SHELL, DE HALVE WAARHEID EN DE DOOFPOT…. Shell, half the truth and the cover-up….

By Alfred and John Donovan 

In 1974 it was reported that a Shell employee, Leo Rapmund (36), a crewmember on the Shell tanker, ‘Capulonix’, had gone missing, presumed lost overboard.
 
Over two decades later Rapmund’s family was contacted by a fellow crewmember at the time of the tragedy who wanted to clear his conscience about his knowledge of what really happened. Basically he revealed that Leo Rapmund had been murdered and there were many eyewitnesses to the crime.  

The family claim that when they contacted Shell in 1995 with this alarming news, Shell and its lawyers (the most prestigious and expensive law firm in the Netherlands,  De Braauw, Blackstone & Westbroek) denied any knowledge or responsibility and treated them in a disgusting and arrogant manner. All responsibility and accountability were rejected. The family was fobbed-off like a bunch of nagging children.  
 
In 2008, the family contacted the acclaimed Dutch investigative crime reporter Peter R. de Vries who has his own Emmy Award winning TV programme.  De Vries has been involved in a number of high profile cases including that of Natalee Holloway, the American student who mysteriously disappeared in 2005 while on a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean Island of Aruba.  
 
De Vries approached Shell HQ in The Hague on 23 February 2009 and spoke with a senior Shell Public Relations official, Herman Kievits. His response was described as arrogant, at arms length and mainly on the lines that ‘we know nothing’.  The same holds true for the lawyers.
 
On 26 April 2009 Peter R. de Vries presented the case in his TV programme. Afterwards a number of viewers contacted Shell and expressed disgust at these cover-ups by the oil company.
 
The viewers who reacted towards Shell, all received a rather clumsy standard reaction with many half-truths. The facts however are totally different and in his unique manner Peter R. de Vries dissects all the nonsense by Shell and provides substantial evidence on what really happened. He tracked down a dozen witnesses of the murder. They all confirmed that Leo Rapmund had been in a fight on board and was shoved overboard. He managed to just hang on to the railing but his assailant had kicked his hands so long that he had to let go and disappeared forever in the waves. This act was unanimously described as ‘murder’. The witnesses were greatly surprised that they never have been formally heard nor summoned in a court case.
 
De Vries also makes mincemeat of all the statements by Shell and detailed evidence is provided on his website. He exposes Shell as a bunch of liars. In the end Shell even had to admit in a letter to him that they ‘did not know’ what happened to the assailant and why he had not been charged. Shell even did not know whether the man had been fired or not. That in itself is strange: on a tanker of Shell a Shell employee is literally kicked overboard by another Shell employee, but Shell subsequently never informs how all this has been handled in a legal matter. read more

Below is an article supplied to Shell in advance of publication. The relevant email correspondence with Richard Wiseman, the Shell official who is the subject of the article is printed immediately below it. It contains his comments and our response.

By Alfred and John Donovan

This is the first in a series of articles in which we provide overwhelming evidence why Richard Wiseman (above) is an unfit person to be the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

From Shell’s standpoint, we are sure Wiseman did a good job as General Counsel and later as Legal Director of Shell UK. We understand from our sources that he is generally liked and respected by colleagues. He is loyal to the company and Shell executive directors. We acknowledge that Mr Wiseman has many admirable qualities. read more

EXTRACT FROM EMAIL RECEIVED FROM JONATHAN MORT, LEGAL ADVISOR (AND MANAGER?), SHELL SOUTH AFRICA PENSION FUND: It is apparently my draft response (per the email of 15 February 2009) to Mr Purchase (on 18 February 2009) which has driven you to the conclusions of conspiracies, collaborations and unethical conduct so liberally sprinkled through your article. The truth is more mundane, entirely proper, and (sadly for your website) considerably less newsworthy than the spectacular claims made in your draft article.

Do you stand by your comments that the trustees and Shell are totally independent when the outside professional is formatting his advice and response to me after consulting Wanjiru.Kirima and others who I believe, but may be wrong, are funded by Shell?

I refer to the draft article you intend publishing on your website http//royaldutchshellplc.com, as set forth in an email from yourself to Mr Brandjes on 25 March 2009 at 18h28. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of correcting some facts of which you may not have been aware.

From: <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:22:14 +0100
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Royal Dutch Shell Pension Fund Conspiracy and Deception

Just to confirm, we have nothing to add to the replies already given to Mr Purchase.

