Vivoleum - Yessir ... that's the new renewable energium

Yes Men pull off hoax at Go Expo Energy Conference in Calgary

A pair of very smart anti-corporate activists from the Yes men deluded a high powered C$50 a head Go Expo Energy conference audience of key players from the U.S. oil and gas industry on Wednesday held at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta.

Allegedly from the reputable Petroleum Council the 2 keynote speakers representing Exxon Mobil and the National Petroleum Council , announced that rumours of a new joint energy policy from the Canadian and American governments was coming down the pike.

"Without oil, at least four billion people would starve," one of the speakers earnestly told the crowd. "This spiral of trouble would make the oil infrastructure utterly useless - and starving would become the new black."

When the speaker started to talk about vivolium - a remarkable new renewable energy source - the audience grew sceptical ...and apprehensive. He then announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive exploitation of Alberta's oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. He reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who die into oil.

Lighting two torch-like candles the pair of hoaxers urged the audience to do the same in memory of a dead Exxon oil worker ... the penny finally dropped and security were called .....

Wes Scott of Go Expo was apologetic ," Of course make every attempt to verify and, you know, ensure that the credibility and legitimacy of our speakers is always on par. Unfortunately, today's keynote speaker and presentation was misrepresented."

Organizers of the conference said they were approached by what they thought was a reputable company offering them speakers from the National Petroleum Council.

The Yes Men have been travelling the world for years, pulling similar pranks at corporate events in an effort to demonstrate how corporations and government act in dehumanizing ways toward the public.

Text of speech, photos, video: http://www.vivoleum.com/event/

The Gas and Oil Exposition (GO-EXPO) 2007 has verified
that today's Keynote Luncheon speakers were impersonating
representatives  from Exxon Mobil and
the National Petroleum Council.

For more hilarity Google "vivoleum" or
try the Dow Chemicals "Acceptable Risk calculator"
weigh profits against costs in human life or health,
thereby involving the public in the decision-making
process about whom to put at risk, and where
to locate risk globally.

Anarcho Syndicalism at work - seriously