Esther Kiobel castigates UK and Dutch joint intervention in U.S. Supreme Court Case
Esther Kiobel of Kiobel-v-Shell fame speaking at an Amnesty International Event
By John Donovan
Amnesty International published an article in April 2014 revealing that the British government had intervened on the side of Royal Dutch Shell in the Kiobel-v-Shell case before the U.S. Supreme Court and had done so after being lobbied by Shell. A related document obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request confirmed that the Dutch government joined Shell in the representations made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Seems safe to assume that Shell also made representations to the Dutch government.
The Esther Kiobel case was brought against Shell “by communities from the Niger Delta, who accused Shell of helping the Nigerian military to systematically torture and kill environmentalists in the 1990s.”
For the first time, Esther Kiobel has spoken out about the extraordinary joint intervention by the UK and Dutch governments at the behest of Shell.
I am indeed full of disappointment to know about the shameful unhealthy influence of both the United Kingdom government and that of the Netherlands. What is their genuine concern for wanting to block a route to justice by sending a joint amicus brief to the U.S. supreme Court? I cannot comprehend that Nations with their status in the international community would give up integrity at the expense of human rights.
RELATED ARTICLE
Big Blaze at Shell Chemical Plant in Netherlands
Extract from an abcNews report published 4 June 2014
A major fire broke out late Tuesday at a chemical plant operated by oil giant Royal Dutch Shell near the port city of Rotterdam, Dutch emergency services said. Shell spokesman Thijs van Velzen later said that two people suffered minor injuries. “All the people that were present are safe,” he added.
Share this:
Like this:
Ukraine Crisis Forces Shell to Halt Shale Wells in Restive East
Extract from a Bloomberg/Businessweek article by Ladka Bauerova and Will Kennedy published 3 June 2014
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) has halted drilling for shale gas in eastern Ukraine to protect its personnel from clashes between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army. Shell is taking a “time-out” on exploration work after drilling two wells since the Hague-based explorer signed a production-sharing agreement last year, Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in London. “We obviously need to assess the future security situation as it develops because the safety of our own people is our first priority,” Henry said. “There’s no pulling out, but we take a time out on the actual drilling activity on the ground.”
BP and Shell urged to stop using shareholders’ money to fund libertarian lobby group
Extract from a This is Money/Daily Mail article by Rob Davies published 2 June 2014
BP and Shell have been urged to stop using shareholders’ money to fund a US lobby group that promotes looser gun laws and the teaching of climate change denial in schools. The oil firms are members of the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which greases the wheels of communication between politicians and corporate interests. BP and Shell remain member-donors, prompting criticism from investment institutions who say use of shareholders’ money to fund ALEC is opaque and improper.
Irish Corruption Scandal: OSSL Cessation of hostilities
By John Donovan
Last month I supplied OSSL directors with admittance passes for the Royal Dutch Shell AGM in The Hague.
I have alreadypublished a transcript of the resultant interesting public discussion between Desmond Kane for OSSL (above right) and the two top people at Shell, its CEO Ben van Beurden and Chairman Jorma Ollila.
Since then, the one way barrage of emails from OSSL to various parties, Shell, the Irish Police Commissioner, the Irish Justice Minister, Roadbridge, the Police Ombudsman, etc – all copied to me – seems to have ceased.
The silence is eerie.
The TRUTH will set you FREE.
