Shell sponsors Climate Change event
Article published: Thursday, November 18th 2010
Last night activists from Manchester Climate Action held an impromptu minute’s silence at the beginning of a Shell sponsored climate change event. The campaigners act of remembrance was for the Ogoni Nine – a group of Nigerian human rights activists who were hanged in November 1995 for campaigning against the destructive practices of the oil industry in the Niger Delta.
Sandra Wainright, from Manchester Climate Action said: “The event was frustrating. Despite our intervention the debate was centered around carbon and totally ignored human rights abuse associated with corporations like Shell.
The event was opened with an apology from the Michael McCarthy, environment editor at The Independent for the lack of diversity on the panel. “You’re looking at five middle aged white geezers, and for this I apologise,” said McCarthy.
The 90 minute ‘Question Time’ style discussion asked whether it is possible enough reduce CO2 emissions quickly enough over the next forty years to avert catastrophic climate change and returned frequently to the issue of technological fixes. There seemed to be broad agreement from the panel that while the technology required already existed there was a lack of political will to make the necessary changes.
In total Mr Hone had to put up with around ten minutes of awkward comments from fellow panellists regarding not just tar sands investments but also his support carbon markets as an effective mitigation mechanism, as well as Shell’s continued lobbying against efficiency improvements at the EU level.
Robbie Gillett
More: Manchester, News
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