How to Break Up With Big Oil
We NEED to do something about climate change and other sociopolitical issues. One of the best ways we can do that is by cutting off the head of the dragon: Big Oil. Yes, they fuel many of our problems on this planet…pun not intended. They buy our politicians to lobby against green energy, they hide climate science that points the blame at them, and oil is a reason that the US starts many of its wars.
But, I’m just one person, what can I do?
Here’s a quick list of ways you can fully boycott or just reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. They range from easy to hard, from free to expensive. Pick and chose what works best for you. You do not have to do all of these to partake in the boycott or to consider yourself an environmentalist. It’s not all or nothing. You also don’t have to give up if you “mess up.” Do every little bit you can. Your actions and money are much more powerful than you believe. Learn more about voting with your dollar here.
If you’d like a full video on why Big Oil is so evil, let me know! But you can check out these videos in the meantime:
The Big Oil conspiracy that ruined public transportation
Now, let’s get to action!
Give up your car
Level: Hard
Cost: net positive
Time: Medium-Long
How to do it:
Simply sell your car and learn how to go about life without it! I know, this is extremely hard in most of the US and Canada, but to my city-dwellers or folks from smaller countries watching, give it a go! Utilize public transportation, bike, walk, carpool, take ride shares, work from home, take appointments at home vs going into the office, and so forth. There are ways we can go about life without a car. A car is sure convenient, but it’s the most expensive and polluting. We have to give up some conveniences to make a change.
Go car-lite
Level: Medium
Cost: net positive
Time: Medium
How to do it:
This is my main method of boycotting Big Oil. I still own my car. I live very rurally and need a car to get to the doctor, for example. But other than pure necessity, I’m using my own two feet. I walk and bike a majority of the time, and when I need to take a car, I carpool and ensure that our truck is full, and we get another 2-3 cars off the road by sharing the load with friends. As I said in the beginning, it’s not about perfection; it’s about reducing when and where we can. It’s okay to still own a car and use it when necessary, but again, inconvenience yourself from time to time. Slow down and walk to the post office or bike to the store, or take the bus to the movies. You can still reduce your reliance on your car and fossil fuels without a full breakup.
Reduce your reliance on plastic
Level: Easy
Cost: net positive
Time: Not much
How to do it:
There are so many ways to reduce your reliance on plastic but I think it comes down to a few things:
Shop for other materials, especially in the grocery store. Opt for a box of pasta over a plastic bag. Choose the loose oranges over a bag of them. Try a glass jar of peanut butter instead of a plastic container. You get the idea!
Give reusables a try! Even if it’s plastic, reusable plastic is less impactful than disposable plastic. Try reusable water bottles, period products, diapers, cutlery, grocery bags, produce bags, and more to cut down on single-use plastic
Just say no! When you’re out and about and you’re offered a plastic straw, a gimmicky souvenir while at a conference, etc. just say no. If you won’t use it, don’t take it.
Much of our clothing is made from plastic, too! Opt for natural fibers where you can.
But why? What does this have to do with Big Oil?
Well, plastic is MADE from oil! Even as we move to green energy, Big Oil is still dipping its greedy little hands into the plastic industry to keep itself rich and our planet polluted.
Here’s a bit more on how plastic is made.
Recycle plastic and shop recycled
Level: Easy-Medium
Cost: net positive
Time: Not much
How to do it:
First, recycling. It’s easy, and it’s free! But, we have to do it correctly, otherwise, we’re wishcycling. No, I’m not saying that the onus of recycling is 100% on us, but the better we do it, the better the system becomes. I know only around 9% of plastic is actually recycled on average, but we should still try to recycle it when we do consume it (after reduction, of course). So, read up on your recycling rules and ensure you’re recycling correctly to help improve the system.
On the other end, shop for recycled plastic products WHEN you need to buy something new and made of plastic. I’m not saying to go out and buy a ton of plastic, no. But when you’re debating on buying a new pair of leggings and you’re between a pair made from virgin plastic vs recycled plastic, opt for recycled plastic. This can be a bit harder which is why I flagged this as medium.
Why do this? Well, when we support recycling on the back end, as such, this shows the industry that there is a value in recycling. Recycling is all about money. If it doesn’t pay off, the companies won’t opt for recycled materials, and our recycling won’t be recycled in the first place. Shopping for recycled items helps to increase the demand for them!
Shop secondhand
Level: Medium
Cost: net positive
Time: Medium
How to do it:
When you need to buy something, I urge you to shop secondhand first. My ultimate goal as an “influencer” is to encourage everyone to shop less and to shop secondhand. Need shoes? Head to the thrift store. Maybe a new pie pan? Thrift store. What about another lamp? Secondhand. Our planet is so overrun with STUFF. We have enough already created, let’s utilize that stock before increasing the demand for new items.
It takes resources to create new items. Materials have to be harvested and extracted from the earth using fossil fuels. That raw material has to be turned into usable material, using fossil fuels. Those items have to be assembled, using fossil fuels. Then they have to be shipped to a store, using fossil fuels. And finally, they are shipped to your home, or you have to drive to the store to get it using fossil fuels!
