Not Deterred By Huge Risks, Shell Opts For Megaprojects

Not Deterred By Huge Risks, Shell Opts For Megaprojects

Jul 7th, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

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It is curious then that Royal Dutch Shell is not ready to give up on the huge complex oil project. It is only a few weeks away from starting to drill in the Chukchi Sea, a campaign that has cost the company somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 billion so far, with very little results to show for its troubles. Shell is committing another $1 billion this year, and it appears that it will only be able to drill one well.

By Nick Cunningham: 6 July 2015

U.S. shale has offered the oil industry a business model that is different from conventional drilling of the past.

High initial decline rates, especially compared to conventional wells, requires companies to continuously drill to keep up production. But with lower upfront costs and shorter ramp up times, shale drilling is arguably less risky than a multibillion-dollar megaproject that the oil majors had become accustomed to over the past decade. And in a period in which prices are relatively weak, shale could allow exploration companies to increase drilling or throttle back depending on market conditions, providing a degree of flexibility over conventional drilling that often has longer lead times.

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Posted in: Alaska, Arctic, Australia, Chukchi Sea, Environment, Gas, Greenpeace, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Oil, Oil Prices, Oil Spill, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell, United States.
Tagged: Alaska · Arctic Ocean · Chukchi Sea · Gas · Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

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Save the Sage Grouse, Save the West!

Save the Sage Grouse, Save the West! Support strong protections to save the iconic sage grouse -- one of the most fascinating birds in the American West. TAKE ACTION Ever see a sage grouse's mating display, Friend? It's a saucy strut, as flamboyant and hilarious as they come. But what's happening to their habitat is certainly no laughing matter. The population of this iconic western bird has plummeted from an estimated 16 million to as few as 200,000 today. Oil and gas drilling, livestock grazing, mining and other threats in the West's vast sagebrush sea have cut into its habitat and shrunk its mating grounds. Here's the good news: The Obama Administration has released plans to save the greater sage grouse -- and they're inviting public comments on it through the end of this month. That means we have just a few weeks to mobilize massive nationwide pressure on President Obama to take urgent action to save the sage grouse. Will you add your voice? Tell President Obama to support strong sage grouse protections! These historic plans are the linchpin of one of the administration's biggest land and wildlife conservation efforts. I'll be honest: We're up against the forces of Big Oil, Big Coal, the mining industry -- to name a few -- and their allies in Washington who will stop at nothing to preserve their rights to plunder our natural heritage. But we're taking them on because this fight is too important to lose. Protecting the sage grouse will also protect hundreds of other imperiled species -- including mule deer, pronghorn, elk and golden eagles -- and some 70 million acres of sagebrush habitat on which they depend. So if we can save the sage grouse, we can save the American West as we know it. Are you willing to sacrifice this iconic bird -- and its vibrant ecosystem -- all for a drop in the bucket of industry's bottom line? I know I'm not. Join me in urging President Obama to stand strong for the sage grouse now. Growing up in Colorado and spending so much of my childhood in our spectacular national parks, the American West holds a special place in my heart. I'm determined to fight every day to protect it. I hope you'll join me. As always, thank you for your support. Rhea Suh President, NRDC The mission of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.

All students deserve an educational environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Take action and stand up for LGBT youth today!

TAKE ACTION ON BEHALF OF LGBT STUDENTS All students deserve an educational environment free from discrimination and harassment. Stand up for LGBT youth by asking your senators to vote for the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Dear Friend, America's youth need your help. Join HRC in asking Congress for needed protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students by passing the Student Non-Discrimination Act – send a quick message to your senators before this critical piece of legislation is brought to a vote. Soon, your senators will have the opportunity to vote for crucial protections for LGBT students. The U.S. Senate is considering an update to a major education law called the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Senator Al Franken (D-MN) will be offering the Student Non-Discrimination Act as an amendment to ensure LGBT students are protected in the update to ESEA. Students who are LGBT are subject to pervasive discrimination, including harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence. These students, like all other students, deserve an educational environment free of discrimination and harassment. While federal statutory protections already address discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex and disability, LGBT students are not expressly protected by these civil rights laws. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would prohibit public schools from discriminating against any student on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity – a much-needed protection. We want to send a strong message to Congress that there is an overwhelming amount of support for this key piece of legislation that will protect vulnerable and often victimized LGBT students. Stand up for LGBT youth today! Together, we can make a difference. Sincerely, David Stacy Government Affairs Director Human Rights Campaign

© 2015 The Human Rights Campaign. All rights reserved. Human Rights Campaign | www.hrc.org 1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 Phone: 202-628-4160 TTY:202-216-1572 Fax: 202-347-5323

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One of the biggest actions in the history of our fight against fracking.

Hi Friend-
Have a look at this note from our allies at Californians Against Fracking. I hope you'll join in.
Thanks.
–Victoria 

Victoria Kaplan, MoveOn.org Civic Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> 

---

Dear California MoveOn member,

In just a few weeks, MoveOn members and other members of the Californians Against Fracking coalition will take to the streets in dozens of communities around the state for the Clean Not Extreme day of action—one of the biggest actions in the history of our fight against fracking.

We'll call on Governor Jerry Brown to put an end to highly toxic extreme oil extraction and move us toward 100% renewable energy.

People are stepping up to host these actions all over the state, but so far, we don't have anyone hosting an action in Poway. Will you take this stand with us?

Click here to sign up to host a Clean Not Extreme action in Poway on August 1. 

To host, all you need is a passion to advocate for sane energy policy, and a willingness to reach out and connect with others in your community who feel similarly. An organizer from Californians Against Fracking will contact you and guide you through each step of the process. 

The Clean Not Extreme day of action comes at a pivotal moment in the fight to stop fracking and other forms of extreme oil extraction in California. For years, Governor Jerry Brown has resisted the call to put an end to these toxic practices, urging us all to wait for the results of an independent scientific study on the dangers they pose to California. The report is set to be released this Thursday, July 9. 

In New York, a similar study revealed health risks and it led directly to a fracking ban. With this report release, Gov. Brown will have a clear choice to make: is he going to protect the health and safety of Californians, or continue to cater to the fossil fuel industry? 

Californians from all over the state are calling for an end to fracking—and we can demonstrate that clearly by holding actions in Poway and dozens of other towns. Will you host an action in your community? 

Click here to sign up to host a Clean Not Extreme action in Poway on August 1.

Thanks for all you do.

–David Braun
Californians Against Fracking 

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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We are launching WorldPopulationHistory.org tomorrow!

Dear Friend, I want you to be among the first to know that we are launching WorldPopulationHistory.org tomorrow! This website is built for users like you to explore how our world’s population has grown throughout history. You can also discover the events, innovations and forces that have shaped population growth throughout time. To celebrate the launch of the website, we hope you can join us for two exciting online events: a live Twitter Chat (happening tomorrow) and an in-depth RedditAMA (happening Thursday). Learn more about each event below, and set reminders on your calendar – we look forward to celebrating with you soon! Twitter Chat July 8, 2015 1:00-2:00pm EST To view the chat, you must have an account on Twitter. You can create an account by clicking here. Once you are logged into your account, use the search bar to search for the hashtag #WorldPop between 1-2pm EST on July 8, 2015. Join the conversation by including “#WorldPop” in a tweet. You can also retweet and favorite tweets from @popconnect and other participants as much as you would like! Get started by signing on to Twitter and following the account @popconnect. Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) July 9, 2015 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST On July 9, join us on Reddit.com for a conversation about world population history. Starting at1:00 pm, we’ll be hosting a free-flowing question and answer session with Reddit community members about the growth of the world’s population throughout time, and explaining some of the key moments when the course of human population has been influenced by innovations, tragedies and other events. If you’d like to watch the conversation unfold, you can simply click here on July 9 and look for a link to our conversation. To ask a question, you will need to create a Reddit account. Registration is simple: get started byclicking here and enter your information. Then, save your username and password, and check back on July 9 at 1:00pm. Once our post is live, you’ll be able to read, ask questions and respond as you please. To learn more about Reddit, check out this list of frequently asked questions. We can’t wait to reveal WorldPopulationHistory.org tomorrow, and we look forward to chatting with you on Twitter and Reddit soon. Sincerely, Pam Wasserman Senior Vice President for Education

