Archived press release

Shell accepts greenwash lifetime achievement award

2 September 2002

Shell Chairman Philip Watts reluctantly accepted a Greenwash Lifetime Achievement Award at a giant business conference near the World Summit on Sustainable Development negotiations. The iconic green statuette was presented by the Greenwash Academy's Oscar Green, who was attending the swanky Legotkla Business Day's lunchtime press conference (Sunday) along with some 50 giggling journalists

"You have to give credit where credit is due," said Mr. Green. "And when it comes to greenwash, Shell has been simply superb."

Mr. Watts, in response to a question from Mr. Green, said that he was "quite proud" of Shell's record in Nigeria.

"How can we talk of partnership and trust with business leaders who do not recognize the most blatant corporate crimes?" asked Isaac Osuoka of Environmental Rights Action, a Nigerian group that has documented Shell's complicity in human rights and environmental catastrophes in the Niger Delta.

Joining Mr. Watts at the press conference was a who's who of corporate environmentalists, including the Business Action for Sustainable Development Chair Mark Moody-Stuart, the International Chamber of Commerce President Richard McCormack, the ICC Secretary General Maria Livianos Cattaui, WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson and Lord Richard Holme, of Business Action for Sustainable Development.

Other attendees of the Business Day Conference at the Hilton Hotel included UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Jean Cretien of Canada.

The Greenwash Awards were originally announced at a gala ceremony in Johannesburg on August 20th. Other recipients included BP, for Best Greenwash, Nestle, for Best Bluewash, the United States, for Best Supporting Government, the UN Global Compact, for Best Supporting UN Agency, Enron for Best Makeup, Arthur Andersen for Best Documentary Destruction.

For more information on the Greenwash Academy Awards, please visit www.earthsummit.biz

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust