Chevron's "We Agree" Campaign Leaks Revealed

Activists ramp up fight against Chevron “greenwashing” with posters, videos, billboard alterations, etc.Environmental and human rights activists have revealed the various leaks that permitted them to wreck the recent launch of Chevron's ultra-expensive new "We Agree" ad campaign. The revelations came with the announcement of a new print and video contest that, for a few dollars, continues the fight against Chevron's mega-millions in a no-holds-barred PR smackdown. (One video, submitted by the comedy troupe Funny or Die, is already cracking up online legions, as are a large number of print submissions. An upcoming billboard alteration contest promises to up the ante yet further.)Chevron's plan for the “We Agree” offensive was first leaked to Amazon Watch over a month ago, when ecologist blogger Lauren Selman received a casting call to appear in one of Chevron's new split-screen television ads. Selman used the information she gathered to help Amazon Watch, the Rainforest Action Network, and the Yes Men pre-empt Chevron's insulting PR campaign. (Read Selman's blog post here.)Another leak came shortly after, when Chevron's ad agency, McGarryBowen, asked DC street artist César Maxit if he could help wheat-paste the new Chevron posters. Instead, Maxit sent the Chevron files to the Rainforest Action Network and helped build their campaign. (See video here.)The activists' continuing efforts are ensuring that Chevron's PR strategy backfires severely, as media continues to highlightChevron's poor environmental and human rights record. That's exactly the point, say the activists: to raise public awareness around Chevron's abuses in Ecuador and elsewhere, and ultimately force Chevron to do something about them.Coming soon: a billboard alteration kit for making Chevron's real-world “We Agree” ads better, an automagical “We Agree” poster generator, online resources for producing video parodies, and more! The contest will end in late November, and voting on entries will begin next week. Very special prizes will soon be announced.Contacts:Ginger Cassady, Rainforest Action Network, , (415) 640-7155Han Shan, Amazon Watch, , (917) 418-4133The Yes Men, Yes Men work to expose corporate crimes, mainly through humor.RAN's Change Chevron campaign is uniting communities, investors, religious leaders, celebrities, students, policy makers and Chevron employees to transform the oil giant. For more information about the campaign, visit www.ChangeChevron.org.Since 2002, Amazon Watch's Clean Up Ecuador Campaign has supported the demands of indigenous and farming communities affected by the operations of Texaco (now Chevron) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Learn more at chevrontoxico.com