Refinery Reform Campaign

For immediate release August 21, 2002

Contacts: Denny Larson, Refinery Reform Campaign: 082-370-1194 and Linda Ambler, GroundWork: 083-750-7560

New Report on Royal Dutch Shell Corporation's Global Operations and Environmental Impacts
Web Site Launched to Collect Stories from Shell Neighbors for New Book to be Released Later This Year

Media Event: August 21, 2002 - 5 pm to 6:30 pm - Balalaika Hotel, Sandton -Oxford Room- Featuring Shell Neighbors from Nigeria, United States and South Africa

August 21, 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa

In a gathering today , Wednesday, August 21, under the auspices of the World Summit for Sustainable Development, activists struggling with Royal Dutch/ companies in South Africa, Nigeria and the United States stood together as part of Corporate Accountability Week, announcing an unprecedented effort to collect stories and publish a global report on the world's second largest oil and chemical corporation. For the first time, activists from the U.S. stood with South Durban and Nigerian activists to collectively address the environmental and community impact Shell has all over the world. A special website, www.shellfacts.com, will be launched to collect detailed stories of hope and ruin that have befallen residents living near Shell operations.

"We are announcing the development of a special in-depth global report on Shell's environmental footprint that will be released around the world later this year," said Denny Larson, Coordinator of the Refinery Reform Campaign, an oil company watchdog group. "As part of this fact-finding project, we are seeking information on Shell's environmental performance and efforts in sustainable development from activists in over 140 regions in which Shell has operations."

The website will allow communities to share stories, documents and photographic evidence on how Shell's operations have impacted them. The groups have promised an even-handed approach which will include information about Shell's laudable efforts as well. For example, the unique company-community dialogue in Norco, Louisiana that led to a successful relocation bid for impacted residents on the fenceline of the Shell Chemical facility, will be included on the website.

"Thirty years of intense community struggle culminated in sit-down meetings with Shell that finally built trust with local residents and a Shell buyout plan for all families who wanted to move away from Shell's plants in Norco," said Louisiana environmental justice activist and resident, Margie Richard, who traveled thousands of miles to meet with other Shell activists. "It was never easy, but once Shell really heard community members talk about the harm that had been done they gave us the choice to move away," she said. "Ours is a model of respect for human dignity and community choice that Shell can and should replicate in all the other troubled areas where Shell does business. People need people."

The Norco story stood in stark contrast to stories of continued human rights abuse and environmental devastation in Shell company towns throughout Nigeria and South Africa. Shell is currently under legal investigation for its role in the execution by hanging of eight outspoken Shell critics in Nigeria, including writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. In South Durban, protests continue against Shell's massive oil pipeline leaks that have devastated the health and environment of the area and many people. Shell has refused to replace all of its aging pipelines.

"In 2002, Shell's over-aged pipelines continue to spew crude oil that pollutes the land and waters of the Niger Delta communities," said Isaac Osauka of Environmental Rights Action of Nigeria. "Flaring of gas continues unabated and the company continues to invite soldiers to repress community protest as it did on August 8, 2002, when soldiers shot and brutalized community women protesting against the violations of Shell and the destruction of livelihood."

The special Shell stories web site (www.shellfacts.com) contains the following information:

"Concerned communities in South Africa, Nigeria, and the United States are collecting information about Royal Dutch/Shell to understand how Shell's stated Business Principles (adopted in 1977), and its more recent commitment to "sustainable development," have actually worked in practice. How have Shell's environmental, community, workplace, and ethical business practices worked in your region? Send us your stories," stated Denny Larson

Citizens are invited to submit their Shell case studies, workplace histories, company profiles, personal observations, press accounts, & photographs of Shell's operations in their region/community. Information about how has the hardware performed is welcome, including Shell's oil and gas wells, refineries, chemical plants, fuel stations, development projects, tank farms, pipelines and offshore rigs. The deadline is for submissions is September 15, 2002, and they can be sent to dennylarson@earthlink.net.include Contact Denny Larson at the Refinery Reform Campaign, at 082-370-1194 in South Africa, or at 415-845-4705 in the United States. Linda Ambler of GroundWork can be reached at 083-750-7560 in South Africa

The Refinery Reform Campaign is a national campaign to clean up America's oil refineries. Refinery Reform empowers communities living on the fenceline of heavy industry to monitor their own environmental conditions. RRC has developed a unique "hands-on" simple air monitoring device housed inside a 5 gallon plastic bucket fitted with a standard sampling bag. The system, known as the "Bucket Brigade" has successfully been used in the United States and Southern Africa to document toxic exposure and win pollution reductions from major corporations, including Shell. More information on RRC is available at: www.refineryreform.org. RRC is a project of the Texas SEED Coalition, based in Austin, Texas.