So, this is really great. Tumblr is making a statement about the oil faucet in the gulf. Love this place for reasons exactly like this.

HOWEVER

I’m not going to be donating. I didn’t make this mess. A poor person didn’t make this mess. The third largest company IN THE WORLD made this mess. They can pay for it.

I know. “But Michael, they aren’t paying for it. They refuse to do what’s right. They’re being lazy. We have to do something!”

I hear you. You feel helpless. Donating five bucks will ease your conscience. Tumblr will make it ten. BOOM, you just doubled down on feeling good.

Subsidizing the lack of corporate responsibility in the world doesn’t make me feel good. If another country had opened up an underwater oil geyser off the coast of Maine, would the American government have the same response? Would you?

What kind of message does it send if WE pay for this mess? What happens the next time something like this happens? As long as we drill for oil, it’s likely, so what do we do? Roll over and toss our hands in the air. We invade and occupy countries for far, far less.

Again, Tumblr is cool for doing it, I won’t think ill of people who donate. I know where you’re coming from really. I just think it sends the wrong message.

Here’s some things to do instead of donating.

(Actually, you can donate AND do these things.)

1. Get rid of your car. Get a bike. Ride public transportation.
2. Cut down on your electricity consumption.
3. Turn off the A/C in the summer. Get a sweater in the winter.
4. Burn down the next BP gas station you see.
5. Burn down the next gas station you see.
6. Write an angry letter (with a pen and paper!) to your representatives demanding a stronger response.
7. Write five more.
8. Get all your friends to do it.
9. Protest. Make Obama make BP clean this shit up.
10. Make Exxon Mobil clean up the arctic while we’re at it. There’s still oil there. You can pick it up with your hands.
11. Burn down another gas station.
12. Go down there and get your hands dirty. If they tell you that there’s nothing you can do, do something anyway.
13. In fact, just do something. There’s a million things that you can do aside from this list. They involve getting off your ass and speaking up. Do something. Make a stink. Get all Ghandi on this bitch and make a difference. Yes, it’s harder than clicking your mouse. It always has been. This is not new.