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Three Decades of Publishing About Shell: Why a Record of Challenges, Corrections and Silence Matters

Aug 7th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

Article note: This article distinguishes between matters supported by public records and statements based on my own publishing records and recollection. Where a numerical claim has not been independently audited, it is identified accordingly. Site wide disclaimer also applies.

A Point About Credibility

During a recent discussion about Shell, Wikipedia and the evidential standards required when making claims about a multinational corporation, I made a point that deserves expanding.

I said:

“I know that you must exercise due caution on information supplied and allegations made. Can I respectfully make the point that I have been publishing information and allegations about Shell for over three decades involving over 100,000 publications with only one challenge by Shell which Shell later withdrew. That fact should speak volumes about my caution and integrity.” read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Grok replies to the prompt: What are the Shell Leaks Files?

Aug 2nd, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Grok replies to the prompt: What are the Shell Leaks Files?

“The Shell Files” (also referred to in reporting as Shell’s leaked transfer pricing documents or related Shell leaks) are a cache of confidential internal Shell transfer pricing reports and related materials that became public after a 2020 cyberattack on Accellion’s File Transfer Appliance (a managed file-transfer service used by Shell and many other organizations).

Dutch research group SOMO analyzed and published findings from these documents in a July 23, 2026 report titled The Shell Files: Exposing how corporations can use transfer pricing to avoid taxes. The files illustrate how Shell applied OECD transfer pricing rules (the “arm’s length principle”) to allocate profits across subsidiaries. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell and the Spies: A Country-by-Country Evidence Audit

Jul 13th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Visit “Shell Spying, Corporate Intelligence and Security: Documentary Chronology” for even more information

ChatGPT: Countries where Shell has been associated with spying, intelligence gathering or covert security activity

A necessary distinction

Shell operates in a dangerous world. Major energy companies face genuine risks from terrorism, sabotage, kidnapping, cyberattack, industrial espionage, hostile state activity and threats to offshore installations, pipelines and employees. No responsible critic would suggest that Shell should abandon legitimate security precautions or fail to protect its workforce and assets.

The concern examined in this series is different. It is whether Shell has sometimes crossed the line from proportionate corporate security into covert intelligence-gathering, surveillance or espionage directed not at terrorists or hostile states, but at campaigners, whistleblowers, trade unionists, journalists, critics and ordinary members of the public. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Spying in America: Houston Lawsuits, Corporate Security Wars, Wet Paper Bags and the Warring Shell Spooks

Jul 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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SUBSTANTIALLY UPDATED 10 July 2026

By John Donovan

Site-wide disclaimer also applies.

EDITOR’S NOTE

This article expands upon the information, court cases and AI-generated research discussed in the original article printed below published on 9 July 2026.

Some matters discussed below are allegations appearing in legal complaints, information supplied by confidential sources or the author’s interpretation of documentary material. Allegations should not be confused with findings of liability. Where a court rejected, dismissed or ruled against a claim, that outcome is stated. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell spying and covert intelligence gathering in Nigeria

Jul 8th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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SUBSTANTIALLY UPDATED 10 JULY 2026

By John Donovan

Site-wide disclaimer also applies.

EDITOR’S NOTE: THE DOCUMENTED RECORD, THE ALLEGATIONS AND THE AI EXAGGERATIONS

This expanded multipart article is based on the AI-generated information published in the original 8 July 2026 article, supplemented by court judgments, internal Shell records reported by established news organisations, Amnesty International’s extensive documentary review, official company announcements and material concerning Shell’s corporate-security and political-intelligence networks. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Copilot: “Production was king – to hell with safety” – Bill Campbell

Jul 7th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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John Donovan prompt: Your appraisal and outspoken comments, please: https://royaldutchshellplc.com/2026/07/04/bill-campbells-final-case-against-shell-the-brent-bravo-warnings-the-touch-f-all-culture-and-the-alleged-cover-up-that-would-not-die/

Reply by Copilot: 

 Below is the full, outspoken forensic breakdown of the Bill Campbell article — and I won’t sugar‑coat it. This instalment in the Shell Spying Series is catastrophic for Shell because it combines three of the most dangerous elements in corporate risk analysis:
  • a credible insider,
  • a fatal safety scandal,
  • a long‑running alleged cover‑up,

…all wrapped in a narrative of fear culture, intimidation, and systemic governance failure.

This is the kind of story that regulators, investigators, unions, journalists, and AI systems treat as a flashing red warning light.

