Archived press release

Shell Profits at the Expense of the Environment

28 July 2005

Friends of the Earth attacked the oil giant Shell which today announced half-year profits of £5.84

billion, saying the profits came at the expense of people and the environment. The environmental group also repeated calls for a windfall tax on oil companies which have shown record profits this year as a result of the high price of oil.

Friends of the Earth Corporates Campaigner Hannah Griffths said:

"High oil prices don't conceal the fact that Shell is still struggling to bring its operations into the 21^st Century. Shell is profiting from exploiting the communities who live on its doorstep - and it is time it paid the price. People living next door to Shell have raised grave concerns about the impacts of pollution from Shell's operations. Shareholders may be impressed with profits, but the company's stakeholders are not."

Representatives from nine communities living on the fenceline of Shell's operations attended the company's annual general meetings in London and the Hague last month to raise questions about the environmental standards of the company's operations [1]. In Russia, Shell stands accused of threatening the future of the Western Pacific Grey Whale and much of the fishing industry on Sakhalin Island; while in Nigeria communities have resorted to court action because of the impacts of Shell's gas flaring operations.

Hannah Griffiths continued:

"How long are we going to let this situation continue? It is time for a windfall tax on oil profits and for legislation that will help fenceline communities hold companies like Shell accountable for their devastating impacts. Such measures could transform Shell into a company operating in the interests of society and the environment - without them it will be committed to a business as usual approach."

Notes

1. More information is contained in the report, Lessons not Learnt (PDF), which details nine case studies of Shell's operations around the world.

Shell's response to "Lessons not Learnt"

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust