So in case you weren’t paying attention last week, Korn is taking a stand by boycotting BP products by not using any BP products in their tour buses. And they’re being joined by the likes of a bunch of other bands, like Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Backstreet Boys (!), Anthrax, and Creed. While it’s a noble effort, they’re all going to have to try harder if they’re truly boycotting all BP products, and it might even be lining the oil-stained corporation’s pockets with more money.
The Consumerist details that some of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of BP include Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, Wild Bean Cafe and Safeway gas. So if any of those musicians stop by one of those places in favor of a BP, they’re still supporting BP. And the people that will directly feel the pinch aren’t BP executives, they’re the local owners of BP stations.
It’s still somewhat valiant that those bands and acts, which includes the entire Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, are at least taking something of a stand. But it’s going to take a lot more than that. Metal Sucks’ Vince Neilstein put it more eloquently than I’ll be able to, but it’s a lot less about boycotting BP and more about changing the way we think about our reliance on oil. As the New York Times put it:
Boycotting is easy. That’s why so many people like to do it. Lowering demand for fuel, thereby delivering a true blow to big oil for those who are so inclined, is much harder. It requires sacrifice. Colder homes and offices. Driving more slowly. Buying a smaller car. Avoiding or delaying a move to the suburbs that necessitates more hours behind the wheel.
