On the Greenpeace UK Get Active Facebook page there is a new phrase - "We're going to 'shell' Waitrose!" Yes, we are certainly bombarding Waitrose, but not with destructive artillery. Instead, our armoury includes campaign 'recipe cards, stickers, personal engagement with Waitrose customers outside their stores, and the use of the social media. We are blogging, tweeting, videoing and Facebooking to get our message across that we strongly disapprove of the new commercial partnership between them and Arctic oil prospectors, Shell. Waitrose trade on their reputation for being socially responsible when it comes to environmental issues and yet seemed to have dropped their ethical standards by choosing to associate themselves with an oil company that has plans to exploit the oil reserves in the Arctic. They give the impression that the 'arrangement' with Shell is only limited to a couple of garage forecourts that accommodate Small Waitrose outlets, but this is considered to be a pilot with the possibility of rolling out the idea to other Shell forecourts. Greenpeace want to influence this decision - so Waitrose is clearly in our line of (f)ire ... and they don't like it.
The cyber assault on the Waitrose Facebook page included hi-jacking a Q & A session with Delia Smith which involved questions from Greenpeace members on how to marinade a polar bear and tips on cooking baked alaska! See today's Independent article. Greenpeace has brilliantly spoofed a video featuring Delia and Heston Blumenthal which has had over 6,450 views (see below). The company has reacted in desperation by banning members from commenting on their Facebook page and even deleting comments - a true social media fail! This has prompted Neil Jones from the Camden group to blog about his persoanl experience and includes another good video. Click here to view. Negative comments are refered to a webpage with a 'cop-out' statement that suggests that the US authorities have given Shell permission to drill in the Arctic - so it must be OK! Yeah right!! In addition over 28,000 people have sent letters to Waitrose boss, Mark Price, via the Greenpeace UK homepage.
This morning a team of hardy Bristol East Greenpeace volunteers (including a brilliantly crafted snowy owl) braved the cold for a couple of hours to inform customers of this disasterous relationship. Over 50 people registered their concern by placing a sticker on our 'community board'. One customer was moved to speak to the store's manager to tell him that she would not be shopping their until they reconsider this arrangement.
WHAT YOU CAN DO.
It is clear that many people are not happy with this relationship between the virtuous Waitrose and the villianous Shell. To register your concern click here to email the boss of Waitrose or leave a comment on their website (rate the page as unhelpful and leave a comment) or on their Facebook page. Tell Waitrose to dump Shell today
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