Great news! After less than two weeks of campaigning, Waitrose have seen the light and abandoned their plans to expand their relationship with Shell. Full details in the press release below.
We can all be proud of ourselves. Their decision is combined with a statement supporting the establishment of a global commons in the Arctic. Well done to them.
We can all be proud of ourselves. Their decision is combined with a statement supporting the establishment of a global commons in the Arctic. Well done to them.
There is still plenty to do: Shell petrol station protests, Arctic Scroll sign ups and Arctic outreach events, not to mention the Flag for the Future project, materials for which are on their way this week.
Let's all have a well-deserved break over the holiday period - Happy Christmas to you all!
Regards
John
And of course, the Christmas Greenpeace You Tube vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEazzo95OxA
Press Release:
Greenpeace claims Arctic win as Waitrose puts Shell deal on ice
Retail giant's support for Arctic sanctuary a blow to oil drillers' plans
Greenpeace was celebrating a victory for the Arctic today as Waitrose
announced it was putting the brakes on plans to expand its partnership with
Shell - the oil giant planning to drill for oil in the Arctic - after just
ten days of intense campaigning by the environmental group.
The UK retail giant had been considering plans to open up shops in Shell
petrol stations across the country, but yesterday Waitrose bosses confirmed
the roll-out of the forecourt partnership has been put on ice until after
2013. They also declared their support for the creation of an Arctic
sanctuary under the aegis of the United Nations - a move that would throw a
serious spanner in the works of Shell's plans to drill for oil in the frozen
north.
Waitrose's decision comes after ten difficult days for the company's public
image right at the start of the crucial Christmas period. Nearly 40,000
people have signed a Greenpeace petition urging Waitrose to break off the
partnership with Shell, and the company suffered a Facebook PR meltdown last
week as hundreds of users posted negative comments about the business
alliance.
Greenpeace also released a spoof of the Waitrose Christmas ad that has been
watched by thousands of people on YouTube.
The move by the popular High Street brand will come as a further blow to
Shell's reputation. The oil giant has come under scrutiny after a series of
bungled attempts to start explorative drilling in the Arctic earlier in the
year. A cross-party group of MPs subsequently called for a halt to oil
exploration in the Arctic, warning that a spill would have 'devastating
consequences for wildlife' in this pristine environment. Only a few days
ago, Shell's Alaska vice president, Pete Slaiby, admitted such accidents
will be likely to happen.
Waitrose opened two stores in Shell forecourts last year with a view to roll
out the 'new joint format' more widely. A Shell brochure published in summer
stated that 'the plan is to expand [the project] later this year' (1). But
in an email exchange with Greenpeace, Waitrose managing director Mark Price
confirmed that his company has no plans to expand beyond the current pilot
scheme next year and no financial provisions for this have been put in
place.
In a separate letter to Greenpeace the Waitrose boss also stated that the
company 'share[s] the view that the Arctic should be declared a sanctuary by
the United Nations' - a status which, if granted, would make the polar
region off limits to oil drillers like Shell.
Greenpeace campaigner Sara Ayech said:
"Greenpeace wholeheartedly welcomes Waitrose's support for the creation of
an Arctic sanctuary, and many ethically-minded customers will be relieved to
hear the company has put the brakes on its partnership with environment
villain Shell.
"Waitrose's move sends a powerful signal to other major brands that a wad of
oil-drenched cash from Arctic drillers like Shell comes with a hidden price
tag in terms of reputational costs.
"Shell is desperate to 'greenwash' its soiled brand in the cleaner waters of
reputable companies, but the thought of the incalculable damage wreaked by
an oil spill in the pristine Arctic environment should be enough to make
prospective partners think twice."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
(1) From Shell World (Summer 2012):
http://www-static.shell.com/static/gbr/downloads/about_shell/swuk/swuk_summer_2012.pdf
John Halladay - Canterbury & District Greenpeace Coordinator
07990922295
Greenpeace stands for positive change through action. We defend the natural world and promote peace. We investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and corporations around the world. We champion environmentally responsible and socially just solutions, including scientific and technical innovation. Our goal is to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity.
GREENPEACE - BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET 'B'
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/canterbury
Retail giant's support for Arctic sanctuary a blow to oil drillers' plans
Greenpeace was celebrating a victory for the Arctic today as Waitrose
announced it was putting the brakes on plans to expand its partnership with
Shell - the oil giant planning to drill for oil in the Arctic - after just
ten days of intense campaigning by the environmental group.
The UK retail giant had been considering plans to open up shops in Shell
petrol stations across the country, but yesterday Waitrose bosses confirmed
the roll-out of the forecourt partnership has been put on ice until after
2013. They also declared their support for the creation of an Arctic
sanctuary under the aegis of the United Nations - a move that would throw a
serious spanner in the works of Shell's plans to drill for oil in the frozen
north.
Waitrose's decision comes after ten difficult days for the company's public
image right at the start of the crucial Christmas period. Nearly 40,000
people have signed a Greenpeace petition urging Waitrose to break off the
partnership with Shell, and the company suffered a Facebook PR meltdown last
week as hundreds of users posted negative comments about the business
alliance.
Greenpeace also released a spoof of the Waitrose Christmas ad that has been
watched by thousands of people on YouTube.
The move by the popular High Street brand will come as a further blow to
Shell's reputation. The oil giant has come under scrutiny after a series of
bungled attempts to start explorative drilling in the Arctic earlier in the
year. A cross-party group of MPs subsequently called for a halt to oil
exploration in the Arctic, warning that a spill would have 'devastating
consequences for wildlife' in this pristine environment. Only a few days
ago, Shell's Alaska vice president, Pete Slaiby, admitted such accidents
will be likely to happen.
Waitrose opened two stores in Shell forecourts last year with a view to roll
out the 'new joint format' more widely. A Shell brochure published in summer
stated that 'the plan is to expand [the project] later this year' (1). But
in an email exchange with Greenpeace, Waitrose managing director Mark Price
confirmed that his company has no plans to expand beyond the current pilot
scheme next year and no financial provisions for this have been put in
place.
In a separate letter to Greenpeace the Waitrose boss also stated that the
company 'share[s] the view that the Arctic should be declared a sanctuary by
the United Nations' - a status which, if granted, would make the polar
region off limits to oil drillers like Shell.
Greenpeace campaigner Sara Ayech said:
"Greenpeace wholeheartedly welcomes Waitrose's support for the creation of
an Arctic sanctuary, and many ethically-minded customers will be relieved to
hear the company has put the brakes on its partnership with environment
villain Shell.
"Waitrose's move sends a powerful signal to other major brands that a wad of
oil-drenched cash from Arctic drillers like Shell comes with a hidden price
tag in terms of reputational costs.
"Shell is desperate to 'greenwash' its soiled brand in the cleaner waters of
reputable companies, but the thought of the incalculable damage wreaked by
an oil spill in the pristine Arctic environment should be enough to make
prospective partners think twice."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
(1) From Shell World (Summer 2012):
http://www-static.shell.com/static/gbr/downloads/about_shell/swuk/swuk_summer_2012.pdf
John Halladay - Canterbury & District Greenpeace Coordinator
07990922295
Greenpeace stands for positive change through action. We defend the natural world and promote peace. We investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and corporations around the world. We champion environmentally responsible and socially just solutions, including scientific and technical innovation. Our goal is to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity.
GREENPEACE - BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET 'B'
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/canterbury
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