No, not hopeless.  But I think intense government pressure on and in the United Nations would be the route to take.  The boycott approach did eventually work or help work for South Africa, so maybe there is a precedent there.

But again, why single out Chevron out of all those companies when as a major asset holder, they are probably the most constrained in what they can do?  I sense some other politcal issues at work in making them the poster child.

With respect, because I agree that the situation in Burma is an absolute outrage and something ought to be done to stop it.