I'm so disillusioned ... sigh.
How can this happen?
How can a bicycle meeting accept money from an oil and gas company?
How can bicycle delegates not feel compromised by the oily $$$ being splashed around?
Doesn't this fly in the face of everything this conference stands for?
Doesn't this fly in the face of everything that sustainable urban transport stands for?
Are we so gullible we didn't see Big Oil rubbing their greasy palms together as they watched us sign up for this faustian bargain.
How can we buddy up with such an environment wrecker?
This is Australia ... sigh again
(also published on Scone Blog)
Surely the organisers couldn't be that gullible?!? Was there no other sponsor who would step up to the plate? Even a tobacco company would have been preferable! Who sponsored the last Velo-city?
ReplyDeleteCan't believe all those delegates are going to be careering round Adelaide on bikes with that company's name emblazoned all over them - (last year's sponsors)
DeleteAnd that money ends up with the ECF via the $500,000 they charge the Velocity organisers.
ReplyDeleteIt totally sucks and needs to be looked at ...
Delete... honestly, an oil and gas company, and a mighty aggressive one at that!
Santos sponsored the recent "Great Bike Ride for Charity" in Perth. It was meant to be open to all types of people and all ages to participate. It was compulsory to wear a Lyca style uniform with the Santos logo emblazoned across it. All participants were also required to consent to being photographed before, during and after the event and the allow the photographs to be used for "promotional or other purposes without your further consent being obtained". I did not participate.
ReplyDeleteThat's unbelievable, perthbiker - when I go to Velo-City I shall be taking my own bike (well ... my partner's brompton) because I flatly refuse to ride one defaced with Big Oil's livery.
DeleteI'm not surprised you didn't participate in the Perth ride
ECF is just another cog in the wheel of corporate greed.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing - sigh
DeleteIt is called greenwashing.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, lagatta, and we fall for it ... I despair.
Delete