November 26th, 2006:

By John Donovan

In the recent published correspondence with Royal Dutch Shell “web awareness” consultant, David Bowen, I accepted his statement that the “Tell Shell Forum” archive has been removed from Shell’s portal website: www.shell.com

I speculated on why it had been removed and said that it might be connected with the draconian litigation, including a defamation action, which EIGHT companies within the Royal Dutch Shell Group have brought against a former Shell production geologist, Dr John Huong. In fact, the archive, including postings which were the subject of the original proceedings in June 2004, remains accessible. read more

November 26, 2006

Large corporations are experiencing a boom phase around the world. With profits often at, or very near, record levels, their total stock market value is also rising. Which of the following companies is the only one that ranks among the world’s five most valuable companies, measured by stock market capitalization?

A. Toyota B. BP C. Wal-Mart D. Gazprom

A. Toyota is not correct.

Toyota is on track to become the world’s largest automotive company. It already produces more cars than Ford on a global basis and, given General Motors’ s current troubles and cutbacks, could be producing more vehicles than GM by year’s end. read more

November 26, 2006
By JOHN RATHER

A FEDERAL agency’s finding that the proposed Broadwater Energy floating gas plant in Long Island Sound was needed and would have “limited adverse environmental impacts” has moved the plant closer to approval, but opponents of the project in New York and Connecticut continued to criticize it.

Broadwater, a partnership of the Shell Oil Company and the TransCanada Corporation, said that the finding, by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, was a significant advance for the $700 million project, which the company wants to put in operation by 2010. The platform, which would be moored in eastern Long Island Sound about 9 miles from Long Island and 11 miles from Connecticut, would be a terminal for liquefied natural gas. read more

November 26, 2006
Comment: Frank Fitzgibbon 
 
It was never going to be as compelling as the heavyweight rematch between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. But Shell to Sea’s decision to cancel last Friday’s “solidarity day” at Bellanaboy, Co Mayo, has still infuriated the ragtag of troublemakers who have attached themselves to this long-running campaign of protest.

Having been comprehensively defeated in an encounter with the forces of law and order earlier this month, the assorted collection of activists has been itching for a return encounter, working on the dubious premise that nothing will collapse the capitalist system faster than a bit of head-bashing. read more

November 26, 2006
Mark Tighe
 
A BATTLE has erupted for control of the Shell to Sea campaign between activists from outside Mayo and local objectors. The “outsiders”, furious that Friday’s planned “day of action” was cancelled with just five days’ notice, are attempting to wrest control of the group’s agenda. A similar protest on November 10 resulted in violent clashes with gardai in Bellanaboy, the site of Shell’s planned gas terminal.

Campaigners based in a number of counties, including Donegal, Kerry and Dublin, are worried that Mayo activists are caving in to pressure from the gardai who police the daily demonstrations at the Shell site. 
 
“We’d put up a lot of posters for Friday and gone to a lot of effort organising transport,” said a protester who attended a demonstration in Dublin on Thursday, which involved a short occupation of the Department of Marine and Natural Resources’s reception. read more