Oil Spill | Ahna Hendrix

Boycott of big oil hits small business

While driving down the road the other day, I passed a BP gas station. I pass them often, but this one was noticeable.

The gas pumps were tied down with bright yellow plastic strips, signs had been removed from the doors and darkness permeated the inside.

That’s when it hit me. In the wake of dark, gushing oil, dying animals and livelihoods destroyed: Are we supposed to buy oil from the company responsible for a travesty, or do we support our local businesses?

Such a moral question does not have a clear-cut answer.

I come from a family that has always owned their own businesses and sought to promote others, but seeing pictures of oil-drenched animals makes that choice especially difficult.

I decided to try to contact local owners to understand what they are dealing with in this situation.

Out of the 10 BP gas stations in Chapel Hill, two are shut down, and the others barely talked to me.

I was hung up on twice and another refused to give me the last name of the owner. A few said that they are not locally owned, but corporately owned. Only one was able to confirm that it was locally owned.

Most businesses signed contracts with BP stating they would only use BP gasoline for the duration of the contract.

My own searching through the Internet made the case even more interesting. Arguments for each side are strong. Many people argue BP will not be affected by a ban, while others disagree.

Some are wondering whether their gas dollars are going to aid the cleanup of the spill and whether or not that would be a good thing.

Under these circumstances, deciding can be difficult.

Not only was I baffled by the responses from these gas stations, but their anger made it even harder for me to stay objective. As I contemplated their rude responses, I realized their underlying issue could be fear. Fear of losing a business, fear of saying the wrong thing or fear of a journalist.

Across the country, celebrities of all forms are banding together in opposition of BP and in favor of a boycott. And on a more local level, a group recently protested in Durham.

But before we jump on the bandwagon and agree on our frustration with BP, let’s take a step back and ask ourselves who we are really hurting.

Let’s make sure we aren’t just finding a scapegoat to take out our anger on. Don’t just go along with what other people are doing or saying if you don’t know your facts.

As you read this column, oil continues to gush in the Gulf of Mexico. White beaches and colorful wildlife is being ruined.

But we are not any better than the problem or the company at fault if we don’t take the time to truly understand the impact.

Regardless of the stance you take, whether you drive by BP or stop and fill up, make sure you’ve sorted through the facts first

(This is an editorial for the Daily Tar Heel… http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2010/07/boycott_of_big_oil )

To BP or not to BP…

Should Americans continue buying BP gas at local stations or abandon the company completely? Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any simple answer.

BP isn’t Tony Hayward and British Petroleum on every corner and they certainly aren’t the ones pumping (no pun intended) the gasoline into our cars. These gas stations are owned by Americans and the cars that continue driving by aren’t just hurting BP, they are weakening American pockets.

I haven’t seen this issue addressed much in the news~in fact I don’t think I have seen it addressed at all. So what should Americans do?

Two days ago when I had to fill up my car I went to the Hess station down the street where I frequent. A few years back, during the rocket high gas prices, I had read an article that advised which gas stations Americans should and should not be buying from-Hess was a good one. There are usually one of the cheapest gas stations as well-so buying their gas doesn’t take much common sense.

As I pulled into the turning lane I realized that I was headed into a BP station that is before the Hess. Glancing over I saw a few cars fueling up and wondered how they could do it.

I also noticed that the vehicles were more expensive models-BMW, Mercedes, and an Audi. I wondered about the brands of the cars and whether or not these people owned BP stock or where somehow trying to protect an investment. I found it curious.

I jumped back on the road and headed to my Hess thinking that if I wasn’t in my usually spot I would have driven by the BP anyway. It is hard for me to fathom giving money to the company that isn’t taking care of the Americans who are suffering right now in the Gulf and are responsible for the spill. But I asked myself if that was the right decision.

What about the Americans that own gas stations? How are they doing through this disaster?

It sure is an ethical dilemma and one I don’t think I have the answer to. Do we support the BP gas stations because we should support working American families or do we ban the company all together?

Last night I was reading online the company is giving millions of dollars to research groups at universities in the Gulf to begin looking at the effects of the spill. They are and have already given millions of dollars to this research, yet there are still thousands of business owners who are not getting reimbursed for the money they are losing every day.

I believe that research is important, but the company should be focused on where it is allocating its funds right now instead of trying to figure out effects of a disaster that has not been stopped.

So in conclusion I am baffled as to what the correct answer is. I have great disdain for corporate companies who don’t follow through on promises-especially when it affects the small guy BUT we affect the small guy by not buying his gas….

What is the answer? And why?

Become Inspired With Your Own Life

These days it seems everywhere I look there is a new disaster.

Whether it’s the depressing pictures of the oil spill, new talk of more education cuts, the rage ensuing in Arizona or the never-ending war in the Middle East, we are inundated with intense realities.

In a world that is constantly at odds with itself, mother-nature, or the next-door neighbor, I think it is important to remain inspired in our own personal lives.

While this may sound silly, I truly believe it is anything but. In this day and age inspiration is not easy to come by.

As the environment around us seeks to tear us down, we should be reminded why it is that we continue on.

I have never been a person with a glorified hero.

As a child I wanted to grow up to be a famous singer.

I oozed respect for several artists, but even these intriguing figures were still human. I knew they were capable of falling short of the expectations I held, so I never put them on a pedestal.

Music always has and always will inspire me.

But as I’ve become a young adult, I’ve found that the people in my life are a true source of motivation for me.

My mother is a woman who masters everything she tries, and I have a father who will never give up.

My friends and peers are striving to be better individuals, and even I have learned to be inspired by my own strength at times.

I attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College before transferring to UNC-CH. The diverse age groups made it easy to become inspired with those around me.

When I was stressed or feeling overburdened I could easily look around at my classmates and know that one might have kids at home or another might have a business to manage, in addition to a college load.

Their lives kept my life in perspective.

When I arrived at UNC, I found myself surrounded by a different brand of stimulating individuals.

The students I share classes with have such big dreams and want great things in their lives.

The majority of them are swimming toward their goals and the others are steadily wading in, awaiting their turn.

All of these people will make a difference in the world. They want to see change and they are prepared to make the sacrifices to do so.

The deal is this: whether in school, working or just living life, there are a million reasons to be inspired in our everyday lives.

The world is tough, but it’s up to the individual to make the best of it.

While many people may say pursuing a career in journalism is not the best idea these days, I refuse to put myself inside any definitions or terms.

It is our own personal distinctions that will propel us to be successful.

We are meant to feel the life we live, not live the life we feel.

(Editorial for Daily Tar Heel http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/become-inspired-your-own-life)