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Shell-Shocked: The Sinister World of Surveillance, Spy Games, and Shell’s Shadowy Past

Posted by John Donovan: 23 Dec 24

Ah, Shell, that global paragon of corporate virtue (read: greed), is at it again—reminding the world that profit always comes first, no matter the cost. With a track record as smooth as an oil spill, Shell has managed to combine ruthless ambition, a touch of espionage, and an uncanny ability to slide through controversies unscathed. Let’s dive into the murky depths of corporate surveillance.

A Glimpse into Corporate Espionage

Imagine sitting in a piss-drenched doorway, pretending to be homeless, just to “eyeball” a target across the street. One moment you’re incognito, the next you’re suited up, tailing someone through the City and “ripping” their phone—a polite euphemism for illegally downloading its contents. This isn’t a spy movie; it’s just another day in the life of a private investigator. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell: Because One Billion Barrels of Nigerian Oil Just Wasn’t Enough

Posted by John Donovan: 17 Dec 2024

Ah, Shell. The gift that keeps on giving… to its shareholders, at least. The planet? Local communities? Nigeria’s long-suffering environment? Oh, they’ll just have to suck it up—quite literally—because Shell’s back at it again with its shiny new toy: the Bonga North Oil Project.

That’s right, folks. Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. Ltd. (SNEPCo)—Shell’s lovingly ruthless Nigerian arm—has given the go-ahead to drill, baby, drill in deep waters off Nigeria’s coast. Because when you’ve already sucked one billion barrels of oil out of a single deepwater field, you naturally look around and think, “What’s next? More barrels, obviously.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell: UK Court of Appeal Forces Oil Giant to Stop Hiding Behind Legal Acrobatics

Posted by John Donovan: 10 Dec 2024

Ah, Shell, the epitome of corporate virtue—if your definition of virtue involves destroying ecosystems, ruining livelihoods, and spending decades dodging responsibility like a teenager avoiding chores. In a deliciously overdue smackdown, the UK Court of Appeal just cleared the way for a 2025 trial to address the environmental apocalypse Shell has allegedly unleashed on two Nigerian communities. Shocking no one, Shell has spent the last ten years throwing every legal tantrum imaginable to avoid accountability. But now? Their legal gymnastics may finally run out of steam. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Sir John Jennings, former Chairman of Shell Transport and Trading Company

Sir John Jennings, former Chairman of Shell Transport and Trading Company, is remembered as an influential leader during some of the most turbulent periods in Shell’s history. Jennings, who passed away at 87, played a critical role in navigating the multinational through external crises and controversies, earning a reputation for both strategic acumen and a uniquely human approach to corporate leadership.

A Steady Leader Amid Turmoil

Jennings took the helm of Shell Transport and Trading in 1993, overseeing critical operations in the North Sea and Nigeria during a period marked by significant environmental and human rights challenges. Two defining moments of his tenure included:

The Brent Spar Disposal Controversy (1995): Greenpeace’s opposition to Shell’s plan to dispose of the Brent Spar oil storage buoy in the Atlantic Ocean forced a public relations battle. Although Shell eventually abandoned the disposal plan, the episode marked a turning point in corporate environmental accountability. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Can’t Even Ditch Its Dirty Nigerian Oil Fields Without Screwing Up

17 Oct 2024

Oh, Shell, always finding new ways to trip over its own oily feet. This time, they’ve managed to fumble a $1.3 billion sale of their onshore oilfields in Nigeria. Yes, you heard that right. The almighty Shell, which practically wrote the book on ruthless exploitation, can’t even offload its pollution-ridden assets without causing another mess. Nigeria’s oil regulator took one look at their proposed buyer, Renaissance Group, and said, “Yeah, no thanks. These guys aren’t remotely qualified to run this operation.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s Legacy of Greed, Death, and Destruction that Makes SPECTRE Look Like Boy Scouts

