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Greenwash Champions
Energy giant accused of leaning on authors of independent environmental report to help secure financial backing for controversial oil and gas extraction project
Tom Young, BusinessGreen, 01 Sep 2008
Royal Dutch Shell is facing allegations that it was heavy handed in influencing a supposedly independent environmental report on one of the world’s largest oil and gas extraction projects.
A report in The Observer yesterday cited email evidence that allegedly shows Shell looked to downplay some of the environmental criticism included in the review of the $22bn Sakhalin II Project in Russia which has now received the bulk of the funding it required for work on the project to begin.
The review was conducted by environmental consultancy AEA Technology.
The emails, which were released to the paper following a Freedom of Information request, show that Shell tried to disperse damning evidence throughout the report, as well as downplay the effects of the project on local wildlife, particularly whales.
The exchange reveals concern from an unnamed party, thought to be a government agency, that Shell was “stage managing” the report in order to minimise the impact of environmental concerns.
A spokesman for AEA Technology insisted the report was produced independently, while Shell also defended its involvement, claiming it had not placed any undue pressure on the consultancy to water down its findings. “The opportunity for Sakhalin Energy and its shareholders to provide comments on a draft report of this kind is routine and designed to ensure accuracy,” said a spokesman for Shell. “The findings contained in AEA Technologys report are entirely theirs.”
However, green groups – already angered by Shell’s recent decision to exit the London Array offshore wind project and increase investment in Canadian tar sands extraction – expressed concern at the news.
Speaking to The Observer, Doug Norlen, policy director of US-based Pacific Environment, said that not only did the AEA report list Sakhalin Energy as its client, when it is meant to be fully independent, but that Shell was also guilty of stage-managing the whole process. “They set the agenda, scheduled meetings and even participated in the editing of sections,” he said. “I believe this to be a stark and vivid example of manipulation. In addition to skewing the review it destroys the pretence that banks have used ethical considerations before deciding whether to fund the project.”
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2225104/shell-accused-manipulating
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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.
