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Daily blogs from the frontlines of the Greenpeace planet down under. 

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  • 8 reasons why Shell can't be trusted in the Arctic

    Blogpost by Franziska - January 4, 2013 at 7:26

    Shell's Arctic oil rig runs aground in Alaska

    Shell's most recent 'mishap' a few days ago was not the first setback the oil giant has suffered in its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic. In fact, it's the eighth in a growing list of reasons why Shell should not be trusted in the Arctic.

    1. Shell has no idea how much an oil spill clean-up would cost

    In March 2012, in response to questions from the UK's Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, Peter Velez, Shell’s head of emergency response in the Arctic admitted that Shell had not assessed the costs of a clean-up operation in the Arctic, leaving shareholders exposed to potentially huge financial losses.

    2. Shell's barge, the Arctic Challenger, was not deemed safe enough by the US government

    In July last year the US authorities announced that a key part of Shell’s oil sp... Read more >

  • Shell's Arctic oil rig hits the rocks

    Blogpost by Ben Ayliffe - January 3, 2013 at 12:22

    Shell's Arctic oil rig runs aground in Alaska

    In another example of why drilling for oil in the Arctic is such a monumentally bad idea, Shell’s drilling rig, the Kulluk, has run aground off the island of Sitkalidak, near Kodiak in Alaska.

    The ancient rig was being towed back to harbour after a spectacularly unsuccessful summer drilling season when it ran into serious trouble and hit the shore.

    Last Thursday the Kulluk was being towed from the Arctic by Shell’s brand new $200 million tug the Aiviq when it hit heavy weather in the Bering Sea that caused the 400 foot towing line to break and the rig to drift free.

    By Friday the Aiviq managed to reconnect with the Kulluk, but it “experienced multiple engines failures” 50 miles south of Kodiak Island, causing the rig to drift free once again in 35ft seas and winds of 40mph.

    On S... Read more >

  • The Coolest Things About the Arctic You Never Knew About

    Blogpost by Cassady Sharp - January 1, 2013 at 20:55

     

    So we all know the Arctic is cold and white and in danger from exploitation by oil companies including Shell Oil, right? Not only is the critical ecosystem in dire need of our protection, it also has an endlessly interesting “About Me” section.  Here’s what we think are the coolest things about the Arctic we found pretty surprising.

    • The Vikings actually called Greenland by its name to attract settlers. Suckers!

    • When the Titanic hit an Arctic iceberg, it was actually hitting a chunk that had previously melted off a glacier.

    • The Arctic fox’s fur changes from brown to white during the transition from fall to winter as their skin produces melanin for camouflage.

    Read more >

    • Fish in the Arctic Ocean survive by their own personal antifreeze.  They have a frost-protection pr...

  • New Zealand Story - Something to be proud of

    Blogpost by Nick Young - December 20, 2012 at 15:54

    With the new Rainbow Warrior coming we got to thinking about her place in New Zealand history and about what makes us proud to be from this little nation at the far end of the world.

    With some help from Perendale Productions we made this short video to embody just some of the events and people through history who have defined us and made their mark on our world.

    As the year comes to an end, we hope this video will also make you feel happy and proud, and prompt us all to reflect on the sort of country we want to be into the future and how together we can write the next chapter in the story of New Zealand.

    Read more >

  • Thanks to you, we're winning

    Blogpost by Nick Young - December 20, 2012 at 11:05

    We achieved a lot this year in New Zealand and globally - and none of it would have been possible without the support we get from you and all the other people like you who make regular donations and contribute to our campaigning in so many ways.

    So here’s a little video we’ve made just for you to say a huge thank you from the whole crew at Greenpeace.

    Read more >

  • Levi's shapes up to become a Detox leader

    Blogpost by Nick Young - December 14, 2012 at 8:11
    Levi Strauss & Co. today committed to go toxic-free. Why? Because you and hundreds of thousands of other people demanded that Levi’s “Go Forth and Detox”.

     

    Levi's commits to Go Forth and Detox zoom
      Levi's commits to Go Forth and Detox

    The world's biggest denim brand joins ten other clothing companies that have made credible commitments to Detox, including the world's largest fashion retailer, Zara.

    Levi's commitment comes just eight days after we launched our “Toxic Threads: Under Wraps” report in Mexico, and screened a documentary about a family struggling to hold factories in the region to account for the pollution they are causing, including suppliers of brands like Levi's.

    The brand is living up to its claims of being a leader. Competitors that have so far failed to take responsibility for the pollu... Read more >

  • You did it! Waitrose put Shell relationship on ice

    Blogpost by Sara - December 13, 2012 at 10:06

    Yesterday we received the great news from the UK that after only 12 days of intensive campaigning Waitrose has announced it has put its partnership with Arctic oil drillers Shell on ice. 

    After 40,000 emails from Greenpeace supporters, several store visits, one spoof video, hundreds of Facebook posts, a social media meltdown, and the appearance of a life-size polar bear at their Islington store yesterday, Waitrose has declared support for the protection of the fragile Arctic. 

    Waitrose recently opened two pilot stores in Shell forecourts with a view to rolling out the 'new joint format' more widely. In a press statement this summer Shell said 'the plan is to expand [the project] later this year'. Waitrose also sold 13 petrol stations to Shell at its out of town superstores.

    Wh... Read more >

  • Top 5 movies set in the Arctic

    Blogpost by Cassady Sharp - December 13, 2012 at 9:33

    With a stunning landscape and incredible wildlife including polar bears, seals and Arctic foxes, it’s no wonder that Arctic movie sets trump anything filmed in sunny Hollywood.  We took a break from working on our campaign to save the Arctic to compile a list of our favorite movies set in the endangered region. The Arctic is currently at risk from oil companies like Shell looking to profit from the sea ice melt by drilling in the Arctic Ocean.

    Save the Arctic: Take Action 

    5) Smilla’s Sense of Snow

    Based on a bestselling book, this 1997 thriller about a missing boy in Greenland is a favorite of our communications director although he claims the book was much better.

    4) Insomnia

    A rare opportunity to judge Robin Williams’ acting chops in a serious role, Insomnia is set in a Northern Alaskan fishing tow... Read more >

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