Visit our web site Donate Now! 2120 L St NW, Suite 500 Washington, D.C. 20037 Main: 202-332-2200 Fax: 202-332-2302 Toll Free: 1-800-POP-1956 info@populationconnection.org Population Connection Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved.

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How 7 things that have nothing to do with rape perfectly illustrate the concept of consent

How 7 things that have nothing to do with rape perfectly illustrate the concept of consent shared from How 7 things that have nothing to do with rape perfectly illustrate the concept of consent Donald Trump said nasty things about Mexicans, so she said, 'Meet my dad.' He came to our country when he was 9. He became a citizen when he was 16. Meet Claudius.

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Our nation’s biggest tuna brand is continuing to kill sharks.

Friend -  Bumble Bee's tuna comes with a side of dead sharks Tell Bumble Bee to ensure that its tuna is shark-safe and sustainable. Our nation’s biggest tuna brand is continuing to kill sharks. The massive fishing operations that catch tuna for Bumble Bee use huge nets and long lines of hooks, methods that snare tens of thousands of sharks and other marine animals every year. Bumble Bee is in the process of being acquired by one of the largest seafood companies in the world. Investors are paying close attention and all eyes are on their business. If America’s consumers — people like YOU — rise up to demand change now, the company will have to take action. Send a message today to demand that Bumble Bee stop selling tuna tainted by dead sharks and start fishing sustainably. Sharks are disappearing from our oceans at a terrifying rate. And destructive fishing practices are only making things worse. Most shark species are slow to reproduce, so it takes a long time to rebuild populations harmed by human activities —and every animal lost to industrial fishing gear sets their recovery back. Bumble Bee’s tuna can be linked to horrifying practices like longline fishing — where thousands of baited hooks attract not only tuna, but sharks, turtles, and other wildlife. When the lines are pulled up hours or days later, huge numbers of dead or dying sharks are simply tossed overboard. It doesn’t have to be this way — sustainable, shark-safe fishing methods already exist, and some of Bumble Bee’s competitors are already on board. Tell Bumble Bee to make the switch today! Every year, tens of thousands of sharks and other wildlife are killed by tuna vessels. And the companies that hire these vessels, like Bumble Bee, are turning a blind eye to the slaughter. Bumble Bee is an industry leader, but right now it’s leading in the wrong direction. If Bumble Bee cleans up its act by adopting sustainable shark-safe fishing methods, other companies will follow. Shark-friendly tuna is a reality. Tell Bumble Bee that destroying the oceans is bad for business. Sharks are top predators that help keep the ocean ecosystem in balance. By convincing tuna companies like Bumble Bee to save sharks and fish more sustainably, you’ll be helping to restore that balance. Supporters like you have made great strides to protect sharks in the past few years. Thanks to the tireless work of shark activists and outspoken supporters, the shark fin trade is shutting down in states across the US, and both US and European Union vessels have been banned from shark finning — the cruel practice of fishing sharks just to cut their fins off and throwing the rest of the animal overboard. But there’s still a lot of work to do — and transforming the tuna industry would make a HUGE difference to sharks and other wildlife across our oceans. Let’s keep the victories coming. Take action today to make America’s tuna a little more shark-friendly. For the oceans, Kate Melges Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace USA P.S. When consumers like you speak out, companies listen. Take action today and tell Bumble Bee that it’s time to make its tuna truly sustainable.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.