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Waitrose are told to dump Shell

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Ten members of environmental pressure group Climate Rush handed out Valentine’s day biscuits and flyers informing customers of the partnership between Waitrose and Shell over lunchtime today at the Waitrose store on Tottenham Court Road. More than 150 heart-shaped cookies iced with ‘Shell is hell’ and ‘Dump Shell’ messages were handed out between 1-2pm.

Shell and Waitrose are in the first phases of a partnership that John Bullock, Executive Vice President of Shell Global Retail Business describes as “the beginning of a strong relationship”. So far this relationship has seen two Little Waitrose convenience branches open on existing Shell forecourts and joint marketing campaigns, including “save 5p per litre on 25 litres of Shell fuel” coupons given to Waitrose customers at the till.

Alison Dibbs, 26, a spokeswoman for Climate Rush said, “I have always been proud to shop at Waitrose in the belief that this meant I was spending money at a supermarket that is committed to forward thinking and sustainable practice. I’m really disappointed that Waitrose have partnered up with Shell and am surprised it would make a decision so opposite to the ethics it promotes”.

Climate Rush called Waitrose for a statement but they declined to comment.

The protest continues online this week with a #dumpShell twitter campaign. Twitter users are being urged to tweet @WaitroseUK quotes from their favourite break-up songs to request that Waitrose ends their “bad romance” with Shell. Waitrose has responded to questions on its Facebook page about its partnership with Shell by banning users from posting.

High quality photos available at Demotix.

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Tags: Activism, Climate Change, climate rush, ethical consumer, oil, shell, social media, supermarkets, twitter, Valentine's Day, Waitrose
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Waitrose, Dump Shell!

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

waitroseshell We love Waitrose.

As far as a supermarket can be, Waitrose is at the ethical vanguard: from low carbon emissions to fairtrade and local products, right through to its model of worker co-ownership and shared profits, it is clear shopping at Waitrose is one way to love the planet.

But one thing about Waitrose is breaking our hearts. It’s struck up a new partnership with Shell - the oil company responsible for human rights abuses and massive oil spills in the Niger Delta and skyrocketing carbon emissions (they’ve pulled every single investment in sustainable renewable energy sources).

Shell and Waitrose are in the first phases of this unfortunate affair, which so far has seen two Little Waitrose convenience branches open on existing Shell forecourts. Shell continues to own the sites and Waitrose takes over the operation of each, acting as Shell’s agents for the sale of fuels. Shell and Waitrose have also embarked on a joint marketing campaign, including “save 5p per litre on 25 litres of Shell fuel” coupons given to Waitrose customers at the till.

How well does this sit with the John Lewis Partnership “responsibilities”: “We care about the environment. We make every effort to reduce our impact on the environment and to promote good environmental practice.“?

As we wrote last week during our #shellishell campaign, Shell are BAD. A study undertaken by the Eccumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility comments that frequent oil spills, poorly executed clean-ups and unfair compensation of the local Ogoni people, the exclusion of public scrutiny from Environmental Impact Assessments and gas flaring constitute ‘a daily reminder to communities of Shell’s apparent valuing of production above environmental and public health concerns’.

John Bullock, Executive Vice President of Shell Global Retail Business comments “We see this as the beginning of a strong relationship”, and Melanie Lane, Shell UK retail general manager, believes that the brands are “complimentary”. Climate Rush are here to let people know that they are not!

So this Valentine’s Day, please remind Waitrose that nothing says I love you less than Shell, and ask them to end this bad romance with our series of #dumpshell tweets.

