evading responsibility for its messes is arguably unparalleled.

Even still, Chevron’s latest PR move, after one of itsย natural gas pipelines exploded and burned for five days in southwestern Pennsylvania, is probably the first time free pizza was involved.

When the city of Richmond, CA sued Chevron for damages related to an explosion at one of the company’s refineries in 2012, a Chevron spokesman responded by attacking the city’s โ€œfailed leadership.โ€

When 30,000 Indigenous and rural Ecuadoreans won a $9bn judgement against Chevron in compensation for the decades-worth of oil pollution the company left in their Amazonian home, Chevron pulled every dirty legal trick in the book, including filing racketeering charges against the plaintiffs, to delay justice.

So what did the residents of Bobtown, PA get if they were concerned about the massive column of flame and toxic fallout from Chevron’s natural gas pipeline explosion? Aside from a pretty standard apology letter, they got a coupon for a free pizza (โ€œspecial combo only,โ€ per the coupon itself, so don’t even think about getting extra toppings you moochers) and two-liter soft drink.

Philly.com calls it: โ€œThe Chevron Guarantee: Our well won’t explodeโ€ฆor your pizza is free!โ€

It’s probably best if I just let the late-night comedians take it fromย hereโ€ฆ

picture-14309-1371183830.jpg
Mike Gaworecki is a San Francisco-based journalist who writes about energy, climate, and forest issues for DeSmogBlog and Mongabay.com. His writing has appeared on BillMoyers.com, Alternet, Treehugger, Change.org, Huffington Post, and more. He is also a novelist whose debut โ€œThe Mysticistโ€ came out via FreemadeSF inย 2014.

Related Posts

on

Some lobby organizations that work for environmental organizations also work for the fossil fuel industry.

Some lobby organizations that work for environmental organizations also work for the fossil fuel industry.
on

The Republicโ€™s historic failure to curb agricultural pollution drives concern among campaigners.

The Republicโ€™s historic failure to curb agricultural pollution drives concern among campaigners.
on

Leo-linked operatives were among a who's who of the international right that gathered for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in June.

Leo-linked operatives were among a who's who of the international right that gathered for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in June.
on

Farageโ€™s party has accepted more than ยฃ16 million since the last election from those listed in offshore leaks.

Farageโ€™s party has accepted more than ยฃ16 million since the last election from those listed in offshore leaks.