Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil,
all smiles during a news conference.
Photo by AP.

Tillerson is caught channeling Rumsfeld during shareholder’s meeting.

At the ExxonMobile meeting last week, Rex Tillerson, CEO, had some very confusing things to say about what the company’s position is on global warming, or global climate change as everyone is fond of now calling it. What is particularly appalling is Tillerson’s overt lack of concern for the environment in which he rambles on about things we know we know, things we know we don’t know and things we don’t know we don’t know. I would call this a “Rumsfeldian moment” since Donald Rumsfeld was famous for quoting nearly the exact same thing when asked about the Iraq war. It’s amazing what these two people have in common. If you would like to see the video of the two spouting off in response to difficult questions, we have included it at the end of this article for you to see for yourself.

But first, as reported at Grist.org, I would like to point out that when Tillerson was questioned by a Nun, Sister Pat Daly of New Jersey, in which she spoke in support of a resolution submitted by her order, proposing that Exxon set emissions-reduction targets, Tillerson stated “No thanks. I’m not going to put a banner up, and I’m not going to adopt a slogan. We’re not in that business. We’re in the business of oil and gas.”

Also, from a report on Star-Telegram.com, Andrew Logan of the Investor Network on Climate Risk asked why ExxonMobil “has put so much effort into making itself public enemy number one in terms of the global-warming debate by openly opposing calls for the U.S. and foreign governments to make significant environmental policy changes”. Logan went on to say that ExxonMobile had sacrificed the company’s reputation by taking a position that benefited no one. Tillerson responded that he never set out to make the company public enemy number one, but that his differences with the global-warming activists was more of the degree of certainty than the science itself.

Ahh, putting gas in the car… how costly.

I guess what sums up Tillerson’s and the majority of other corporate behemoths is that their bottom line will always override any other priority. Many of the world’s corporations have proven themselves to be heartless, ruthless profiteers whose only accountability is to the shareholders for which they, in turn, are looking to make a buck. Again, here is Tillerson quoted from the Washington Post:

“I’m looking at the world 15 to 20 years out,” he said. “That’s where I’m living.” He said that the mix of energy sources 20 years from now would resemble the mix today. “It’s a question of whether these are going to make a meaningful difference or not,” he said. “We’re going to do what’s in the best long-term interests of shareholders.

With a profit of $39.5 BILLION in 2006, I guess you could say that they have overshot their mark. But then again, I guess one just can’t make too much money or be too rich, huh? With a company who owns full integration of a huge monopolistic industry from extraction, to refining, to distribution, who are we mere mortals to question their ethics or their mission? Even their own shareholders didn’t succeed. Perhaps it is time we voice our anger and frustration with these corporate conglomerates who are out of control, bleeding the average American dry in high gas prices, and raking in unbelievable profits and CEO compensation packages.

Let’s make a difference and convey to ExxonMobil that we will not take such blatant abuse. Cut up and throw away your ExxonMobil card and stop going to their gas stations. There are choices out there, and if we continue to reward them for their horrible behavior, they will continue to abuse your loyalty. Act now!