It takes practice to get into this mindset of immediately going to the thrift store instead of Amazon, for example, and it can take time. I personally don’t find thrifting hard, but I can see why others might, so that’s why I put it in the medium category.
Just shop less
Level: Medium
Cost: net positive
Time: None!
How to do it:
But before you even shop, we have to ask ourselves, do I even need that item? Can I go without it? Do I already have something at home that would get the job done?
For the same reasons as above, shopping less is a great way to use fewer resources and, therefore, consume fewer fossil fuels. Not to mention, this will save you so much money and free up your schedule to build community and partake in some other things on this list.
It can be hard to break up with overconsumption, though, so that’s why I call it medium. Again, just practice this habit. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, 100% perfect. Take your time, learn, and keep moving forward. Check out more tips here.
Repair, mend, reuse, upcycle
Level: Easy
Cost: net positive
Time: Medium-Long
How to do it:
Get creative! The things in your home, I encourage you to take care of them, make them last, and before throwing them away, see if you can give them new life. Here are a few things I do personally to inspire you:
I still use plastic in the form of hummus and sour cream (among others) but I give new life to these containers. They’re all great for organizing craft items, hummus lids make perfect drip trays for my plants, and sour cream containers are great for leftover foods.
I turned old textiles (mostly polyester, which is made from plastic, which is made from oil) into a rug and turned more into reusable tissues
When my clothing gets a hole, I mend it closed so that I can keep wearing it
I turn wood I find in the trash into wall art
When I have something that needs to be repaired that is beyond my skill level, I seek out a professional like a watchmaker or cobbler
Junk mail gets turned into scrappy grocery lists
And more! Get creative and get more inspiration here.
Shop locally
Level: Medium
Cost: potentially more expensive
Time: Not much
How to do it:
When you need something new or just have the urge to shop, I highly recommend you log off Amazon and don’t autopilot your car to target. Try a small and local business instead! These large corporations are pollutive and also lobby our governments to do evil things. It’s all connected in that way, but also it’s about emissions and how far these large companies had to ship stuff to get to you.
I know, this can be a bit on the expensive side. If you can’t afford it, skip this one. If you live somewhere where you just don’t have small businesses, skip this one. But, you can also shop small within large corporations.
How?
What I mean is, when you go shopping at Kroger or Target, investigate the brands they keep on their shelves. If these stores are your only options, vote with your dollar inside the store. Choose a small hummus brand over Sabra, a megacorporation that is funding genocide. Choose Bush’s baked beans because they are small and family-owned. And so forth!
But why?
It’s not a given that every single local business is better than every single online or large business, but here are a few reasons why it’s better for the planet:
Fewer shipping emissions for that item to get to you
Your money goes back directly into your community
You may even be able to walk or bike there vs drive
Small businesses are less likely to waste product since they do not have the funds to do so
They may also be more likely to take your feedback into how they can become more eco-friendly (just be kind)
You can learn more about why shopping small is so much better for the planet here.
Change your bank
Level: Medium-Hard
Cost: some fees may be involved
Time: Medium to long
How to do it:
Banks use your money to make them make money. How? They invest in wasteful yet profitable businesses such as Big Oil. They use you as a middleman to fund polluting industries so that they can get rich. Talk about a scam!
So, divest and swap to a bank that is greener. I don’t have a list of these banks and I cannot tell you what to do with your money. This also depends on your region. So, search your local banks and see how they will be investing your hard-earned money. Credit Unions have a good track record, though, and you can learn more on this subject in this video. Let me know if you want to see a deep dive on this topic!
This will take time, research, and likely appointments and phone calls to get all your accounts swapped over. Be patient and learn how to use your money for good!
Divest in your retirement funds and other investments
Level: Medium-Hard
Cost: some fees may be involved
Time: Medium to long
How to do it:
In a similar vein, many retirement accounts and 401 (k) s are also investing in fossil fuels because they are so profitable for them, and in return, you. But, clear your conscious, and find a new way to invest in your future monetarily. If you invest your money monetarily in fossil fuels, that’s a roundabout way of NOT investing in your future due to pollution.
I suggest talking to a financial advisor, especially one who deals in green investing and retirement accounts. Don’t forget to also move any personal investments into green ones, too.
Lobby and protest governments and organizations that deal in Big Oil money
Level: Easy-Medium
Cost: Free to low cost
Time: Medium
How to do it:
Lobbying: go to town hall meetings and be in support of green energy and stand up against Big Oil locally. Head to your state senate or even go to Capitol Hill in the US and get involved with national politics. You can also donate your money to organizations that are doing this lobbying work for green energy, or donate your time in terms of volunteering.
Protesting: when a local protest kicks off to stand against a local oil drilling or mining project, head out there and spread the word so that more people attend! Attend events for Earth Day and help make some noise.
Change your energy provider
Level: Medium to Hard
Cost: Varies
Time: Medium to long
How to do it:
Most of our energy in our homes comes from fossil fuels, be it oil, gas, or coal.
Step one: find out who your energy provider is and what they use to bring you power.