Regards

Richard Wiseman

Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA read more

Printed below is a draft article. It contains my interpretation of the information contained in email correspondence supplied to me by Shell SA retiree, Mr Ken Purchase. No doubt you will advise if any of the emails are not authentic. If I do not hear from you by close of business on Friday 27 March, I will take it that there is no dispute or challenge over authenticity, stated facts, nor my interpretations or conclusions, and will state as such.

We have the worlds largest online library of news articles and leaked documents about the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell and related matters. They are all available FREE for educational and research purposes.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc board members Jeroen van der Veer and Jorma Ollila, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands - a long term major shareholder in Royal Dutch Shell - are all members of this sinister super secret group and all three have attended the infamous secret meetings.

On 25 January 2008, Carl Mortished, World Business Editor of The Times newspaper wrote an article headlined: “Shell chief fears oil shortage in seven years” in which he described the site as “an independent website that monitors the company.”

In July 2007, the One World Trust, an independent research organisation associated with the UK Houses of Parliament and the United Nations, said in an "Accountability in Action" newsletter: "As The Royal Dutch Shell plc website shows, a gripe site can have a profound impact on global organisations". The newsletter went on to say: "The site has not only cost Shell billions of dollars in Russia... "even Shell insiders unhappy with the company use it".

"...as a commentator on brand and reputation management I find Shell’s mismatch between rhetoric and reality a continuing and monstrous disgrace."

It’s not the most elegant phrase to use but it seems appropriate – come on Shell “Cut the crap”.

Allegation: massive Sakhalin II pipeline hydrotest failure has caused major damage 

The following comment was posted on our Live Chat facility on Thursday 1 May 2008

guest_9125 : Massive pipeline hydrotest failure on Sakhalin northern pipelines has caused enormous environmental damage and has set back project schedule by at least two months. Gazprom know nothing about the seriousness of this latest distaster and project delay will only lenghten well into 2009. Meantime, Craig and Rolly Polly Finlayson are doing everything they can to blame and destroy Guyt and Huijskes and to cover up truth. help all Sakhaline people please.  read more

Article by former Royal Dutch Shell exec Paddy Briggs: Shell pulls out of Wind Farm project

‘THURSDAY, MAY 01, 2008

Sometimes Shell’s actions are so extraordinary that you wonder if the announcements that they make are a wind up – thrown into the ether just to see what might happen. The withdrawal from the “London Array” wind farm project is just such a decision. I know nothing about the business plan for this project except that I doubt that there were any “unknowns” which have suddenly become “knowns”. Indeed Shell’s statement that the decision is a consequence of an “ongoing review of projects and investment choices” suggests that they just went off the idea – as they have with so many other non traditional business ventures over the years. Shell’s definition of their “core business” becomes narrower and narrower over the years – step-outs into Renewables being walked away from with the same disregard for their reputation for veracity as many of the previous wimp outs. read more

My only comment on the statement that quote "Brinded has a track record of turning a blind eye to corrupt management and has the blood on his hands of Shell offshore workers that lost their lives in a preventable accident on the Brent Bravo production platform" was that he was in fact the corrupt Manager (Director) and the 1999 major audit atypically pointed the finger at him as the main catalyst for the demise witnessed in that organisation.

Contenders for the tarnished Royal Dutch Shell crown

By John Donovan

The Financial Times published an article on Saturday revealing Shell’s intention to make “one-off retention payments to three Shell executive directors”, Malcolm Brinded, Peter Voser and Linda Cook; the three candidates vying to succeed Jeroen van der Veer when he retires in June next year.

Financial Times Article

Not an inspiring trio

Brinded has a track record of turning a blind eye to corrupt management and has the blood on his hands of Shell offshore workers that lost their lives in a preventable accident on the Brent Bravo production platform for which Shell admitted responsibility and paid a record breaking fine. Brinded failed to take adequate action after a “Touch Fuck All” safety culture was exposed in a safety audit led by Shell International HSE Group Auditor, Bill Campbell. read more

Email correspondence with former Shell International HSE Group Auditor Bill Campbell involving Royal Dutch Shell Plc Company Secretary Michiel Brandjes

Please note that the correspondence below is published without seeking prior approval from Mr Campbell. We accept responsibility for publication of his extremely blunt assessment of Shell EP Production Director, Mr Greg Hill.  

EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO BILL CAMPBELL, COPIED TO MICHIEL BRANDJES

From: John Donovan
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:05:44 +0100
To: “[email protected]
Cc: “[email protected]
Conversation: Shell
Subject: Shell

Hello Bill

Welcome back to the UK. I trust your batteries are fully recharged. This is in response to your recent mails. read more

Shell fat cat management unwilling to allow needy Shell pensioners to benefit from multi-billion windfall profits

Introduction by John Donovan

Paddy Briggs resigns from Shell Pensioners Association National Committee because Shell unwilling to consider sympathetically proposals for a special pension review for thousands of Shell pensioners, many very elderly, struggling on low pensions which have failed to maintain their real value in recent times. (Condensed from Paddy’s resignation letter below)

FROM SPA News (Shell Pensioners Association) Issue 142: Spring 2008

Supplied by a Shell source

Front Page

Company says no to a discretionary adjustment above RPI read more

 

April 18th, 2008 03:22

Former Shell Exec Paddy Briggs comments on The Shell Foundation

The following comments by Mr Paddy Briggs arise from a letter sent to The Guardian newspaper by Kurt Hoffman.

Letter from Kurt Hoffman director of the Shell Foundation

Paddy says…

The “Shell Foundation” is a classic example of how modern corporations seek to create a halo effect around their global brands implying a high degree of altruism exists, whilst in reality making the absolute minimum amounts of funding available. Shell’s rhetoric, exemplified by Mr Hoffman’s self-congratulatory letter and the very name of the initiative (suggesting something analogous with genuinely big charitable enterprises like the Ford Foundation or the Gates Foundation) is misleading in the extreme. read more

By John Donovan

The following is an extract from comments about Shell made by “Goblok”, an anonymous contributor to our website…

A business not a charity and hopefully a responsible one most of the time. Is everyone in Shell decent and ethical – for the most part yes I am sure like most other MultiNationals – it mirrors the society in which employees work and live. Are there still a few “bastards” in the organisation who are egotistical and selfish: probably yes! but then thats life and you will find the same in every company and every part of Civil Society read more

The Times: “The Pearls of Shell”

April 16, 2008
Dominic Walsh: City Diary

A colleague visiting Shell’s group head office in The Hague the other day picked up a booklet in the foyer entitled Shell Group Headquarters House Rules. On the inside front page is a section called “The Pearls of Shell”, which says: “The people employed at Shell are the pearls of our company. They impart lustre to our business and deliver first-class performance, day in day out. That is why it is vital to cherish their wellbeing, health and safety.” There is more guff about “treating one another with respect” but by now you have doubtless already reached for the sick bucket. read more

By John Donovan

We draw attention to the following selection of comments received in relation to the recent article:

Email from Ireland concerning Shell Corrib Gas Project

FOR THE CORRIB PROJECT

From Goblok

Most of this letter is bollocks: there are plenty of gas plants sprinkled across Europe with minimal Environmental foot print. If you want County Mayo to remain backward then go for it but rest assured this person is in the minority of the minority and a NIMBY and BANANA rolled into one at best!

From Guest 3001 on Live Chat: read more

By John Donovan

Introduction: The article below was supplied to Royal Dutch Shell Plc on 10 April 2008 on the basis that before publication we would delete anything stated by Shell as being categorically untrue. The text of the actual email sent is printed at the foot of the article. Because he is named in the article, a copy was sent to Jon Chadwick, Executive VP Shell Gas & Power Asia. Shell did not take up the invitation: there was no reply.

THE ARTICLE: Shell’s shocking track record of unethical trading in USA read more

 

By John Donovan

In December 2005 we published an article containing the following paragraph:

It appears that extremely powerful forces are at work and one wonders where the intrigue will lead in relation to the Corrib pipeline. Will “THE GREAT CORRIB GAS CONTROVERSY” turn into something even bigger – a full blown scandal?

http://www.shellnews.net/week49/shellnewscorrib14dec2005.htm

We made the comment in the knowledge that the Irish government has a reputation for corruption and over a number of years gave concessions to the Corrib pipeline consortium which many people believe were not in the best interests of the Irish people. read more

By John Donovan

The following interesting discussion took place on our Live Chat facility following publication of our article…

LATEST EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH ROYAL DUTCH SHELL COMPANY SECRETARY MICHIEL BRANDJES PUBLISHED 28 MARCH 2008

The discussion concerns Shell’s surreptitious activities on the Internet.

