Save the Arctic

A coalition of environmental groups is attending Shell’s AGM tomorrow to challenge Shell on its intention to drill in the melting Arctic Ocean this summer. They aim to highlight the inconsistencies between Arctic drilling and Shell’s rhetoric on climate change and environmental safety.

The coalition includes Greenpeace, Oil Change International and Platform. Other protest groups expected to turn up include 350, fossil free, global witness and representatives from first nation communities in Alaska.

Last night the operator of Shell’s two Arctic drilling rigs employed in 2012, pleaded guilty to eight felony charges for environmental and safety violations during that operation. Noble Drilling has agreed to pay $12.2 million dollars in fines and community service payments.

Read the US Department of Justice release.

In response, Greenpeace Arctic campaigner, Ian Duff, issued the following statement:

Today Greenpeace launched a counter-advertising campaign in response to Shell’s latest ad, which portrays a girl reading a book in bed by lamp light, with the caption ‘let’s keep the lights on when she’s your age’. A polar bear sits on her bedside table.