Step two: see if that same company offers a green energy option. When we lived in Vegas, our energy provider DID offer both options which made it easier to switch.
Step three: if your energy provider does NOT offer a green energy option, it’s time to shop around for a new provider, which can take time and you may incur fees for switching. Not to mention, you may only have one option depending on where you live. We currently only have one option and it sucks.
Step four: make the switch! Change your plan and your billing accordingly to get hooked up to the green grid.
Check out the benefits of green energy here.
If you’re a homeowner, you may even consider installing your own solar panels that you can own and not rely on an energy company for! Though this can be the most expensive item on this list, many states offer incentives for installing solar panels, and you may even be able to sell extra energy back to your region.
Use less energy
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: Almost none
How to do it:
As I mentioned, not everyone is going to have a choice to switch to green energy. But we sure all can control how much energy we’re using in our homes! Here are a few ideas, but check out the full list of energy conservation here:
Turn off the lights during the day and open the blinds
Turn off the heat and AC when you don’t need to run it (while you’re at work/school, out of town, or your home has just reached a comfortable temperature)
Conserve water! It takes energy to pump it after all
Hang dry your laundry
Unplug devices that are not in use
Turn off the lights when you leave a room
Do NOT vote for politicians who are bought and sold by Big Oil
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: Medium
How to do it:
It can take some time to dig up information on who is on the ballot every single year. But it is SO important that we do so! I moved before I could vote for my senators in California, but I have found out in recent months that they love to take Big Oil money. Shame on them. I will not only be withholding my vote from them, but I will also call and email them to ensure that they know that is why they are not getting my vote. The only thing our politicians (who work for us, mind you) love more than money is power. Remind them that WE give them that power!
So learn about who is currently in office. Are they taking Big Oil money to vote down climate and green energy legislation? If so, it’s time for them to get voted out. And now is the time to start researching those who are running in the next campaign to see where they stand for the environment and what their record is for oil lobby money.
Don’t forget to register to vote, check your registration, and vote in all elections every year!
Vote against oil projects and vote for green energy
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: Medium
How to do it:
In a similar vein, do research on legislation about oil projects and green energy projects. Some of these may be on your ballot that YOU can vote for, so vote accordingly. Others may be more national level that your elected officials will vote on and/or sign into law. Be sure to contact your reps, senators, and governors about these topics and demand that they vote FOR green energy projects as well as funding for them and AGAINST mining projects in your state and country.
It’s totally free to vote and contact your reps, but it may take some time to do so.
Vote for legislation that holds Big Oil accountable
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: Medium
How to do it:
Okay, our last one about voting! It’s not just about oil projects; it’s also about legislation that will hold Big Oil accountable. There is always some form of legislation or another that has to do with Big Oil paying their fair share monetarily to clean up the planet that they polluted, or about emissions standards. I know, this one is becoming increasingly harder under Trump 2.0 (more on that here) as they gut the EPA and fire climate scientists, etc. But let’s keep trying! Vote for this legislation yourself if it’s on your ballot, or bug the crap out of your reps to demand they do something.
Spread the word!
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: Relatively little time
How to do it:
There are SO many ways to spread the word and take action for FREE! Here are just a few:
Sign petitions and don’t forget to share them!
Share helpful information you see online via an infographic, video, written post etc. You can share to your social media stories or share the direct link in a message
If you hear about a local campaign or protest, share with your real-life friends and boost the numbers for that event
Inspire others to do simple things like use their car less, shop less, and use less energy. Especially when you tell them about how much money this will save them!
Read books on the topic and talk about them with others
And lead by example!
Be vocally anti-war
Level: Easy
Cost: Free!
Time: None
How to do it:
In the same area, use your social media and your real-life voice to be staunchly anti-war. Why? Well, much of modern war (especially fought by the US) is fueled by oil. Just one example, in the 1950s, Iran wanted to nationalize their oil so that it would benefit it and not foreign corporations. The US didn’t like that, so they swept in to do a “regime change” and installed the Shah as the head of Iran. Now, after decades of Shah rule, the US didn’t like that either, so now they have to “save Iran from their tyrannical government” and also maybe bomb and steal their oil while they’re there. The Gulf War? Oil. Our dealings with Venezuela right now (I’m honestly not sure what’s going on there right now)? Oil. Trump’s obsessed with Greenland? Oil.
Yes, there are, of course, other factors, but it mostly comes down to oil. Stand up for peace and stand against oil wars!
Combat misinformation about fossil fuels and climate change
Level: Medium-Hard
Cost: Free!
Time: Some required
How to do it:
When you see or hear misinformation about fossil fuels and climate change, shut it down! It takes research and practice and a willingness to be uncomfortable, but it needs to be done. The more people who recognize that climate change is real and is fueled by Big Oil, the more we can all be on board to fight for a clean planet and hold Big Oil accountable. I have this video and this video reacting to a prominent climate denier that may offer some arguments and tips for you
Don’t forget to cite your sources for credibility and to encourage others to learn more. Correct people kindly and be patient.
Let us know how you boycott big oil down below! I hope you found this valuable and you’re able to start taking action today.
Thank you so much for reading along, as always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
