by Rachel Cernansky, Boulder, Colorado on 04.18.11
Image: Lee Jordan via flickr
Royal Dutch Shell has released a sustainability report for 2010 showing that its direct greenhouse gas emissions rose by nine percent, and natural gas flaringa wasteful practice that contributes its own emissionsincreased by 32 percent. Shell attributes the increase to expanded production, including in Nigeria, where it says security has improved. People in Nigeria would probably beg to differ.
Environmental Leader reports that flaring, an industry-wide practice that wastes enough energy to power Germany, made up nearly 14 percent of Shell’s emissions last year.
Most of the flaring took place in Nigeria, even though the company pledged last year to reduce flaring in its Nigerian operations. It does appear to be taking some steps in that direction, but it needs to be more than a token gesture.
Environmental Leader says that in Nigeria: “a still-poor security situation and lack of government funding has slowed Shell’s progress on projects to capture the gas.”
The flaring is visible from space, and sends gas plumes into nearby communities, spreading toxic smoke and chemicals into their lungs and onto their farms.
Great news then that instead of addressing the continued problem, living up to its pledge from last year to significantly reduce flaring, or working to stop the continuous oil spills (picture one Exxon Valdez every year), Shell is about to resume a 200,000-barrel-a-day operation in that country.
(The company also just confirmed plans to drill in Alaska’s Arctic waters next year.)
More on Shell oil
Wikileaks Reveals Shell Oil Has Agents Installed in Nigerian Government
Shell Denies Allegations in Nigeria, Where an Exxon Valdez-sized Spill Occurs Annually
Shell CEO Admits Peak Oil Could be Here in 7 Years
Shell Offshore Oil Drilling Plans Threaten Australian World Heritage-Listed Coral Reef
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.
