Shell’s “Oops, We Flared Again” Excuse Raises Eyebrows and Air Quality Concerns

Posted by John Donovan: 23 March 2024

In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Shell Chemicals’ facility in Deer Park has treated nearby residents to yet another dazzling display of environmental irresponsibility. But fear not, dear citizens, for Shell has a perfectly reasonable explanation for this week-long flare extravaganza—it’s all because of a drumroll power outage! Yes, apparently, even multi-billion-dollar corporations can’t escape the occasional blackout.

Residents in the vicinity of Shell’s chemical facility were graced with the sight of a flaming beacon of corporate negligence, with Shell generously informing them that they can expect this fiery spectacle to last for a delightful four to seven days. Because who needs fireworks when you have flares burning off excess chemicals, am I right?

But while Shell is busy reassuring everyone that there’s no cause for concern and that they totally have everything under control, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo isn’t buying it. In a move that should surprise precisely no one, she’s side-eyeing Shell’s flaring fiasco with all the skepticism it deserves. After all, when your neighborhood is essentially turned into a mini-Hell Park, you tend to start asking questions.

Judge Hidalgo isn’t just concerned about the dazzling light show disrupting her beauty sleep; she’s worried about the sheer amount of chemicals being released and the duration of this fiery spectacle. And rightly so! But Shell, being the responsible corporate citizen that it is, has graciously declined to provide specific details about the chemicals being unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. Who needs transparency when you have profits to protect?

And let’s not forget about Amnesty International’s scathing report, which essentially labeled areas surrounding the Houston Ship Channel as sacrificial lambs to the petrochemical industry. But hey, sacrifices must be made in the name of progress, right? Who cares about devastating health consequences and human rights violations when there’s money to be made?

So, as the flames dance merrily in the night sky, let’s raise a toast to Shell and its impeccable track record of putting profits over people. Because when it comes to corporate accountability, Shell’s motto seems to be: “Oops, we flared again, but don’t worry, it’s just business as usual.”