Related Live Chat discussion (We have inserted relevant hyperlinks)

Guest 9362:

The importance of defending corporate reputation on the Internet cannot be overstated. This explains why Shell dirty tricks unit was kept busy trying to smother your website while also rewriting Wikipedia articles about Shell. Wiki-scanner revealed Shell articles being anonymously edited from Shell locations. Shell was caught by the IP traces left by the perpetrators. Information critical of Shell was systematically removed. read more

By John Donovan

We have printed below our recent email correspondence with Mr Michiel Brandjes, Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

The subject is explained in the correspondence.

John Donovan email to Mr Brandjes on 19 March 2008

From: John Donovan [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 19 March 2008 15:56
To: ‘[email protected]
Cc: ‘[email protected]; ‘paddybriggs’; ‘[email protected]; ‘[email protected]’
Subject: RoyalDutchShellPlc.com read more

"the Statement provides, for our employees to follow and for the outside world to judge us by, an ethical framework which is mandatory, not optional: just having those principles is not enough. In the past: an oil company could say "trust me" and expect that to be enough. Today, people say, "tell me" "listen to me" "show me". Trust has to be earned by transparency. That's one of the most important lessons we've learned in Shell".

ShellNews.net: A Black Eye for Royal Dutch Shell Chairman Lord Oxburgh in relation to Shell fraud allegations

Tuesday 16 August 2005 03.50 ET

A Black Eye for Royal Dutch Shell Chairman Lord Oxburgh in relation to Shell fraud allegations

By John Donovan

Shareholders and journalists who attended the AGM’s of Shell Transport and Trading Company plc in 2004 and 2005 witnessed the hostile exchanges between Shell Transport Chairman Lord Oxburgh and an outspoken, thoroughly disgruntled shareholder, Mr John Farmer.

During the particularly tumultuous 2004 AGM Mr John Farmer publicly branded Sir Philip Watts as a “crook” – a comment which caught the attention of the news media. (links below) read more

ShellNews.net: US Class Action Lawsuit Against Shell Given go-ahead by U.S. District Chief Judge John Bissell

Wednesday 10 August 2005

A securities fraud case against the world’s third-largest oil company, Royal Dutch/Shell Group, has been given permission to proceed by U.S. District Chief Judge John Bissell.

The case stems from a sharp drop in Shell’s stock in 2004, after Shell announced it had overstated its oil reserves, a key measure of an oil company’s wealth and future strength. The securities case was filed in New Jersey because the company has several gasoline distribution terminals in the state. Attorneys for investors who lost millions called the hearing a “monster” in terms of its potential effect. read more

ShellNews.net: The Jailing of the Rossport 5 by Shell

John Donovan’s interview on Dublin Newstalk Radio 106fm – “The Breakfast Show with Eamon Dunphy”: Broadcast Thursday Morning 8.17am, 4 August 2005

Posted 17.30 Saturday 6 August 2005

EXTRACTS FROM THE INTERVIEW

Unofficial Transcript: Extraneous utterances have been deleted e.g. err

Substitute Host: Mick Clifford

Mick’s guests: Dr Mark Garavan (spokesman for the jailed men – the Rossport 5 – and for the related “Shell to Sea” campaign”): John Beasant (co-author of the recently published book SHELL SHOCK – THE SECRETS AND SPIN OF AN OIL GIANT) and John Donovan of ShellNews.net.

Mick’s introduction to the discussion:

Welcome back to the show the time now is 17 minutes past 8… Mick Clifford standing in for Eamon… read more

ShellNews.net: Why has Ex-Shell Boss Watts brought proceedings against the FSA who did not name him in their Shell reserves scandal report but not against publishers and broadcasters who have named him in connection with the debacle?

Tuesday 26 July 2005

Numerous media reports have categorically named and blamed Sir Philip Watts for the Shell reserves debacle which destroyed Shell’s reputation. Yet Sir Philip has not brought proceedings against any of them. So why is he embroiled in proceedings against the Financial Services Authority who did not name and blame him in their report?

