Email to Michiel Brandjes copied to Jeroen van der Veer

From: John Donovan [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 19 March 2008 15:56
To: ‘michiel.brandjes’
Cc: ‘jeroen.vanderveer; ‘paddybriggs’; ‘iainpercival@; ‘Cambell@

Subject: RoyalDutchShellPlc.com

Dear Mr Brandjes

We were aware as a result of the information supplied to us by Shell after our SAR application under the Data Protection Act that a Shell team was set up to brainstorm on how to counter our activities and separate us off from your former Group Auditor, Mr Bill Campbell.

Since then anonymous postings have appeared on the “Live Chat” facility on royaldutchshellplc.com which we guessed had emanated from Shell and had the objective of discrediting us and our website.

There have also been anonymous postings designed to discredit the authors of published comments on our website, namely by the former Shell Executive Mr Paddy Briggs and the aforementioned Mr Bill Campbell.  Some of the comments directed at Mr Briggs and Mr Campbell have been reprehensible and defamatory and clearly designed to discredit what was stated by them.  

In recent days an attempt has also been made to downgrade another distinguished retired Shell employee, Mr Iain Percival, the Group Chief Petroleum Engineer, even though his comments were either neutral in tone or in favour of Shell. Mr Percival has made no disparaging comments against Shell but apparently Shell does not want any former employees to put any comments on our site. That would seem to be an infringement of rights to freedom of expression.

I am writing to give you the opportunity to confirm or deny that any such activity has been undertaken for or on behalf of Shell.  I would draw your attention to the postings on Live Chat under the guest number 1094 and in particular those made today.

From the moment I asked Guest 1094 “how are things at Shell Amsterdam HQ today?” the postings under that designation ceased. At this stage I will not disclose the information which led me to ask that question. Does Shell disassociate the company from the postings made under the Guest 1094 designation?

I have copied this email to the individuals mentioned in it. I am sure you will agree that it would be truly appalling if retired Shell employees have been the subject of such a nasty vindictive campaign carried out at the behest of Shell. I have printed below a snapshot of current Live Chat Postings. The most recent is at the top.

Best Regards
John Donovan

LIVE CHAT POSTINGS AS OF 15.46pm on 19 March 2008

(Supplied)

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