Shell share price: boss to present BG merger case to China regulators

Shell share price: boss to present BG merger case to China regulators

May 7th, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

No comments yet

Article by Veselin Valchev published Wednesday, 06 May 2015 by invezz.com

Shell share price: boss to present BG merger case to China regulators

Ben van Beurden on tour to win authorities’ approval for £47bn deal

Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s (LON:RDSA) chief executive Ben van Beurden is scheduled to visit China this week, in what analysts say is a crucial moment in the company’s drive to earn regulatory approval for the proposed £47 billion merger with smaller London-listed rival BG Group Plc (LON:BG).

Shell‘s share price had dipped 0.02 percent to 2,091.00p as of 14:08 BST today, falling short of the blue chip London benchmark FTSE 100 index, which had gained about 0.4 percent. Shell’s stock has lost nearly three percent in the year-to-date, and is down more than 10 percent on an annual basis.

read more

Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Print

Like this:

Loading...

Posted in: Australia, Ben van Beurden, BG Group, Bloomberg, China, Gas, LNG, Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
Tagged: Australia · Ben van Beurden · BG Group · Gas · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Women Peacebuilders You Should Know The Institute for Inclusive Security works with more than 2,000 women peacemakers from conflict areas around the world, through our Women Waging Peace Network. From Colombia to Cambodia, these leaders are advocating for inclusion at the peace table in their communities and countries. Here are just a few of their stories. Photo by Mel Snyder The Bridge-Builder Nang Phyu Phyu Lin grew up in a country with 135 ethnic groups, but her experience with discrimination was personal. She was treated as second-class by her extended family because her parents came from different ethnic backgrounds. “This upset me,” she says, “because, although I’m not 100% the same ethnic group, I am 100% human being.” Today, she chairs the Alliance for the Inclusion of Gender in the Peace Process, which promotes women’s involvement in Myanmar’s political transition. Though men have pushed back on their efforts, Phyu Phyu asserts that women have “experienced the pain of this war; we have many contributions to make.” Photo by Mel Snyder The Educator “When terror comes to your doorstep, you cannot fear it; you cannot tolerate it anymore,” says Bushra Hyder. Living in Pakistan’s most remote and volatile region along the border with Afghanistan—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)—she’s experienced firsthand the effects of increasing extremist violence. In the face of this ideology, she established a high school that teaches a peace education curriculum of her own design—the first of its kind in Pakistan. While inculcating tolerance and understanding in the next generation, Bushra also engages parliamentarians, religious teachers, and police officers in countering extremism and planting seeds for peace. Photo by Mel Snyder The Defender Joenia Wapixana grew up in two worlds: the Brazilian city where her mother relocated eight children so they could get a good education and the remote Amazon village where her father taught her to respect the traditional culture of her people. Joenia is also a woman of firsts. The first indigenous woman to graduate law school in Brazil. The first to argue a case before her country’s Supreme Court. Her legal prowess has ensured that thousands of indigenous people can remain on their ancestral lands. “Taking care of the rainforest is important not only because of what it means for indigenous peoples,” she says, “but also – given climate change – for the planet.” Photo by Mel Snyder The Candidate The Honorable Martha Karua says, “In leadership and politics, you don’t put your foot forward because you have an answer for everything, but because you have the ability to bring people together who have different types of expertise to solve problems.” Her long career in the Kenyan government—as a member of parliament, then as Minister of Water and, later, Justice—is a testament to this inclusive approach. She co-founded the League of Kenyan Women Voters and helped birth a new constitution. Though she didn’t win the presidency in 2013, the resilient woman known as Kenya’s “Iron Lady” declares firmly that she “is not done yet. Read about 13 other inspiring women >>

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Make the choice to use 100% wind power instead of coal and fracked gas.

Make the choice to use 100% wind power instead of coal and fracked gas.   8,000 pounds of coal and 5,000 gallons of water. That is what is being burned into the atmosphere each year to produce electricity for your home. But now you have the power to take control of your electricity use.  Arcadia Power enables you to power your home, apartment or business with 100% clean energy in 5 minutes. When you make the switch, your utility will still continue to deliver electricity through the same power lines, but Arcadia Power will ensure that 100% of your usage is covered by clean wind power. No panels or equipment needed, and you’ll experience the same reliability you’re used to. You just set up an account online, and Arcadia Power gets to work for you by linking up with your current local utility. Arcadia Power's mission is to provide everyone with access to clean energy, even if your local utility refuses to stop fracking or burning coal. With customers in all 50 states, Arcadia Power gives you the ability to eliminate your impact, support your values, and even get rewarded by sustainable companies for doing so. If you sign up today, you will even receive an exclusive Mother Jones offer of $20 off your next electric bill when you choose clean energy. So what are you waiting for? Make The Switch 866-526-0083 www.arcadiapower.com

Mother Jones and its non-profit publisher, the Foundation for National Progress, does not endorse any political candidate, political organization, commercial product, process or service, and the views expressed in this communication do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or favoring by Mother Jones. For advertising opportunities see our online media kit.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Fight for $15 in the Big Picture

MoveOn will campaign for the ideas with the most shares.

Like this idea? Share it with your friends by clicking one of the buttons above. Not only will you help build support nationwide, you'll be voting for MoveOn to campaign to make it a reality.

Fight for $15 in the Big Picture

Breaking news: New York state may raise fast-food workers' pay to $15 an hour. Right now, there are adult breadwinners who work full-time, or more than full-time, and still live in poverty. But everyone should be able to afford to pay their rent and feed their family, and a $15-an-hour wage is the place to start.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

PADRE PIO BLESSING PRAYER WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY BRO JUN BANAAG

RELATED PADRE PIO PRAYER NO TRANSLATION


The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Ocean Acidification Then and Now

Ocean Acidification Then and Now

Ocean acidification has been occurring for more than 250 million years. What can the past tell us about today’s ocean chemistry? Read on!

SHARED FROM

MAY 2015 Fight Ocean Trash The International Coastal Cleanup report comes out Tuesday, May 19! This report will highlight how much trash volunteers collected from thousands of miles of shorelines all over the world. We’ve analyzed and counted the most common items found, looked at what they’re made of, pulled out some of the weirder finds and explained the threats that this trash poses to marine life. You don’t need to wait for the report, though. You can help fight trash today! Join the #OceanTrashTalk Tweet Chat  Join us on Wednesday, May 20, at 2pm EDT for a tweet chat on the latest data we’ve collected on ocean trash. Take part by tweeting your thoughts and questions using the #OceanTrashTalk hashtag. Ocean Conservancy’s 2015 Photo Contest Our 2015 photo contest begins June 1! You can submit your stellar ocean photos in five categories: Arctic, Marine Mammals, Marine Invertebrates, Ocean at Work and Our Ocean. Good luck! Good News for Fish A new report found that the Magunson-Stevens Act is helping reduce overfishing and rebuild fish populations! Send BP a Wake Up Call The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster continues to hurt the Gulf of Mexico five years later. Tell BP to work with scientists to restore our Gulf. Ocean Acidification Then and Now Ocean acidification has been occurring for more than 250 million years. What can the past tell us about today’s ocean chemistry? Read on!

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

What is (so-called) “clean coal”?

Greenpeace Philippines

What is (so-called) “clean coal”?

PHOTO CREDITS GETTY IMAGE

Coal is a highly polluting energy source.  It emits much more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and natural gas. CO2 represents the major portion of  greenhouse gases. It is, therefore, one of the leading contributors to climate change.  From mine to sky, from extraction to combustion -- coal pollutes every step of the way. The huge environmental and social costs associated with coal usage make it an expensive option for developing countries.  From acid drainage from coal mines, polluting rivers and streams, to the release of mercury and other toxins when it is burned, as well as climate-destroying gases and fine particulates that wreak havoc on human health, COAL is unquestionably, a DIRTY BUSINESS.  

It is a major contributor to climate change - the biggest environmental threat we face. It is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, emitting 29% more than oil, 80% more carbon dioxide (the main driver of climate change) per unit of energy than gas.

Mercury is a particular problem. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mercury and its compounds are highly toxic and pose a 'global environmental threat to humans and wildlife.'  Coal-fired power and heat production are the largest single source of atmospheric mercury emissions.  There are no commercially available technologies to prevent mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

PHOTO CREDITS AP

"Clean coal" is the industry's attempt to "clean up" its dirty image - the industry's greenwash buzzword. It is not a new type of coal.  

"Clean coal" technology (CCT) refers to technologies intended to reduce pollution.  But no coal-fired power plants are truly 'clean'.

"Clean coal" methods only move pollutants from one waste stream to another which are then still released into the environment.  Any time coal is burnt, contaminants are released and they have to go somewhere.  They can be released via the fly ash, the gaseous air emissions, water outflow or the ash left at the bottom after burning.  Ultimately, they still end up polluting the environment.

"Clean coal" methods only move pollutants from one waste stream to another.

Communities after communities have lamented the hosting of coal-fired plants. They are often ignored due to governments' preference for polluting power plants yet they often bear the burden of adversely altered lives.

Despite over 10 years of research and $5.2 billion of investment in the US alone, scientists are still unable to make coal clean. The Australian government spends A$0.5 million annually to promote Australia's 'clean coal' to the Asia Pacific region. 

"Clean coal" technologies are expensive and do nothing to mitigate the environmental effects of coal mining or the devastating effects of global warming.  Furthermore, clean coal research risks diverting investment away from renewable energy, which is available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now.

The first CCT programs were set up in the late 1980s in response to concerns over acid rain. The programs focused on reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX), the primary causes of acid rain.  Now the elusive promise of "clean coal" technology is being used to promote coal as an energy source.

A price worth paying?

Many of the 'clean coal' technologies being promoted by the coal industry are still in the development stage and will take hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars and many more years before they are commercially available.  "Clean coal" technologies are also extremely expensive in terms of day to day running costs.  The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates the capital costs of a typical IGCC plant (an experimental low-emission coal power station) to be US$1,383/kW, $2,088/kW with carbon sequestration.  This compares with US$1,015/kW for a typical wind farm.

Summary

"Clean coal" is an attempt by the coal industry to try and make itself relevant in the age of renewables. Existing CCTs do nothing to mitigate the environmental effects of coal mining or the devastating effects of global warming. Coal is the dirtiest fuel there is and belongs in the past. Much higher emission cuts can be made using currently available natural gas, wind and modern biomass that are already in widespread use. Clean, inexpensive.  This is where investment should be directed, rather than squandering valuable resources on a dirty dinosaur.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Climate change deniers in Congress complain about a lack of data while trying to defund NASA’s climate change research

onEarth

The magazine of the Natural Resources Defense Council

PHOTO: NASA/GSFC/LANDSAT

MORE EVIDENCE! NO, WAIT...LESS EVIDENCE!

Climate change deniers in Congress complain about a lack of data while trying to defund NASA’s climate change research.

BY BRIAN PALMER | @PALMERBRIAN | 1 day ago

The House of Representatives’ Science, Space, and Technology Committee wants NASA to stop talking about climate change. The committee’s recently proposed budget would cut the agency’s earth science funding by $300 million to $500 million per year. That’s money the agency uses to improve climate models, maintain observation satellites, predict the scale and path of extreme storms, monitor the loss of sea ice, and track wildfires. For more than 30 years, NASA has led government research on climate change.

Either this is the first intentionally ironic budget in the House’s history, or the committee members have alarmingly short memories. According to these very same politicians, the current problems with climate change science are inadequate evidence and a lack of certainty. Here is a sampling of comments from some of them (all emphasis mine):

• Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX): “Contrary to the claims of those who want to strictly regulate carbon dioxide emissions and increase the cost of energy for all Americans, there is a great amount of uncertainty associated with climate science.”
• Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI): “I think that the science is inconclusive on this.”
• Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL): “I’m approaching the issue with a healthy degree of skepticism. If the evidence is there to prove it, then so be it.”
• Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY): “I would challenge [President Obama] toshow us the linkage—the undeniable linkage—between droughts and the change of weather, and some kind of human activity.”

Please pardon my confusion. If these distinguished congressmen are so open to new evidence, so eager to have the climate change “debate” settled by solid data, why do they want to cut funding to the agency most responsible for developing the science? Wait a minute…do you think, just maybe, they don’t want NASA collecting any more evidence, because it might further undermine their “uncertainty” argument and make their science denial even harder to accept? The shamelessness of climate change deniers still surprises me sometimes, even after all these years of lying, disingenuousness, and misdirection.

The House committee took it a step further last week. In his press release announcing the budget, Chairman Smith trumpeted the support of the Planetary Society, a prominent advocate for space exploration. He even went out of his way to note that Bill Nye, one of the world’s most vocal campaigners for climate change action, leads the Planetary Society. How could Nye’s organization support a bill that guts climate change science?

It couldn’t. In fact, the Planetary Society only supports one aspect of the budget: the part relating to space exploration.

“It’s clear my letter was only talking about space exploration,” said Casey Dreier, the Planetary Society’s director of advocacy. “It was clearly too subtle, and we’ve had to aggressively clarify our position.”

Subtlety is generally a mistake in politics. In a blog post published the day after Smith’s press release, Dreier stated unambiguously, “Obviously, the cuts to Earth Science make this a hard bill to support, therefore The Planetary Society cannot support the full bill as written at this early stage.”

Of course, Smith knew Bill Nye and his organization would never support a bill aimed at defunding climate change research. The depressing (although not particularly surprising) reality is that Smith took the Planetary Society’s letter out of context and exploited it.

If this is to be the state of our political discourse, maybe we should pour all of NASA’s money into planetary exploration. Reasonable people might need a place to live.
NEXT STORY

The TRUTH will set you FREE.