Shell already reeling from the backlash against its attempt to foist an unsafe gas processing facility on the people of North Mayo has come under renewed attack from Dutch environmentalists.
'Milieudefensie' [Friends of the Earth Netherlands] staged a powerful demonstration against the environmentally destructive impact of 'gas flaring' when they lit a 15-metre-high flare on the 3rd of May outside the headquarters of Shell headquarters in The Hague.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands said they had staged their protest against Shell's flaring of gas specifically in Nigeria. They pointed out that the process is not simply wasteful but it poses real health problems to the peoples of the Niger Delta and illnesses sustained by them are directly attributable to 'gas flaring'
The procedure which occurs during the production of oil when gas which is released is simply burned of by Shell causes huge flames that pollute the air and damage the environment.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands wants the flaring of gas to be stopped immediately and say assurances that the policy of gas flaring given almost a decade ago by Shell have not been honoured.
There is dramatic footage of the Dutch environmentalists protest on YouTube at:
Celtic League News group users who wish to assist in the growing global campaign to make Shell more accountable should add their voice to the protests by writing to the Chief Executive and Director of Royal Dutch Shell, Jeroen van der Veer, at:
Royal Dutch Shell Carel van Bylandtlaan 30 2596 HR The Hague The Netherlands
Phone: +31-70-377-9111 Fax: +31-70-377-3115
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
07/05/07