Big Tech Loves Big Oil
Big Tech Loves Big Oil
They promised us a brighter future. They lied.

They promised us a brighter future. They lied.

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Big Tech wants you to think they take climate change seriously. Google says they are carbon neutral! Microsoft says they are going carbon negative! Amazon is even naming a stadium the “Climate Pledge” arena!

But they also want to help Big Oil’s business, which is DESTROYING our planet. Amazon Web Services has an Oil and Gas division (1). Google uses AI and machine learning to discover oil reserves (2). Microsoft hosts conferences called “Empowering Oil and Gas with A.I,” proudly pursuing “the future health of oil and gas companies” (3,4)

These companies are vulnerable to public pressure. In the midst of a global reckoning on race, Big Tech is calling for new regulations on the facial recognition technologies that subjugate Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color (5). These are the same groups whose lives Big Tech dismisses by accelerating climate change.

If you take action, they’ll take action. For the next three weeks, we’re going to use humor to embarrass Big Tech into action. We, technology’s workers and users, must claim our rights and voice the truth.

 
 
 

Sign the Petition

Big Tech, it’s time to break up with Big Oil!

This Week’s Action:

A heat gun is a handheld device that produces a hot air stream. It is used for shrinking plastic film, drying paint, Thermoforming polystyrene foam and many other applications. Heat guns come in both corded and cordless models. Most have two temperature settings: low and high. Some also have an air adjustment setting to change the speed of the airflow. When purchasing a heat gun, it is important to consider the type of material you will be using it on and the power requirements. There are many different types of heat guns available on the market, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase. You can also use a heat gun for wrapping a car, it can efficiently wrap your car in protective plastic, which will keep it looking new for years to come. Plus, using a heat gun is much simpler and faster than using traditional methods like tape or tarps. So if you're in the market for some extra protection for your vehicle, be sure to consider a heat gun for wrapping a car.
 
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Why Microsoft?

  • Sponsoring the International Petroleum Technology conference the same week they announced their “Carbon Negative by 2030” pledge (6).

  • Using AI to extract an additional “50,000 barrels per day by 2025” from XTO-Exxon Mobil’s Permian Basin project (7).

  • Committing to a “multi-year strategic partnership” to develop the Alberta Tar Sands, one of the most carbon intensive projects in the world (8).

  • Having contracts with Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Plains Mid Stream Canada (PMC), Seadrill, CGG, Schlumberger, and VolgaGas (9).

Who can forget Clippy from Microsoft Word? Or the blue screen of death? With Microsoft doing their darndest to help Big Oil, what should these familiar faces really be telling us?

  1. Pick from the list of classic Microsoft images. 

  2. Write a caption that tells the truth about Microsoft’s impact on our planet. 

  3. Post your original content to social media! Make sure your caption includes the tags @Microsoft, #BigTechLovesBigOil, and a link to this site, BigTechLovesBigOil.com— so that your secret admirers can sign the petition too!

Select an image:

Click to copy image to clipboard.
Image copied! Click again to redirect to Twitter. Remember to paste your meme in the generated tweet!

Let's meme!

Share your hilarious creation:

Read more about why we're doing this

Behold, the MemeStorm!

#BigTechLovesBigOil

Share the Challenge

 
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Sources

  1. Google continues to use machine learning to discover oil reserves: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/oil-in-the-cloud/

  2. Amazon Web Services has an Oil and Gas division: https://d1.awsstatic.com/Industries/Oil/AWS_O%26G_Overview.pdf

  3. Microsoft recently hosted a conference titled “Empowering Oil and Gas with A.I.”: https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2018/11/12/microsoft-demonstrates-the-power-of-ai-and-cloud-to-oil-and-gas-players-at-adipec-2018/

  4. “the future health of oil and gas companies is contingent upon our ability to drive transformation”: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/microsoft-in-business/energy/2019/06/27/reflecting-on-microsofts-oil-gas-leadership-summit/

  5. Big Tech has called for new regulations on facial recognition technology used to subjugate Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/13/facial-recognition-congress-316235/

  6. While Microsoft Was Making Its Climate Pledge, It Was Sponsoring an Oil Conference: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xgqypn/while-microsoft-was-making-its-climate-pledge-it-was-sponsoring-an-oil-conference

  7. ExxonMobil to increase Permian profitability through digital partnership with Microsoft: https://news.microsoft.com/2019/02/22/exxonmobil-to-increase-permian-profitability-through-digital-partnership-with-microsoft/

  8. Suncor deal with Microsoft for digital transformation first for the oilsands: https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/energy/suncor-strikes-deal-with-microsoft-for-digital-transformation-in-first-for-the-oilsands

  9. Oil in the Cloud: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/reports/oil-in-the-cloud/