Friends of the Earth Press Release
Immediate release: Thursday 24th June

Contact:
Craig Bennett 020 7566 1667 (m) 07720 147280

More than 60 MPs are expected to attend a briefing in Parliament today (Thursday 24th June) to hear evidence from community representatives from around the world on how UK oil company, Shell, is damaging their health and local environment.

The briefing follows the launch of Friends of the Earth’s report on the social and environmental impacts of the oil company around the world ^[1]. The campaign group has organised the briefing for MPs because it says the UK Government is guilty of failing to regulate British companies operating overseas. It is calling on the Government to accept its clear "moral responsibility” to act against UK companies which have damaging impacts abroad.

Speakers at the briefing include:

• Hilton Kelley from Port Arthur in Texas, who has mobilised 1,200 residents in his community to file a class action law suit against Shell because of their failure to stop emissions that they allege are causing respiratory illnesses, eye complaints and cancer.
• Oronto Douglas from Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria. Shell sources 10 per cent of its oil from the Niger Delta and the company’s failure to invest in technology results in gas being flared ­ often at ground level and in immediate proximity of communities and agricultural land. Oil spills are also common with 9,900 barrels of oil spilt in 2003.
• Desmond D’Sa from Durban in South Africa where Shell’s dilapidated SAPREF refinery has experienced five major oil spills or accidents since last year’s Shell AGM.

Although DTI Ministers were invited to speak at the briefing, none have yet confirmed.

Friends of the Earth’s Head of Corporate Accountability Campaigning Craig Bennett said:

"We are delighted that so many MPs want to hear first-hand what it is like to have Shell as a neighbour. It is the Government's job to referee the performance of British companies and they will hear today that Shell is playing foul.

"We need new legal obligations to be placed on company directors to make them take social and environmental issues seriously, and for affected communities to seek compensation when they don’t. Only then will companies like Shell put more effort into green action rather than green spin."

Notes:
[1] Beyond the shine ­ the other Shell Report 2003 was launched on Wednesday 23rd June ahead of Shell’s Annual General Meeting on Monday 28th June. Copies are available from the press office at Friends of the Earth or from www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/behind_shine.pdf

Contact: Craig Bennett 020 7566 1667 (m) 07720 147280

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Helen Burley
Media Officer
Tel: 020 7566 1702
Press office (24hr): 020 7566 1649
Mobile: 07778 069930
Email: helenby@foe.co.uk