Thanking Oil Workers
This is a post I originally shared to threads. Summarizing an experience I had a few years ago when I landed on "oil worker TikTok."
I talk about climate change and the consequences of financial choices made by oil companies/executives frequently in my content.
Naturally, I end up with the “oil boys” in my comments rushing to ✨defend the oil industry✨
Early on it was oil workers. I looked at their profiles, saw their workplace conditions because some were posting videos of their work. I pivoted my content. If I had their attention might as well use it. I started encouraging transferring to a new industry. The harassment changed quickly to discourse when I approached them from a lens of labor exploitation. The more reading I did and conversations I had with folks in my comments who lived in oil towns, the more I began to understand the industry exploits everything it touches. Shared experiences of the oil job being the best pay in town but never enough to leave still run through my head. I began finding and sharing job resources for folks looking to leave the oil industry.
And I found A LOT of people who were happy to have those resources. I have many followers and connections with people inside the industry and out. People who have been able to tell me in practical terms what the industry does to maintain influence and control over their workforce. It’s a lot of propaganda and leveraging of personal beliefs. I had these talks with folks from different states, from pipeline workers to refinery towns. From time to time I get comments and messages from folks who tell me they got out. It warms my heart every time. I am honored they remember and chose to share the news with me every single time.
I have been creating climate-related content and having these hard conversations for over three years now. I am so thankful for my stubbornness at the beginning. I relentlessly showed up day after day despite horrific harassment. I shut off my reactions to the vitriol and kept going.
As tensions rise around this election. I am growing calmer. Resolute in my determination to not allow my reactions to be leveraged by others. The greatest power one can have right now is agency over their emotions. Yes, vote. As early as possible. I’m going to assume you already know what you are doing with your presidential vote. However, voting in your local elections is particularly crucial to focus on. You. Yes, YOU. 🫵If you haven’t already, look up your sample ballot on ballotpedia.com
I have no idea who you are or where in the world you might be reading this. But if you are in the US we do have the opportunity to literally flip the script on fossil fuel influence over our politics. It will take you making the choice to learn about all of your candidates. Red and blue. Opensecrets.org will show you information on how politicians have voted in the past and what industries are funding them. Will voting fix everything? No. But it is a MASSIVE factor in the present dynamic, and we have to come from all directions. Including the polls. ✨
The thread created a lovely space for more discussion and shared experiences. I often think about the early talks with oil workers. I have since met with and worked with former oil workers on Climate campaigns. Understanding the nuances and intersectionalities of this work is an ever-changing landscape that requires folks to be open to learning constantly.
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