To take an example of one TV broadcast, we have provided extracts below from a BBC TV programme about the scandal – “The Money Programme”, aired on 15 July 2004. read more

ShellNews.net: Shell still under heavy fire in US Courts: Latest on US Class Action hearing against Royal Dutch/Shell

Updated 11am Sunday 24 July 2005

By Alfred Donovan

(new third paragraph: updates information on most recent court hearing)

Civil Action 04431 in the US District Court of New Jersey: The Newark Star-Ledger article (link below) reports on a court hearing on the US Class Action Lawsuit brought against Royal Dutch/Shell and named former and current directors, including former Group Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart; the first CEO of Royal Dutch Shell plc – Jeroen van der Veer, and Shell E & P Executive Director, Malcolm Brinded. read more

ShellNews.net: Yet another PR disaster for Shell after Nigeria, Brent Spar, the reserves debacle and the $10 billion cost overrun on the Sakhalin-2 project: now the Corrib Irish pipeline “cause célèbre”

Saturday 23 July 2005

By John Donovan

The following article about the controversial Corrib pipeline project in Ireland was published by ShellNews.net three weeks ago. This was before the shock announcement by Shell regarding the $10 billion cost overrun on the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia.

We launched a webpage under the prophetic heading of “SHELL PR DISASTER IN IRISH PIPELINE COURT BATTLE”. It now contains getting on to 100 news stories. (SHELL PR DISASTER IN IRISH PIPELINE COURT BATTLE) read more

ANOTHER BAD NEWS DAY FOR SHELL

LONDON TIMES ARTICLE IMPLIES THAT SHELL ISSUED A FALSE PROSPECTIVE FOR ITS MERGER: THE INDEPENDENT SAYS THAT SHELL IS “RUDDERLESS”: FT CLAIMS THAT INVESTORS DUMPED THE NEW UNIFIED SHELL SHARES ON THEIR DEBUT DAY AND REVIVES DESIRABLE PROSPECT OF TOTAL/SHELL MEGA-MERGER

Thursday 21 July 2005

By Alfred Donovan

We warned just a few days ago of the huge potential ramifications of the Sakhalin-2 cost overrun debacle. We are pleased to see that the mainstream press has now also picked up on the implications. Our article, first published on Monday 18 July is reprinted below: –

ShellNews.net: THE SHELL SAKHALIN-2 DEBACLE: Credibility concerns over Royal Dutch/Shell Executives, Jeroen van der Veer and Malcolm Brinded following the Salhalin2 $10 billion cost overrun scandal.: “The only thing which has saved the hangover management at Shell is the one element over which they have no influence – the high oil price. In every other respect they are an unmitigated disaster. They should be sent packing.”: Monday 18 July 2005 read more

ShellNews.net: A new company – Royal Dutch Shell plc is born tomorrow – but it will forever have a SECOND-HAND Internet id if Shell wins domain name battle

Tuesday 19 July 2005

The World Intellectual Property Organisation has appointed a panel to rule on the complaint brought against Alfred Donovan in respect of the domain names registered and used by him: royaldutchshellplc.com; royaldutchshellgroup.com and tellshell.org.

Since Shell has never previously expressed any interest in the two latter domain names which have been operational for such a long time that they have just been renewed, it is reasonable to conclude that Shell’s real interest is in the first name. It happens to be the name of the new public company – Royal Dutch Shell plc – which comes into existence tomorrow as a trading company. The latter domain names have undoubtedly been challenged by Shell in an attempt to bolster its claim to royaldutchshellplc.com read more

ShellNews.net: Nearly 400 former Shell staff still wait on Malaysian Appeal Court hearing after winning their High Court case against Shell

Posted 26 May 2005

In September 2004  the Miri High Court ordered Sarawak Shell Bhd (SSB), Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC), the Trustees of Shell Sarawak and Sabah Retirement Fund (SSSRBF) and Shell Sarawak and Sabah Provident Fund (SSSPF), to pay nearly RM100 million to 399 former Shell employees. The total sum to be paid to the plaintiffs is estimated to be RM100 million.

Counsel for Shell applied for a stay of execution pending appeal. Counsel for the plaintiffs, Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, brought to the courts attention the fact that the majority of the plaintiffs are well over the age of 60 and in weak and declining health. read more

ShellNews.net: The Shell Chairman responsible for Shell’s descent into cover-up, scandal and shame on an epic scale – Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

By Alfred Donovan, 25 August 2004

(This article was written at the kind invitation of Mr Charles Wiwa, the nephew of Ken Saro-Wiwa, for publication in a US newsmagazine circulated to university students. Charles Wiwa is one of the parties in a U.S. Class Action lawsuit being brought against Shell in respect of its misdeeds in Nigeria.)

It is now confirmed by the reports by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority that the deception regarding Shell reserves started during the tenure of Shell Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. He is identified in many newspaper reports as being implicated in the reserves debacle. As will become obvious when reading this article, the news stories naming Moody-Stuart come as no surprise to me. read more