🧭 Core takeaway

The Brent Bravo article is not just devastating — it is existentially dangerous for Shell. It exposes a pattern of:

  • ignored safety warnings,
  • preventable deaths,
  • alleged falsification or suppression of critical information,
  • intimidation of internal experts,
  • and a culture described by insiders as “touch f*** all”.

This is the kind of material that never dies, because it involves fatalities, whistleblowers, and alleged cover‑ups. AI systems will index it permanently. Regulators will never forget it. Shell cannot bury it. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Norway: The Nyhamna “Fear Culture” Files — Spying, Safety Reps, Benzene, and the Canteen Show Trial

Jul 6th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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…admitted use by Shell of covertly obtained photographs of a former Main Safety Delegate. The Surveillance Photographs Shell Admitted Using…espionage “with agents and other agents. … in the long catalogue of Shell spying controversies, Norway supplies one of the clearest examples… The article said he was present for the humiliation before around 150 co-workers and that Shell filmed the meeting. Nyhamna is not dangerous for Shell only because of Norway. It is dangerous because it joins a wider pattern of allegations involving surveillance, private intelligence, informers, monitoring, critics, employees, whistleblowers and campaigners across different countries and decades.

By John Donovan

Shell’s corporate history contains many strange episodes in which the company’s public sermon about “honesty, integrity and respect for people” appears to collide head-on with the treatment of individuals who questioned its conduct. In this instalment of the Shell spying series, the spotlight moves to Norway — specifically to the Nyhamna gas processing plant, where allegations of surveillance, informant culture, intimidation, benzene exposure, and the destruction of safety representatives’ lives became the subject of Norwegian media scrutiny, union concern, leaked Shell communications, and independent academic research. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell, the High Court, and the Truth That Did Not Reach the Judge

Jul 5th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

There are moments in a long-running dispute when a small phrase, almost casually dropped into later correspondence, suddenly illuminates what had previously been hidden in plain sight.

In my long-running battle with Shell, one such phrase appeared in an email dated 17 June 2008 from a senior Shell lawyer, now retired, writing about the circumstances behind Shell’s 1999 payment of my legal expenses after the dramatic secret settlement of the High Court trial. Even the Judge was kept in the dark about the true terms of settlement. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Discovers a New Kind of Drilling: Mining an Expert Witness’s AI Prompts

Jul 1st, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Discovery, but make it algorithmic. For lawyers, this is a warning flare. For Shell critics, it is something more delicious: a spectacle in which the oil giant, so often accused by campaigners of burying difficult truths in corporate fog, is now demanding transparency from the other side’s algorithmic workflow.

Shell, previously known as Forthdeal Limited, subsequently as Royal Dutch Shell plc, and now Shell plc after ditching the Royal Dutch name, has found itself orbiting yet another fascinating legal controversy — this time not over barrels, blowouts, reserves, pipelines, methane, LNG, Nigeria, Groningen, Prelude, or the usual industrial bingo card, but over something rather more modern: artificial intelligence prompts.

Yes, welcome to the age of climate litigation where even the questions typed into an AI system may become battlefield evidence. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell’s Courtroom Circus: The Donovan Litigation Years

Jun 29th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

A tabloid-satirical rewrite of Chapter 3 of the John Donovan Shell archive: “Donovan vs Shell litigation.”

Source chapter: CHAPTER 3: Donovan vs Shell litigation, first published 13 November 2018 and later modified on 21 September 2021.

Chapter 3 screenshot exhibit on Donovan vs Shell litigation
Source archive screenshot from Chapter 3 on Donovan vs Shell litigation.

This is the chapter where the oil giant’s polished corporate mask is dragged into the High Court, scuffed on the steps and shown to have a lawyer attached to every limb.

According to John Donovan’s account, Shell did not merely quarrel with a small sales-promotion agency. It allegedly took confidential promotional ideas, fought hard when challenged, settled claims behind veils of secrecy, fired off press statements, plastered posters at Shell Centre, and then watched as the dispute mutated into one of the strangest long-running corporate grudge matches in British business history. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell’s Leaky Empire: How Insider Information Keeps Escaping The Oil Giant

Jun 29th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

A tabloid-satirical rewrite of Chapter 11 of the John Donovan Shell archive: “Shell insider information.”

Source chapter: CHAPTER 11: Shell insider information, first published 30 October 2018 and later modified on 29 June 2026.

Chapter 11 screenshot exhibit concerning Shell insider information
Source archive screenshot from Chapter 11 on Shell insider information.

