Shell abandons wildlife prize5 February 2008
Shell is no longer the sponsor of theWildlife Photographer of the Year award.
Friends of the Earth and other groups campaigned for 2 years to stop this hypocritical sponsorship.
The Natural History Museum confirmed on 26 January that Shell will play no further part in the competition's sponsorship.
Hypocritical
Shell's sponsorship of the prestigious wildlife competition and award was criticised as being hypocritical given the oil giant's appalling environmental record.
The competition has a valuable role to play in promoting wildlife protection to the public.
But this role was being undermined by the Natural History Museum's choice of sponsor - one of the UK's most environmentally destructive companies.
Massive public concerns
Nearly 5,000 letters and emails were sent by Friends of the Earth supporters to Michael Dixon, the director of the museum, calling on him not to renew the sponsorship deal.
People from local communities directly affected by Shell visited the UK to tell the public, politicians and investors about their experiences of Shell's operations.
Shell's sponsorship of the competition and association with the Natural History Museum exposed the company's priorities - green image rather than green action.
Hannah Griffiths, Corporates Campaigner
Rising Tide also staged monthly actions outside the Natural History Museum in protest of Shell's sponsorship.
Their Art not Oil exhibitions reflect the massive impact oil companies have on people and the environment.
An oil refinery fire in Durban, South Africa
Cleaning up its act
It's fantastic news that the sponsorship deal is not being renewed.
Although it's a shame that spending money to appear green is higher on some companies' agendas than actually being green.
Shell should spend some of its massive profits on cleaning up the mess it has left around the world.
Press for change
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Further information
Shell. Wildlife destroyer of the year
See the real impact on wildlife, the environment and people of Shell's operations around the world.
Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shell's fenceline neighbours speak out as the winner of the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is announced.
Resources
Shell. Wildlife Destroyer of the Year?
(PDF† - 60KB) October 2006
This briefing outlines some of the impacts that Shell is currently having on wildlife, as well as highlighting the hypocrisy of Shell sponsoring the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Lessons not learned - the other Shell Report
(PDF† - 505 KB) June 2005
This report tells the real story of living on Shell's doorstep around the world, that Shell's reports fail to mention.
Behind the Shine - the other Shell Report
(PDF† - 840 KB) June 2004
Highlights Shell's poor performance in the area of corporate social responsibility using accounts from people who live next door to Shell around the world.
Failing the Challenge - the other Shell Report
(PDF† - 300 KB) April 2003
Using first hand accounts from communities affected by Shell, this report shows that Shell still has a long way to go to meet its public commitment to a green future.
© Friends of the Earth
