gapingvoid: "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards"

the energy business

So British Petroleum changed its logo a few years ago from a shield (symbol of strength, masculine values etc) to a flower-starburst-looking thing (symbol of life, energy, life-energy, feminine values etc etc).

I suppose a cynic would call it the first move in their "We're not evil, honest!" campaign.

I have no trouble with the oil business. My father, a geologist, was in it for a good portion of his working life. It was oil that put food on the table.

Sure, I will concur with Big Oil's detractors for the need for environmental and ethical vigilance, but I would say that was true for all large companies.

But I can only give the detractors so much slack. A lot of them are perfectly willing to hold down fancy media, academic and government jobs, bringing their agenda to their constituencies. But what they're not willing to do is actually go and get the oil themselves.

They're not willing to live 7 months a year on a rig off the coast of Guatemala, or have to deal with the Nigerian government, in a way that (a) fits their moral prism and (b) makes a profit.

i.e. They don't actually have to get their hands dirty. They leave that job to other people.

The energy biz is interesting stuff. Which is why I'm so enjoying watching what happens with Evo Limosines. My gut tells me they're going to be big.

Posted by hugh macleod at April 30, 2004 11:10 AM | TrackBack