In today’s episode of “How Many More People Can Shell Kill for Profit?” we’ve got more lawsuits, more corporate greed, and the usual cocktail of death and destruction that Shell serves up with a smile. This time, it’s the North Sea’s Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, where Shell, along with its buddies Equinor and Ithaca Energy, are facing a Greenpeace judicial review for yet another scandalous environmental mess. Because if there’s one thing Shell knows how to do, it’s turn an environmental catastrophe into a line item on a balance sheet. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria Where Shell Spied, Armed, and Supported a Brutal Regime

Shell Sells Nigerian Assets While Locals Demand $310 Million for Ruined Land—The Same Nigeria Where Shell Spied, Armed, and Supported a Brutal Regime

In the latest episode of Shell’s Long History of Villainy, the oil giant is back in the hot seat as Nigerian communities demand $310 million in damages for, you know, destroying their land and waterways with oil spills. But this time, it’s not just about the oil spills—it’s about Shell trying to quietly sell off its Nigerian onshore assets for a cool $2.4 billion while ignoring a court order. Because, hey, what’s one more legal violation when you’ve already armed a military regime and spied on activists, right? read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Seeking Support for the Definitive Ken Saro-Wiwa Documentary on Environmental Justice and Human Rights

Seeking Support for the Definitive Ken Saro-Wiwa Documentary on Environmental Justice and Human Rights

Dear John Donavan,

My name is Nathan Achim Sheppard, I am the director of Fried Egg Productions and keeper of the archival footage of my late friend Ken Saro-Wiwa, the ultimate African climate activist who paid with his life during the mission for Niger Delta environmental justice.

In association with Winifred O. Adeyemi, the British-Nigerian founder and director of AFRICA: Seen & Heard who has won global critical acclaim and multiple awards licensing my footage to the short doc “I Am More Dangerous Dead”, I am co-directing and co-producing the documentary feature film outlined within the attached Synopsis. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Corporate Accountability 1, Greedy Giants 0

Shell got off scot-free despite strong evidence they were up to their necks in aiding the Nigerian military’s torture and killing spree against environmental protesters.

Posted by John Donovan: 12 June 2024

In a rare twist of fate where the universe temporarily operates on justice, Chiquita Brands was held accountable for its cosy relationship with murderous paramilitaries in Colombia. A Florida jury just slapped the fruit giant with a $38.3 million bill for the deaths of eight people, putting a price tag on human lives lost in Chiquita’s quest for banana empire dominance.

You see, back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Chiquita thought it was a brilliant idea to pay almost $2 million to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a right-wing death squad. In return, these thugs made sure the land was ripe for banana farming, even if it meant killing and displacing locals. The AUC, a group so charming they got themselves labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., happily did the dirty work while Chiquita reaped the benefits. Fast forward to 2024, and the families of eight victims have finally been granted a slice of justice. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell wants a quickie divorce from Nigeria

Posted by John Donovan: 14 May 2024

Oh, look who’s tiptoeing out of the Niger Delta with their oil-stained boots and a trail of ecological nightmares! Yes, folks, it’s none other than Shell, the charming oil giant, who after decades of turning lush lands into post-apocalyptic wastelands, now wants a quickie divorce from Nigeria. And guess what? Nigeria’s oil industry regulator is ready to be the accommodating judge who’ll rubber-stamp the paperwork with a fast-track sales approval. How convenient!

Isa Sanusi from Amnesty International couldn’t have put it more poignantly, “With Shell currently seeking regulatory approval for the sale of its business in the Niger Delta, it is essential that it is held fully to account for decades of grievous human rights abuses related to oil spills which have polluted the environment, contaminated drinking water and poisoned agricultural land, fisheries and people.” Hear, hear, Isa! read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s great escape from Nigeria

“After decades of plundering the Niger Delta, Shell wants to tiptoe out the back door, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair”

Posted by John Donovan: 15 April 2024

In a move that could rival a circus act, Shell is attempting to pass off its Niger Delta business like a hot potato, but not without ruffling a few feathers. A coalition of 40 civil society organizations, led by the one and only Amnesty International, is sounding the alarm bells, demanding that the Nigerian government slam the brakes on this reckless sell-off unless some serious human rights protections are thrown into the mix.

