Southwest Georgians discuss BP
ALBANY, GA -- The feelings of Southwest Georgians are divided over the BP oil leak and what should be done to hold British Petroleum responsible.
Since the oil first began spreading in the Gulf, anger towards BP has spread as fast as the crude.
Some are now choosing to boycott BP altogether.
“If I don’t buy gas from BP,” said Lyndsey Jennings. “They’re going to realize they can’t just go out and make messes and expect everybody else in the United States to clean it up.”
Bypassing your local British Petroleum as a way of expressing your anger over the oil spill in the Gulf may seem like a good idea. But doing so may have significant unintended consequences.
Patrick Morrell, a vendor who deals directly with Southwest Georgia BP stations, had a warning for anyone considering a boycott: “If customers drive by because it’s BP, they don’t grab a bag of chips, they don’t grab a drink, they don’t buy a candy bar. It hurts everybody. It hurts the Frito Lay guy, it hurts the Pepsi guy, it hurts the grocery guy they’re buying food through.”
Nainesh Patel, the owner of a local BP station, agreed.
“BP tried to do the best it can and especially for those boycotting BP, it’s hurting local businesses, local business owner people.”
Patel also reminded consumers that not all BP gas stations are owned by BP itself.