When I learned about the oil giant BP’s plan to drill off the coast of my home, my heart felt like it dropped out of my chest. As I write this the West Aquarius rig is well on its way to the Nova Scotian Shelf. By the time this is published, it might have already arrived. My thoughts went immediately to those oil sullied shorelines in the Gulf of Mexico, and to the fishermen … [Read more...]
U.S. companies publicly support climate action, privately fund deniers
Companies like Pepsi, DuPont, and Google might say that they support climate action, but in reality, they are funding lawmakers opposed to President Obama’s climate agenda, according to a Reuters report released Tuesday morning. Over the last year, more than 150 companies have signed on to the “American Business Act on Climate Pledge,” a commitment created by Obama to … [Read more...]
Fossil fuel companies in hot water over decades of deception
Major fossil fuel companies have known for decades that their products—oil, natural gas, and coal—cause global warming. Their own scientists told them so more than 30 years ago. In response, they decided to deceive shareholders, politicians, and the public—you!—about the facts and risks of global warming. They repeatedly fought efforts to move the country away from fossil … [Read more...]
Scientists alarmed about ‘seismic blasting’ in the Arctic Ocean
Firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves in the Arctic Ocean is ‘alarming’ and could seriously injure whales and other marine life, according to a new scientific review. The oil industry is increasingly looking towards the region as climate change melts large areas of Arctic sea ice. A Norwegian company operating off east Greenland recently began firing airguns that … [Read more...]
Shell moet antwoord oor hidrobreking – AfriForum
Die waghond vir burgerregte, AfriForum, is gekant teen en bekommerd oor die moontlike gevolge van skaliegasontginning in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie organisasie het ʼn brief aan RoyalDutch Shell en Shell (SA) gerig waarin die maatskappye uitgenooi is om met hulle in gesprek te tree oor verskeie vrae wat deur verteenwoordigers van gemeenskappe dwarsoor Suid-Afrika ingedien is, waarin … [Read more...]
Safe drilling in the far North “a fantasy”
Commenting on Monday's ruling by a federal judge in Anchorage that Shell's oil spill plans for drilling in Alaska's Beaufort and Chukchi seas don't violate environmental laws, Greenpeace International Arctic campaigner Ben Ayliffe said: "Even a cursory glance at Shell's oil spill response plans shows that the company could not deal with an accident in these remote and … [Read more...]
Alaska oil rig’s lifeboats may have leaked fuel
Lifeboats from an oil rig that was temporarily grounded on a small island in southern Alaska may have leaked as much as 272 gallons of diesel fuel into pristine waters along the shoreline, but that cannot be determined until a full inspection is completed, U.S. Coast Guard officials said. A preliminary assessment of four survival boats and one rescue boat at Sitkalidak … [Read more...]
8 reasons why Shell can’t be trusted in the Arctic
Shell’s most recent ‘mishap’ was not the first setback the oil giant has suffered in its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic. In fact, it’s the eighth in a growing list of reasons why Shell should not be trusted in the Arctic. 1. Shell has no idea how much an oil spill clean-up would cost In March 2012, in response to questions from the UK’s Parliamentary Environmental … [Read more...]
Shell Arctic drilling rig aground in Gulf of Alaska
A Shell oil drilling vessel has run aground off an Alaska island during a severe storm while under tow, officials said, as environmentalists again warned against Arctic oil drilling. Federal on-scene response coordinator Capt. Paul Mehler III said the Royal Dutch Shell conical drilling vessel Kulluk is carrying about 143,000 gallons of diesel and about 12,000 gallons of … [Read more...]
It’s time to make big oil pay!
In days, Nigeria's Parliament could approve a $5 billion fine against giant oil polluter Shell for a spill that devastated the lives of millions of people, and pass a law to hold all oil companies to account for polluting and plundering. This is a watershed moment, but unless we all speak out, oil giants will crush it. Finally, Big Oil is having to pay for the wasteland and … [Read more...]
Shell says oil spillage will not be recovered
While Shell previously asserted that it would be able to recover 90% of any oil spilled as a result of its planned Arctic oil drilling, they are now claiming that it is impossible to make such claims. Shell spokesperson Curtis Smith, quoted by the Washington Post: "We say in our plan we expect to 'encounter' 90 percent of any discharge on site, very close to the drilling … [Read more...]
ANC trust stands to gain from fracking
"The refusal of Minister Shabangu to furnish information is now making sense," says TKAG (Treasure Karoo Action Group) spokesman Jonathan Deal. An ANC trust established 20 years ago by Nelson Mandela and other struggle veterans stands to earn a potential fortune from shale gas exploitation in the Karoo. The Batho Batho Trust has a 51% stake in Thebe Investments, the local … [Read more...]
Protest against fracking threatening water
“Fracking no, fracking never! Clean energy, now and forever!” chanted about 140 protestors from various communities in Cape Town, as they took to the street on Human Rights Day, to protest against plans that Royal Dutch Shell and other companies have to explore for shale gas in the Greater Karoo Basin. Earthlife Africa Cape Town staged the protest, to highlight the threat … [Read more...]
