Activists have been thrown out of a major oil company's headquarters after trying to present a new award for "greenwash".
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 22 Dec 08;
The Emerald Paintbrush was launched by Greenpeace to highlight the companies they claim are using green issues to advertise while doing little for the environment.
The first award was given to BP, the oil and gas company, which regularly refers to their investment in renewable energy in adverts.
Greenpeace claim the firm is guilty of "greenwash" because the majority of the company's investment is still in fossil fuels.
According to the environmental group, BP allocated 93 per cent, or $20 billion (£13 billion), of its total investment fund for 2008 in fossil fuels compared to 1.39 per cent, or $300m (£200m), in solar technology.
Activists wearing black tie attempted to present the award at the BP head office in London but were ejected.
James Turner, one of the activists, said: "You wouldn't know it from their adverts, but BP bosses are pumping billions into their oil and gas business and investing peanuts in renewables."
A spokesman for BP said the company will invest $8 billion (£5.3 billion) in renewables between 2005 and 2015.