The proposed sale of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to Renaissance Africa Energy has raised more eyebrows than a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. With the ink barely dry on the deal, concerns about the potential fallout are already swirling faster than a tornado in a teacup. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Supreme Court’s Shell Game: How Big Corporations Dodge Accountability for Human Rights Abuses

Esther Kiobel and her legal team took on the big bad wolf known as Shell, accusing them of all sorts of nasty stuff like torture, killings, and basically being the baddies in Nigeria.

Posted by John Donovan 31 March 2024

A rewrite in layman’s terms of the Kiobel vs Shell case as described in this Oyez legal article accessed on 31 March 2024

Alright folks, let’s break this down in plain English because, let’s face it, the legal mumbo jumbo can make your head spin faster than a politician dodging questions.

So, here’s the deal: Esther Kiobel and her team took on the big bad wolf known as Shell, accusing them of all sorts of nasty stuff like torture, killings, and basically being the baddies in Nigeria. They thought, “Hey, let’s take these guys to court in the good ol’ US of A under the Alien Tort Statute.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s Grand Farewell Tour: Leaving More Than Just Memories in the Niger Delta

Posted by John Donovan: 6 Mar 24

In a move that’s as surprising as finding out water is wet, Shell is packing its bags and bidding adieu to Nigeria’s onshore oil and gas scene. But not without a parting gift: a hefty cleanup bill and a landscape that looks more like a villain’s backyard in a post-apocalyptic movie. The grand exit strategy involves handing over the keys to a consortium of five mostly local companies for a modest $2.4 billion, because, you know, why deal with the mess when you can just sell it off? read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell in Hot Water: UK High Court Greenlights Nigerian Fishermen’s Rights Case

The judge even called the pollution in the Niger Delta “catastrophically environmentally damaging”.

Posted By John Donovan: 23 November 2023

In a twist that’s sure to have Shell squirming, the UK High Court just ruled that Nigerian fishermen can indeed bring their human rights claims against Shell PLC to court. They’re accusing Shell of violating their right to a clean environment under Nigerian constitutional law. Yep, it’s getting real.

13,000 Fishermen Casting Their Net for Justice

The court’s decision means 13,000 fishermen from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta are gearing up to sue. Leigh Day, their legal squad, is all set to go to bat for them. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria: New government must ensure Shell’s sale of its Niger Delta oil business does not worsen human rights abuses

By Amnesty International: 26 May 2023

Nigeria’s new government, which will be sworn in on 29 May, must ensure that Shell’s planned sale of its operations in the Niger Delta does not lead to a further deterioration in human rights in a region blighted by decades of oil pollution.

Amnesty International has documented grievous and enduring human rights abuses resulting from oil contamination in the area, where Shell has operated since the 1950s. Amnesty International is concerned that the proposed sale will deny people already harmed access to adequate remedy, and potentially expose many more to future abuses.

A new report issued today, Tainted Sale?, recommends a series of safeguards and actions to help protect the rights of people potentially affected by Shell’s planned disposal of its onshore oil interests in the Niger Delta, reportedly for about US$3 billion. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s divestments in Nigeria

The Washington Post

Big Oil is selling off its polluting assets — with unintended consequences

Shell’s divestments in Nigeria help the company meet its green goals. But villagers and watchdogs say conditions have worsened after the sales.

By  March 27, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. EDT

NEMBE, Nigeria — When Lambert Ogbari learned that the oil giant Shell was selling its local operations to a Nigerian firm, he said he felt hopeful his living conditions would finally improve. But he quickly noticed that maintenance on the oil wells surrounding his village had declined.

Then, one night, Ogbari woke up to a loud bang, followed by the smell of gas. Crude oil was shooting out of a well near his home with such force that people hundreds of yards away could hear the roar.

As the world wrestles with climate change, major oil companies are selling off polluting assets around the globe. Shell, which announced in 2021 that it is looking to exit Nigeria’s onshore market completely, has repeatedly said in annual reports over the past eight years that divestments in Nigeria and elsewhere have played an important role in decreasing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Shell’s withdrawal is part of an exodus by some of the world’s top energy companies from the Niger Delta, which had long made Nigeria the largest oil producer in Africa. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.