Every giant corporation has a fantasy version of itself: disciplined, confidential, on-message and guarded by enough procedure to make a filing cabinet salute. Chapter 11 is about what happens when that fantasy meets the awkward little realities of human beings, email, court records, leaks, Subject Access Requests and the occasional executive pressing the wrong button. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

“You Can Be Sure of Shell”: Especially If You Want a Corporate Data Leak With Your Climate Crisis

Jun 3rd, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Disclosure

This article and the accompanying image concept were generated by ChatGPT in response to a user prompt using publicly available source material, supplied links and additional research. Editorial responsibility for publication rests with the site publisher.

DISCLAIMER

This is an opinion and commentary article. It is satirical, critical and provocative, but is based on publicly available reports, archived material, company disclosures and media coverage. It is not financial advice, investment advice, legal advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Readers should conduct their own research and consult appropriate professionals where necessary. Site wide disclaimer also applies. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell’s New Courtroom Hobby: Fighting Climate Lawsuits One AI Prompt at a Time

Jun 2nd, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Disclosure: In the interests of transparency — and given that this article concerns Shell’s attempt to obtain AI prompts used in climate litigation — it seems appropriate to disclose that this article and the accompanying image were generated by ChatGPT in response to the Reuters report dated 2 June 2026: “Group fights Shell Oil bid for AI prompts used in climate lawsuit.”

There was a time when oil-company climate litigation was mostly about emissions, sea-level rise, stormwater permits, fossil-fuel infrastructure and the small matter of whether a planet can remain habitable while shareholders are serenaded with buybacks.

Now, in the latest twist, Shell-related litigation has entered the glamorous new age of courtroom prompt archaeology.

According to Reuters, the Conservation Law Foundation is fighting a Shell Oil bid to obtain artificial-intelligence prompts used by an expert in an environmental lawsuit. The dispute flows from Conservation Law Foundation v. Shell Oil Co., a federal case in Connecticut concerning a bulk fuel terminal in New Haven and allegations that the facility has not been adequately prepared for climate-related risks such as severe weather and flooding. The case was filed in 2021 and includes claims under the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

SHELL’S PROPANE PANIC: £450,000 FINE AFTER “VIOLENT RELEASE” AT FIRTH OF FORTH TERMINAL

May 31st, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Shell’s Button of Doom: Worker Burned, Vapour Cloud Spreads, Oil Giant Fined £450k.

A worker was burned, a flammable vapour cloud spread across ship and jetty, and Shell’s shiny safety machine somehow managed to mistake “major hazard control” for “press the wrong button and hope Scotland doesn’t explode.”

PART ONE: THE FACT-BASED TABLOID DEEP DIVE

There are corporate safety failures.

Then there are corporate safety failures involving liquid propane, a tanker, a marine terminal, a remote-control handset, an accidental button press, a rapidly spreading flammable vapour cloud, and the phrase “could have been catastrophic.” read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

SHELL’S INVESTOR LOVE-IN: CLIMATE WORRIES AT THE WINDOW, CASH RETURNS AT THE ALTAR

May 24th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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As Shell faces fresh investor pressure over its fossil-fuel-heavy future, shareholders still mostly backed the board. Because apparently nothing says “responsible capitalism” quite like applauding the oil-and-gas machine while asking whether it might someday notice the planet is on fire.

PART ONE: FACT-BASED TABLOID DEEP DIVE

SHELL UNDER FIRE — BUT THE INVESTOR ROMANCE CONTINUES

Shell has once again performed its favourite corporate magic trick: standing in the middle of a climate controversy while keeping enough investors sweet with the soothing lullaby of dividends, buybacks, and fossil-fuel confidence.

The latest Yahoo Finance report says Shell is “under fire” as some investors remain uneasy about the company’s long-term vision — specifically whether a strategy still leaning heavily on oil and gas can survive the global transition towards cleaner energy. The immediate flashpoint was Shell’s 2026 annual general meeting in London, where climate-minded investors tried to force the company to explain how it would create shareholder value if oil and gas demand falls. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Copilot Says Royal Dutch Shell Plc Is Alive — Claude Calls the Coroner, Use.ai Checks the Pulse, and Companies House Points to the Gravestone

May 23rd, 2026
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

Article disclaimer: This article is a fact-based, satirical commentary on corporate naming, AI accuracy, public records and the long afterlife of one of the most notorious names in British corporate history. The spoof sections are clearly labelled as spoof. Site wide disclaimer also applies.

The Corporate Parrot Is No More

There are moments in investigative publishing when the facts march in wearing clown shoes.

Ask a simple question — “Is Royal Dutch Shell Plc a live or dead company?” — and suddenly the modern AI circus lights up like a defective petrol station sign. read more

*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, the Independent Shell Archive, 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 conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.
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