@WaitroseUK are you caught in a bad romance? #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK have you found love in a hopeless place? #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK – you will survive without Shell #goonwalkoutthatdoor #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK - break up with Shell, find an ethical replacement! #tothelefttotheleft #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK - breaking up is never easy! Knowing me, knowing you, it’s the best thing that you could do #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK – Cry me an oil spill. You don’t have to say what you did, I already know, I found out from Shell #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK – I really feel like I’m losing my best friend #don’tspeak #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK –I’d like to help you in your struggle to be free #50waystoleaveShell #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK – I heard that you’ve settled now, that you found Shell and you’re married now. What happened to us? #sometimesithurtsinstead #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK – don’t marry Shell, have me! #dumpShell #shellishell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK if you dump Shell I’ll get back with you! #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK stop lovin’ Shell #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK I can’t believe you’re cheating on me with Shell! #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

@WaitroseUK When love is Shell, it is not love #dumpShell
Tweet to @WaitroseUK

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Tags: Climate Change, climate rush, environment, shell, Shell is Hell, uk activists, Waitrose
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Paul McCartney <3 Climate Rush 4eva

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Macca loves us so! We were a little bit shocked to realise the depths of Paul McCartney’s love yesterday evening. We opened the standard and saw that that he has been flattering us again by putting red sashes on statues in London to promote his new album Kisses On The Bottom.

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It’s just like how we sashed up statues in 2008 to call for better climate policy!

sashstatue

We will be tweeting him today to let him know how chuffed we are and how we can’t wait for our Valentine’s day present this year.

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Tags: Beatles, Climate Change, climate rush, Homage, Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney, Sashes, Statues, Valentine's Day
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PMQ’s - If you see Norman Baker!

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

PMQ’s: If you see Norman Baker please tell him to keep tar sands oil out of the EU!
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Yesterday morning, following our #shellishell action, a group of four climate rush campaigners decided that as it was Rising Tide’s #occupyoil day of action we would pose an oily question to our politicians as they arrived for PMQ’s.

Tar Sands oil extraction in Canada is the biggest energy project in the world and also one of the most polluting. Tar sands oil produces three to five times as many greenhouse gas emissions as conventional oil extraction; it’s so polluting that leading climate scientist James Hansen believes that runaway climate change will be almost inevitable if tar sands extraction is allowed to continue. The tar sands project has led to mass deforestation, it has polluted ponds which have in turn poisoned local water supplies. As a result of the tar sands project, communities on land where the tar sands project has been imposed are suffering from increased rates of cancers and auto-immune diseases.

President Obama rejected the application for the XL tar sands pipeline on the 8th of January 2012. This is very hopeful news because it has delayed any large-scale export of tar sands oil to Europe for the time being. However, plans to submit a proposal for the pipeline to follow a different route are underway - so the time is now to keep reminding politicians to keep that dirty oil away!

At the moment we use very little tar sands oil in the UK. The Fuel Quality Directive is a crucial piece of EU legislation which aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from road transport by 6% by 2020. As tar sands oil is 23% more polluting than conventional crude oil, should the FQD label tar sands oil as being a high emission fuel then this recognition would close off tar sands oil to the EU market. The Canadian Government in currently stalling plans for tar sands oil to be acknowledged as a high emission fuel by insisting that all forms of oil are tested first. In the meantime the Fuel Quality Directive has been sent to member states for consultation. At the moment Norman Baker, the LidDem minister responsible for the UK’s transport fuels policy is pro tar sands instead of encouraging the climate policies we need to prevent avoidable climate change.

As the Canadian Government lobby our politicians it has never been so important to speak up against tar sands oil in the UK and instead call for greater investment in sustainable, long term and renewable energy. There are lots of ways to encourage Norman Baker to back the EU Fuel Quality Directive - you could start by joining us at PMQ’s or by getting involved with the UK Tar Sands Network.

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Tags: Activism, Climate Change, climate rush, EU, MP's, Norman Baker, oil, PMQ's, tar sands
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#ShellisHell oil graffiti - Shell must invest in renewables

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

youcanbesureofhell

Eco-activist group, Climate Rush, has covered the pavement outside Shell’s UK headquarters with anti-oil slogans. Written in molasses, the stencils read: ‘£18bn profits last year, £0 spent on renewables. You can be sure of hell’

Climate Rush has joined the Occupy Oil day of action on February 8th to highlight the oil giants refusal to invest in renewable energy.

Since 2009, Shell has stated publicly that they are no longer going to invest in renewables, shifting the focus to biofuels, criticised by environmental groups as being responsible for rising food prices and deforestation.

Linda Cook, Shell’s executive director of gas and power, says “If there aren’t investment opportunities which compete with other projects we won’t put money in. We are businessmen and women. If there were renewables [which made money] we would put money into [them].”

