Shell sponsors wildlife prize1 January 2006
Shell is the new sponsor of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
The competition, jointly organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine, attracts stunning images of the natural world, often featuring endangered and rarely seen species.
Western Pacific grey whale - threatened by Shell's operations
Now re-branded as the "Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year", the competition shows Shell cares more about their image, then they do about cleaning up their act.
The competition highlights the importance of supporting global biodiversity. This is an area of considerable importance to us as a company and one to which we are keenly committed.
James Smith, Shell's UK Chairman
Shell's sponsorship is an act of blatant hypocrisy and undermines everything the competition stands for.
If Shell put half the effort into cleaning up its act as it puts into promoting a green image then it might be entitled to trumpet its support for global biodiversity.
Tony Juniper, Executive Director - Friends of the Earth
After years of making green claims Shell is still:
- causing unacceptable damage to wildlife
- polluting local communities
- helping to accelerate climate change
It's far cheaper for Shell to buy a green image than it is for them to safe-guard people and the environment from its operations.
News update
Success: Shell abandons wildlife prize
After 2 years of campaigning, Shell walk away from their sponsorship of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Resource
Shell attacked for hypocrisy in sponsoring wildlife prize 12 January 2006
Friends of the Earth's reaction to the announcement of Shell's new sponsorship deal.
© Sakhalin Environment Watch
