Oil industry funded Girl Scouts and British Museum to boost image, evidence suggests | Oil and gas companies

The oil interests have funded cultural institutions such as museums, youth organizations and sports groups in recent years, as new research appears, in what appears to be a public relations effort to increase their image amid increasing public awareness of the climate crisis.

Top Us Fossil Fuelo Lobby Group Pennsylvania Scout GirlIt includes “activities that mimic work in the energy industry”. Under the sponsorship of the energy giant in 2016, Washington, DC National Art Gallery and Continuing financing The British Museum in London. In 2019, Shell sponsored the Houston Open for the twenty -sixth time.

The new guide was found on sponsorship in internal communications from 2015 to 2021. An investigation into the US Congress last year. She was Detected by Desmog Climate.

the Documents Also shed light on the special value that companies see in partnerships. In 2017 EmailFor example, the CEO of API said at the time that the Girl Scouts sponsorship came as part of an attempt to partnership with “unconventional local allies”, which he described as “some of the best and most influential voices with the targeted policy makers in industry issues” who can help the lobby group to overcome “politics issues”. API has a big the pressure presence In Pennsylvania, the country’s second largest gas producer.

API, BP and Shell Will request for comment. API States It sponsors cultural endeavors because “we are an organization based on principles.”

The Guardian also sought a comment from the Girl Scouts, the British Museum, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National Art Exhibition in Washington, DC.

The British Museum has previously defended its partnership with BP, including the company after the company It expanded its climatic goals Last February. The museum needs “companies and private donations from companies such as BP to ensure the wonderful group of the public remains for centuries,” a spokesman for Tell the trustee at that time.

The documents indicate that in Shals 2020 “Reputation“He said she” will secure partnerships with reliable external influencers “in an attempt to overcome” low credibility and confidence “in the company.

The giant oil company cooperated with a wide range of specialization Museumsand Sporting eventsand Concert halls And other arts and cultural institutions. It cannot be accessed for comment, but the speakers said previously can institutions Maintains I even leave them when they get a shell financing.

2017 interior Memorandum from BP America He says that relationships can provide a shield of “BP threats”, including “comprehensive negative emotions on the oil and gas industry” and “climate change policy and policy.” 2016 separate document The evaluation of the “company’s position” with employees was affirmed that more than 50 million people in the United Kingdom “participated in an activity backed by BP” due to the financing of institutions such as the British Museum and the Royal Shakespeare.

Revelation comes at a time when activists are increasingly pressure on arts and cultural institutions to reduce relationships with fossil fuel interests. For example, the Royal Shakespeare company ended its partnership in 2019 after eight years, after that Months to Protests On partnership. At that time, BP He said It was “disappointed and annoying” with the decision.

The National Photo Gallery in the United Kingdom also ended a partnership with BP in 2022 after Many protests Against Big Oil’s involvement in the arts. The museum’s director said that the company’s financing is “enhancing creativity.”

Desmog found evidence of dozens of other cultural care from energy companies between 2015 and 2021, including libraries, music festivals, gender and theaters. There were hundreds of similar partnerships throughout history, from children Radio Funded by Standard Oil in the 1930s, to take care of a Information podcast By BP.

Robert Prool, environmental sociologist at the University of Brown, said that relations clarify the contract of contracts of contracts known as “the convergence of the purpose advertisement.” The term was Form Posted by Herbert Shamtz, the late CEO of Mobil oil (now Exxonmobil).

“It is the idea that if the company is associated with a highly valuable cultural activity, it is separated from the company,” said Brolol. In a well -known historical example, Mobil began in the 1970s Care TV drama series Masterpiece.

“This seems to be working well,” Brulet said, noting that Mobil evaluated the approach in A. 1980 study And she decided that he was worth it. “He – she [has] It is now a common activity to exhaust the reputation of companies and goodwill by caring for these types of cultural activities. “