As Oil Companies Report 'Scary' Record Profits, 'Climate Mash' Flash Movie Pokes Halloween Fun at Exxon Mobil, Other Global Warming Deniers

As Oil Companies Report 'Scary' Record Profits, 'Climate Mash' Flash Movie Pokes Halloween Fun at Exxon Mobil, Other Global Warming Deniers

140,000 People View New Global Warming-Focused Version of 'Monster Mash' by Original Recording Artist Bobby 'Boris' Pickett

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the only thing scarier than Exxon Mobil posting nearly $10 billion in quarterly profits -- a record for a U.S. company -- as Americans paid the price at the pump for monstrous gas prices? That would be the "Climate Mash" (http://www.climatemash.org/), a new version of "Monster Mash" that takes a funny look at Exxon Mobil and the other zombies and vampires of global warming denial.

Launched on October 18, 2005, the "Climate Mash" Flash movie has been viewed 168,381 times by 140,607 unique visitors. The "Climate Mash" was recorded by original "Monster Mash" artist Bobby "Boris" Pickett, and is accompanied by a Flash presentation featuring well-known Halloween horror characters based on photographs of Exxon Mobil Chairman Lee Raymond, President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, members of Congress, and oil industry executives. Clear the Air is the sponsor of the "Climate Mash."

On Thursday, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Shell reported their highest-ever quarterly profits, with Exxon reporting an unprecedented $9.92 billion in net income profits and also becoming the first company in U.S. history to achieve quarterly sales of $100 billion. According to Reuters, Exxon's "third quarter revenue was greater than the annual gross domestic product of some of the largest oil producing nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait."

"It's great to see that 'Climate Mash' is connecting with people in such a powerful way," said Angela Ledford, director of Clear the Air. "At the same time that people have some fun, they get a serious message and an opportunity to take action on something that is truly scary: White House and Capitol Hill inaction on the growing threat posed by global warming."

The "Climate Mash" Web site has generated 30,910 letters urging elected officials in Washington to take action on global warming.

"Global warming is a huge problem, and Congress is acting like a bunch of zombies, just sleepwalking through it," said entertainer Bobby "Boris" Pickett. "President Bush is even worse. We are feeling the effects of global warming now, but even as these become more obvious, Bush just keeps fiddling while the earth heats up."

Recorded by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Cryptkicker Five, "Monster Mash" still gets a substantial amount of airplay every Halloween. It has been described as "arguably the most popular novelty song ever," and Bobby Pickett is the only active performer who has reached the top 100 music chart three times with the same song. On October 20, 1962, the original release of "Monster Mash" hit Number 1. The song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on August 29, 1970 peaking at Number 91, and then again on May 5, 1972 when it went all the way to Number 10. The Monster Mash has sold over four million copies and received three gold records.

Clear the Air (http://www.cleartheair.org/) is a national public education campaign to combat global warming and improve air quality by reducing emissions from coal-burning power plants. Clear the Air brings together grassroots organizations, national environmental groups, and policy experts to make the case for stricter pollution controls to communities, government agencies, elected representatives, and the media.

The complete song lyrics are as follows:

"We were hiking past the White House late one night ...
When our eyes beheld an eerie sight ...

The president appeared, with folks very strange
The zombies and vampires of global climate change.

'Its not global warming,' say oil company disciples
'According to our math, its natural weather cycles.'

Claims from these and other industry heavies let
The president rest behind his own protective levees

(the climate mash)
they're doing the climate mash
(the climate mash)
Real science is bashed
(the climate mash)
solutions are trashed
(the climate mash)
and they do it for the cash

The creatures were having fun
Our congress was overrun
We couldn't tell the mindless zombies
From the elected ones.

Now we do know how to stop this, we have the technology
But first we have to get past industry ideology.

We need your help, I'm glad to show you how;
Tell your leaders in Washington to save our climate now."

About the Climate Mash

The "Climate Mash" Flash movie presentation was written by Peter Altman and brought to life by Horseback Salad of Austin, Texas. The entire presentation runs for a total of one minute and 23 seconds. The featured vocal is that of Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the original "Monster Mash" singer. Instruments and backup vocals were performed and recorded by Andrea Perry of Austin, Texas. Austin comedian Kerry Awn provided the Bush voice impersonations. For those interested in exploring the issues raised by the Flash movie, a footnoted set of lyrics can be found on the ClimateMash.org Web site.

Website: http://www.climatemash.org
http://www.cleartheair.org

Source: Clear the Air

CONTACT: Ailis Aaron, +1-703-276-3265, aaaron@hastingsgroup.com, for
Clear the Air, or Joel Finkelstein of Clear the Air, +1-202-887-1345

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