November 9, 2009 1:31pm
An old Shell gas station in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Source: FlickrShell is usually pretty pro-active in its approach to shaping its public image. It is eager to host and participate public discussions on climate change and CCS, and the companys climate change scientist David Hone writes what is, for a corporate-sponsored effort, not a bad blog.
But those efforts tend to be focused on oil and gas production, or big-picture stuff such as the future of fossil fuels. They seem to be falling down a little, at least by comparison, when it comes to the somewhat more mundane downstream efforts.
First, the poppy scandal. In the UK, Shell retailers are not allowing charities, including the Royal British Legions ubiquitous poppy appeal, to put their fundraising boxes on its service station counters. Its easy to guess how that turned out: threats of boycotts from ex-servicemen and general accusations of heartlessness.
And in the US, Shell on Friday agreed to pay $19.5m for numerous violations discovered in an investigation into 1,000 gasoline stations around California. Many dealt with failure to properly monitor underground storage tanks and spill alarm systems, the AP reported.
(Incidentally, the rather eye-catching gas station pictured above is in neither California nor the UK.)
Update: Shell has changed its mind about the poppies and published a rather abject apology about the whole affair. Royaldutchshellplc.com – probably companys most eagle-eyed watchers – have published the whole thing and even gave them a pat on the back for it.
November 9, 2009 1:31pm
*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.