Siobhan Grimes, spokesperson for Climate Rush counters “the role of the ‘businessman’ doesn’t give someone carte blanche to wreak havoc. Shell invests billions in oil – a product that cannot possibly return long term value for shareholders – it’s running out! It’s time for Shell to invest in clean, unlimited renewable energy. We’re calling on shareholders to occupy the boardrooms and demand just that.”

Hadyn Soflaei, a Shell shareholder says “Decent companies do not starve their future customers, but this is precisely what Shell is doing with their biofuel investments. I’m disgusted. I’ll be selling my shares and I encourage others to do the same.“

The #OccupyOil day of action will target Shell petrol pumps up and down the country, and hopes to highlight the role Shell plays in the human rights abuses and environmental degradation around the world. The day of action has been called by Rising Tide.

Climate Rush are putting the pressure on @Shell with a twitter protest today. Join in and demand renewable investments from Shell at www.climaterush.co.uk/shellishell. Tell the world Shell is Hell.

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Tags: #OccupyOil, #ShellisHell, Activism, Climate Change, climate rush, environmental activism, environmental graffiti, Environmental Justice, fracking, Occupy Oil, oil, renewable energy, shell, Shell is Hell, tar sands
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Get Radical 2012 - Tell us your inspirations

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

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: Civil rights sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi, 1963. The crowd pours sugar, ketchup and mustard on the activists.

The world we live in today and the freedoms we take for granted have come about thanks to tireless campaigning by generations of brave activists. These inspirational people have stood against the status quo; often sacrificing their careers, freedom and in many cases their lives.

At Climate Rush we draw inspiration from the Suffragettes and their radical direct-action campaign for suffrage that resulted in votes for women in 1918 and universal suffrage in 1928. Since then there have been many brave campaigners who have sacrificed everything in the search for equality and justice. We believe this kind of altruistic attitude and radical direct action are needed to convince government, big business and citizens to wake up to the devastating impacts of climate change on our planet.

We want 2012 to be the year the UK awakens to the fact that climate change is happening now - and if urgent action isn’t taken to curb its effects the future will look very bleak for future generations. We believe some of the best ideas for awakening public consciousness can be found rooted in our history. That’s why we need your help: we want to hear your personal activism inspirations - anything from anti-apartheid and civil rights protests to unsung heroes in the local community. Tell us what they did to inspire you and how it created positive change.

Once we’ve received all your fantastic inspirations we will invite you all to join us in getting together to re-enact one of the most innovative radical direct actions - as we did with our first ever Rush - giving it a modern twist that will highlight the urgent need to tackle climate change.

How to submit your inspirations:

Write us a short blog post: In less than 500 words, write about your favourite activist inspiration - that event, action or rally that showed bravery and inventiveness in the face of adversity. Include pictures and links to videos if possible and email everything to [email protected]. We will publish these on the Climate Rush blog.

Tweet us: Send @ClimateRush a tweet with your activist inspirations using the hashtag #activistinspiration

Youtube: Why not create a short video talking about your activist inspiration, send it to us and we will put our favourites on the Climate Rush Youtube channel.

Instagram/Twitter: Tweet us pictures of your favourite activism moments, remembering to include the hashtag #activistinspiration. We will then create a gallery to share through social media and inspire other activists.

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Tags: Activism, Activists, Apartheid, Campaigners, campaigns, Civil Rights, Climate Change, climate rush, environmental activism, environmental activists, Environmental Justice, Inspiration
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BMI Airlines: #dontgiveawayourplanet

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

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This week BMI Airlines have been giving away free flights through a competition called #150ticketgiveaway. Tweeters and Instagram users have been given photographic clues to ‘secret’ locations where they can claim free flight tickets.

Aviation is clearly identified as one of the key factors contributing to runaway climate change. Based on 150 average return flights to Europe (London to Barcelona) the #150ticketgiveaway will contribute a big fat 40 tonnes of unnecessary CO2 emissions into our atmosphere.

So please join us in tweeting BMI a little reminder of their responsibility to the planet.

