Eight months ago, in June 2008 President Obama was trying to improve his green credentials. The press were reporting how Obama may âSay no to Canadian tar sandsâ. One press report at the time noted that âBarack Obama took aim at the Alberta oilsands, declaring he would break Americaâs addiction to âdirty, dwindling, and dangerously … Read More
greenwashing
Oh Oedipus – Its Time to Lift the Curse of Oil
On the 4th January 1993, some 300,000 Ogoni celebrated the Year of Indigenous Peoples by peacefully protesting against Shell’s activities and environmental destruction of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta. It remains the largest demonstration against an oil company ever. “We have woken up to find our lands devastated by agents of death called oil companies.
“I Will Point Out Hypocricy”
As the price of oil plummets below $50 a barrel, the price of gasoline falls too. The high oil prices and record gas prices of the summer now seem years away. As we fill up our cars, the temptation will be that cheaper motoring will mean more motoring. But not if the friendly folks from … Read More
Oxfam Criticises Shell for âburying its head in the (oil) sands”
The development charity Oxfam has added its influential voice against Shellâs investment in Canadian oil sands. In a report entitled âForecast for Tomorrow,â the development charity has highlighted both good and bad business practices that are being adopted in the UK or by British businesses abroad.
The “You’ve Got To Be Kidding” Department
As news leaks out that the Alberta’s government has launched a C$25 million PR campaign to greenwash oil sands, here is Kenny’s final post from Alberta. Kenny goes behind the spin: “The rest of the world must share that hope. Through no choice of his own, Coutoreille and the First Nations of Fort Chip are … Read More
ASA tells Shell “You canât greenwash tar sands”
There was always going to be a massive problem for the oil industry over the massive gap between its green rhetoric and its recent investment in the most polluting fuel on the planet, tar sands. Moreover, how do you reconcile trying to be green whilst exploiting tar sands? Even more bizarrely why would you try … Read More
Spare a Thought for Bob at BP
When the history of BP is written, poor Robert White will probably not get a mention. Tucked away in Canada Tower in London, Robert â shall we call him Bob âis in the Group Trade Mark Department. Although it may not be the most glamorous of jobs, it is vital in defending the BP image … Read More
First Biofuel Flight Dismissed as Stunt
The world’s first commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel took off from Heathrow yesterday to a storm of criticism from climate change experts, who insisted it was nothing more than Sir Richard Branson’s latest “nonsensical” publicity stunt. The Virgin Atlantic 747 flew from London to Amsterdam using a 20 per cent biofuel mix of coconut … Read More
From Beyond Petroleum to Big Polluter
Interesting blog from the Canadaâs Globe and Mail. Andrew Willis from the Globe looks at the recent criticism BP has gotten for investing in oil sands. Notice the dichotomy between the city investors that argue BP should invest in oil sands and those worried by the climate that think its a stupid idea.
Shell Ditched As Sponsor Of Top Wildlife Competition
Shellâs two year tenure as sponsor of the Londonâs Natural History Museumâs âWildlife Photographer of the Yearâ exhibition has come to an end. A determined, creative two year national campaign, coordinated in part by the direct action group Rising Tide and its Art Not Oil offshoot, helped to force the Museum to ditch Shell.