So the most iconic oilman of his generation, Lord Browne, has finally published his memoirs of his time at BP in a book called “beyond business”. Whilst most of the reviews so far concentrate on him being gay and his fall from grace, we also get glimpses of the power of oil and what it … Read More
greenwashing
Now BP Faces Shareholder Revolt Over Tar Sands
Last month a group of pension funds and asset managers filed a resolution asking Royal Dutch Shell to reconsider its controversial involvement in the dirty tar sands. And now the investors are targeting BP asking it not to invest a massive $10 billion in its Sunrise tar sands development.
The Angry Mermaid Strikes Back
All the news reports this morning are that a deal at Copenhagen is dead. Barack Obama has said that we had run out of time to secure a deal in December. This will please the corporate lobbyists no end. The longer they can delay action on climate the better. But now Copenhagen’s iconic mermaid is … Read More
Peter’s Second Problem: Shell Climate Crimes Exposed
When Peter Voser (on the right of the photo) takes the helm of the oil giant Shell on Wednesday, he might just start beginning to wonder what a complete mess he has inherited from his predecessor, van der Veer (he’s on the left). This mess is graphically illustrated in a 32 page devastating critique of … Read More
Shell Worried Ogoni PR was “Green Imagery”
It’s not often that a company’s public relations strategy is laid bare for all to see. It’s very rare that these most sensitive of company documents – the ones that talk of using the dark arts of persuasion – ever see the light of day. But occasionally it happens. It did with big tobacco when … Read More
Fossil Fuel Lobby’s $45 Million Propaganda Campaign
You really did not expect them to lie down and roll over without a fight did you? Yesterday we highlighted how the sceptics were gearing up for one last push to undermine the science of climate change. Today its the turn of the oil and coal companies who are pouring millions into scuppering the Democrat’s … Read More
Shell Bottom of Emission Disclosure Ratings
For a decade now – since Ken Saro-Wiwa’s death and the Brent Spar fiasco – Shell has done its utmost to portray itself as a green oil company. It hasn’t quite gone to the lengths of its rival BP and completely rebranded its logo, but it has spent millions of dollars trying to change perceptions … Read More
Nuclear Spin Doctors Win As Greens Go Pro-Nukes
Earlier this month, the crème of the nuclear industry spin doctors gathered in Edinburgh in Scotland at the posh Sheraton Hotel. The event, known as PIME 2009, is where they outline their public relations techniques as to how to try and sell a dangerous, expensive and dirty fuel as green, clean and climate friendly.
Obama Bets on Unproven Carbon Capture “Technology”
Eight months ago, in June 2008 President Obama was trying to improve his green credentials. The press were reporting how Obama may “Say no to Canadian tar sands”. One press report at the time noted that “Barack Obama took aim at the Alberta oilsands, declaring he would break America’s addiction to ‘dirty, dwindling, and dangerously … Read More
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.