Shell Gets A Cold Reception From Activists

ice pyramid outside Shell HQ in London

The entrance to Shell’s London headquarters was targeted by climate activists yesterday aiming to draw attention to the company’s operations in the Arctic.

Early on Tuesday morning a fifteen strong group from the Climate Justice Collective left a pyramid of ice blocks outside the building’s main entrance to protest against an exploratory oil expedition being undertaken by Shell off the coast of Alaska.

Each of the 27kg blocks were driven to the site of the protest on the Southbank in a refrigerated van and many of the protestors involved have had experience of previous similar actions. One protestor, who called herself only Lucy said:

Something needs to be done right now. Shell petroleum are responsible for drilling in the Arctic sea. They are drilling in a new area. This must stop, Shell must be held to account. This is an unprecedented disaster we are trying to minimise.

One of her fellow protestors added that:

People from different backgrounds have got together. Sea ice is melting and Shell is partly responsible for that.

Shell responded saying:

Shell recognises that certain organisations are opposed to our Arctic exploration programme and respect the right of individuals and organisations to engage in a free and frank exchange of views about our operations. We only ask that they do so with their safety and the safety of others, including Shell personnel and customers in mind.

Shell has support from a multitude of stakeholders for our plans to execute a safe and environmentally responsible drilling programme in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Shell’s distinguished offshore record in Alaska, including our prior drilling activities, validates that we are well positioned to work in the Arctic.

The protest comes just as scientists are expected to announce that the Arctic sea ice minimum is at a record low after a summer which has seen an unprecedented rate of melting.

Green Steve’s Reaction

The word “distinguished” to describe a drilling record reeks of hubris and with the memory of the Deepwater Horizon spill still fresh in the mind, and with the Arctic region being far less accessible to containment teams in the event of an incident, I have major concerns over the safety of this operation. I’m sure the people of Alaska do not need reminding of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.

This stunt is a bold one that has drawn some attention but I doubt it’ll lead to anything more than this canned PR response from Shell. Still, I think these demonstrations are an important part of the fight and who knows, if enough people see this as an issue, maybe some sort of positive outcome will result.

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Steve (156 Posts)

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