Environmental pressure groups have relaunched a protest Web site in time for a boycott of Esso petrol stations on December 1.

The StopEsso campaign's new site - backed by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People & Planet - has been constructed by a group of Web experts who've given their time and services free of charge.

The result is a clean and informative site which puts across well its environmental concerns about global warming and issues surrounding the burning of fossil fuels.

The site also launches a scathing attack on the oil company's environmental record, which Esso dismisses as "smear" tactics.

Perhaps the site's best feature is the ability to search out Esso garages by postcode. This service also provides links to maps so protestors looking to demonstrate on December 1 can find their way to Esso petrol stations.

This - and other features - means that while the site deals with global issues, it is very much a local site, empowering individuals to demonstrate for a cause in which they believe.

Said James Cronin, one of the guys who helped re-design the site: "Some people warned that in the 21st century, the Internet would cut us off from the world's problems and our own community.

"We hope www.stopesso.com will put people back in touch with their neighbours, and help them work to beat the most pressing world crisis of all: global warming."

Esso - part of the giant ExxonMobil corporation - has issued a statement in response to calls to boycott its products in which it defends its environmental record. You can read it here ®