June, 29 2009, 12:14pm EDT
Shell's Climate Crimes Exposed
New report from environmental groups exposes Shell’s anti-climate lobbying activities
WASHINGTON
Friends of the Earth and Oil Change International released a report
today detailing oil giant Shell's colossal contribution to global
climate change and its continued investment in carbon-intensive fossil
fuels.
The report also reveals new internal documents that show that Shell
knew of the environmental dangers of gas flaring in Nigeria more than
fifteen years ago, but chose not to stop for purely financial reasons.
"Shell greenwashes itself as a sustainable company when in reality
it is the dirtiest oil producer of all," said Ben Schreiber of Friends
of the Earth. "As evidenced by Shell's lobbying activities on the
flawed climate bill that passed the House last Friday, the company has
been instrumental in weakening climate legislation while claiming to
care about the environment."
Despite attempts by outgoing Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer to
portray a green image, the company has opted for a way forward that is
in stark contradiction with the need to reduce greenhouse gas pollution
that causes climate change. Shell's heavy investments in the most
carbon-emitting energy sources, such as tar sands, liquefied natural
gas and crude oil from Nigeria--which is associated with huge levels of
gas flaring--make it the dirtiest of all major oil companies with regard
to greenhouse gas pollution, according to the report.
Since 1996 Shell has promised to stop gas flaring in Nigeria--the
biggest source of heat-trapping gases in sub-Saharan Africa. But the
company has repeatedly broken its promises and rejected statements by
the Nigerian government that flaring should be stopped. Shell refuses
to implement the 2011 deadline imposed by the Nigerian government for
phasing out gas flaring and is now speaking about a 2013 phase out.
Steve Kretzmann from Oil Change International said, "Shell could
stop flaring gas in Nigeria for only 10 percent of last year's profit
for the company. The company's new CEO, Peter Voser, has the power to
stop gas flaring, spare Nigerians from inhaling deadly toxins, and help
to curb climate change in one stroke. The question is: will he?"
Today's report, "Shell's Big Dirty Secret,"
comes after a global backlash against the energy giant's abuses of
human rights and the environment. On June 8, Shell was forced to pay
$15.5 million to settle a lawsuit in the U.S. seeking to hold it
accountable for human rights abuses in Nigeria. The company is also
facing legal action in The Hague concerning repeated oil spills which
have damaged the livelihoods of Nigerian fisherpeople and farmers.
The report can be viewed at: https://www.foe.org/sites/default/files/shellbigdirtysecret_June09.pdf.
Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.
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'We Cannot Let the Warmongers Win': US Progressives Reject Calls for Attack on Iran
"We must resist the U.S. becoming embroiled in another costly conflict abroad," said U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee.
Apr 15, 2024
Progressives in the U.S. Congress on Sunday urged the Biden administration to resist calls for an attack on Iran following the country's
retaliation against Israel for the deadly bombing of Tehran's consulate in Syria earlier this month.
The hawkish rhetoric came from both sides of the political aisle in the U.S.—Israel's main ally and weapons supplier.
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of Congress' most fervent supporters of Israel's war on Gaza, claimed Iran is "the single most destabilizing force in the Middle East" and "must be held accountable for the aggression it has long shown toward Israel not only directly but also indirectly through proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), directing her message at President Joe Biden, was more explicit in demanding an immediate military response from the U.S.
"We must move quickly and launch aggressive retaliatory strikes on Iran," Blackburn wrote on social media.
The number two Republican in the U.S. House, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.),
said Saturday that the chamber would "move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable."
"The House of Representatives stands strongly with Israel, and there must be consequences for this unprovoked attack," Scalise added. "More details on the legislative items to be considered will be forthcoming."
"As leaders in Washington jump to call for war with Iran and rush additional offensive weapons to the Israeli military, we need to exercise restraint and use every diplomatic tool to de-escalate tensions."
Iran's launch of hundreds of drones and missiles on Saturday marked its first direct assault on Israel, which has repeatedly engaged in covert attacks inside Iranian territory. On April 1, Israel bombed Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital, killing diplomats and a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander.
Iran said its retaliatory firing of missiles and drones—most of which were intercepted—was in line with international law. One person, a seven-year-old girl, was seriously injured in the attack.
Israeli officials immediately vowed revenge, a pledge that intensified global calls for restraint to prevent the regional war in the Middle East from spiraling further out of control.
As
The Intercept's Ken Klippenstein and Daniel Boguslaw noted Sunday, the conflict "now involves at least 16 different countries," including the U.S., which "flew aircraft and launched air defense missiles from at least eight countries, while Iran and its proxies fired weapons from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen."
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), a vocal supporter of a cease-fire in Gaza, issued a statement Sunday condemning both Israel's attack on Iran's consulate and Tehran's response, which she said "threaten civilian lives and regional war."
"I also condemn the calls by members of Congress and others to initiate war with Iran; to do so without congressional authorization is blatantly unconstitutional," Bush said. "We cannot let the warmongers win; our country and our world are calling for restraint, de-escalation, a lasting cease-fire, and diplomacy. Our government must listen. That is how we save lives."
Bush urged the Biden administration to "take immediate steps, including at the U.N. Security Council and G7, to de-escalate and facilitate an immediate, lasting cease-fire in the region."
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the lone congressional no vote against the war in Afghanistan, similarly called on the Biden administration to "lead efforts toward de-escalation, diplomacy, and securing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza."
"We must resist the U.S. becoming embroiled in another costly conflict abroad, but rather lead toward peace and security in the region," Lee added.
Axiosreported Sunday that Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly that the U.S. would not "support any Israeli counterattack against Iran." An unnamed official told the outlet that "when Biden told Netanyahu that the U.S. will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran and will not support such operations, Netanyahu said he understood."
Echoing her progressive colleagues, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
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"To have a coal company sponsoring an exhibition on the future of energy is blatantly deceiving," Anya, a young person who occupied the Energy Revolution gallery, said in a statement. "Through this sponsorship deal, the Science Museum is helping Adani attach itself to the image of a positive and sustainable future when in reality it is a coal giant, weapons manufacturer, and genocide supporter. It's plain wrong for the Science Museum to be deceiving visitors, including young people like me, when it comes to the climate crisis."
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On Friday evening the activists smuggled in balloons and black paper which they used to create a large art piece—a mound of black coal—in the centre of the gallery. Their plan was to interact with the public on Saturday after their first night of occupation, including a People's Assembly to discuss the controversial sponsorship in the afternoon.
Police were called, but no arrests were made. However, perhaps embarrassed by the presence of the protest and their message about the climate-wrecking sponsors, the museum decided to prevent access to the gallery for the whole of Saturday, although supporters did come with more banners which they held near the entrance.
The protesters remained in the museum overnight on Saturday and ended their action on Sunday.
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Biden publicly reaffirmed "America's ironclad commitment to the security of Israel" but a White House official also confirmed to Reuters that during a call with Netanyahu, the president made clear the U.S. will not join any military offensives against Iran.
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