Mehdi Shahbazi
Encyclopedia
Mehdi Shahbazi was a self-made American business man who emigrated to United States in the 60s from his native Iran. Over the years, Mr. Shahbazi embraced the American dream and work ethics, and made it a reality in his life, coming to own and operate a few gas station franchises in California.
After having become convinced over the years, especially after the debacle that followed hurricane Katrina
, that the major oil companies were in effect conspiring to gouge consumers and artificially raise prices at the pumps, Mr. Shahbazi began a controversial, and ultimately fatal, public protest of the oil majors from his Shell Oil franchise. His method included the prominent posting of signs on his station's grounds that openly declared his views and directed interested customers to "see the cashier" for further information, which included 2 page fliers detailing his views, complaints, and ultimately his concern both for the consumer, and the societal order (which he felt would not withstand the $5 per gallon price that he insisted was the predetermined price set for gas by the majors).
His protest consequently resulted in legal battles with the Shell Oil Company
(US), and ultimately his death, at the age of 65, due to the liver failure
that apparently resulted from his 4 month liquid fast following his loss in the courtroom and subsequent loss of his business, and his home.(In actuality he started the Hunger Strike before the ruling the judge set.)
After having become convinced over the years, especially after the debacle that followed hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, that the major oil companies were in effect conspiring to gouge consumers and artificially raise prices at the pumps, Mr. Shahbazi began a controversial, and ultimately fatal, public protest of the oil majors from his Shell Oil franchise. His method included the prominent posting of signs on his station's grounds that openly declared his views and directed interested customers to "see the cashier" for further information, which included 2 page fliers detailing his views, complaints, and ultimately his concern both for the consumer, and the societal order (which he felt would not withstand the $5 per gallon price that he insisted was the predetermined price set for gas by the majors).
His protest consequently resulted in legal battles with the Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
(US), and ultimately his death, at the age of 65, due to the liver failure
Liver failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...
that apparently resulted from his 4 month liquid fast following his loss in the courtroom and subsequent loss of his business, and his home.(In actuality he started the Hunger Strike before the ruling the judge set.)
"At his former Marina station - where two years ago he posted a sign that read “Consumers’ pain is Big Oil’s unearned profit!” - customers have erected a memorial of flowers, cards and signs proclaiming love and appreciation.
“He was kind, wise and generous beyond imagination,” said Jeffrey Cohen, a Salinas physician who met Shahbazi as a patient and remained a friend for 32 years. “I want people to know that he wasn’t crazy. He used what he felt was the last non-violent method of protest that he could muster. He was expressing what we all feel.”
Sources
- http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_7497707