About 100 people gathered yesterday in front of Chevron’s San Ramon, CA, headquarters. They were there to protest Chevron’s track record of obstructing climate change legislation and regulation as well as destruction of communities the environment. By noon, most of those arrested were cited and released. 
David O’Reilly, Chevron’s outgoing CEO, and his successor, John Watson, have sharply criticized domestic global warming legislation and long-term targets for reducing climate pollution. In the first half of 2009, Chevron spent nearly $13 million lobbying the federal government, more than twice the amount it spent during the same period the previous year.
The protest was organized by the Mobilization for Climate Justice West, a coalition representing more than 30 local social justice, environmental and human rights groups.
The protesters signed a letter to incoming Chevron CEO John Watson, calling for three actions:
1. Support equitable, science-based emissions reduction targets and climate solutions in international climate change negotiations and domestically.
2. Pledge not to support fake “grassroots” campaigns against national climate change legislation.
3. Cap the crude and stop expanding into heavier, dirtier sources of crude oil.
– Suzanne Bopp
