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WWF stresses oil spill dangers of Sakhalin project
28 Apr 2006 00:02:06 GMTSource: Reuters |
GENEVA, April 28 (Reuters) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) should not make loans to Shell's giant energy project off Russia's Pacific coast without more measures to protect the environment, WWF said on Friday.
The conservation group said ice and poor weather around the proposed Sakhalin oil and gas operation would make it nearly impossible to clean up any spills for half of the year, placing marine life at risk in the case of an accident.
“This is the most difficult place on earth to have to respond to an oil spill,” Paul Steele, WWF International's chief operating officer said in a report.
“Wave heights in spring and winter are often five times higher than current recovery methods can cope with,” he said.
The EBRD's board is expected to vote in June on whether to approve a $300 million loan to support the Royal Dutch Shell Plc-led Sakhalin-2 project, which has drawn heavy criticism from green groups.
The massive oil and gas fields off the north coast of Sakhalin Island are located near the feeding grounds of the critically endangered Western Grey whale.
Shell and its partners Japan's Mitsui and Mitsubishi say they are working to safeguard the species.
Their Sakhalin Energy consortium spent about $7 million on whale research from 1997 to 2005 and agreed last year to reroute offshore pipelines.
WWF, formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund, urged the European development bank to be cautious in its involvement in the $20 billion project.
“The EBRD cannot agree to fund this project whilst remaining consistent with its environmental values and maintain its credibility,” Steele said. “If it goes ahead and funds Sakhalin, its environmental reputation will be heavily tarnished.” 
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