Tweet #150ticketgiveaway

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Tags: #150ticketgiveaway, aviation, BMI Airlines, British Airways, cheap flights to europe, Climate Change, climate rush, CO2 Emissions, UK Flights
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No filibustering this Friday! Make it Lighter Later

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

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Two generations of Climate Rushers took up the PMQ post this morning to ask arriving MPs: Please vote for the Daylight Savings Bill.

The Bill is in its final stages and has got further than any other motion to shift Britain’s window of daylight to suit modern waking and working hours, and save energy by using daylight instead of electricity later into the day. The Bill is supported by the 10:10 campaign, whose www.lighterlater.org website is a hive of information on the benefits of shifting our clocks forward by one hour throughout the year. Our favourite fact: reports from Cambridge University show that moving the clocks forward would cut at least 447,000 tonnes of CO₂ pollution – equivalent to more than 50,000 cars driving all the way around the world – each year.

MP Dennis Skinner (Labour, Bolsover) stopped to chat while we were greeting the faces we’ve come to know well over the last year. He warned us of the problem of filibustering members who disrupt the reading of private members’ bills, of which the Daylight Savings Bill is one, and the undemocratic timing of the reading (this Friday 20th, which is a constituency day rather than a working parliamentary day).

However, thanks to 10:10‘s incredible campaigning work, this Bill is in with a chance against the odds. They need 102 MPs to secure the vote on Friday and are very close to getting there. Make sure this carbon-saving and forward-looking Bill goes through by tweeting your MP today using the brilliant Lighter Later tweeting tool. Non-tweeting Rushers can email and phone too.

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Tags: 1010, Carbon footprint, Climate Change, climate rush, CO2 pollution, Daylight Savings Bill, global warming solutions, lighter later, MP's
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World-changing designers and activists wanted

Monday, January 16th, 2012

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Climate Rush has incredibly high ambitions for 2012. We think we need to. As the Guardian reported in November, the window of opportunity to change our fossil fuel infrastructure is coming to a close, and if we don’t act before 2017, we will have lost our chance to stop irreversible climate change.

This year we’ll work harder than ever to make those who can make significant cuts to climate change emissions sit up, take notice, and act. Be they governments, individuals, or corporations, our aim is to create a network of activists who will not cease in reminding them of their responsibility to our generation, to future generations and to vulnerable communities already suffering the early effects of climate change. We will offer solutions wherever we challenge an old and unsustainable way of life.

Our first step in making this network as mighty as it must be is to let the world know about it. So we need Climate Rush’s most beautiful, fresh and attention-grabbing graphics yet to get the message out on notice-boards, toilet-doors, bus-stops, cash-machines… anywhere a would-be Rusher might be, just waiting to take their future into their own hands.

If you’d like to be the brilliant volunteer designer of this flyer and sticker campaign, send three samples of your work, or a link to your online portfolio, to [email protected] by Wednesday, 25th January.

If you’d like to be the first to know about our upcoming actions, join our new SWAT team weekly bulletin, with all the information you need to get involved straight away. Send your email address to [email protected].

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Tags: Activism, Art, Climate Change, climate rush, Graphics Designers, volunteering
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Heathrow - bringing climate change to our doorstep

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

It’s clear that the fight against Heathrow isn’t over. Last week as we took up our weekly pre-PMQ pitch outside the MPs’ entrance to Parliament at Westminster tube, we were confronted by a giant poster in prime lobbying position. Its message to the politicians who walk past it every day on their way to work: “Only Heathrow brings growth to our doorstep. The world’s emerging markets are growing at over 8%. Heathrow is best placed to bring it home.” This week, the sign had been amended to reflect the environmental cost of of airport expansion.

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It’s a fertile time for lobbying the government on aviation. Heathrow is desperate to expand, being at 98% of its capacity already, and London airports expected to reach capacity by 2030. The Department for Transport last week closed their consultation on aviation, and has just appointed a vocal opponent of Heathrow’s third runway as its new Transport Secretary. Southend (newly dubbed ‘London Southend’) and City Airports are both set to expand, despite Cameron’s election pledge to refuse additional runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

In the current economic climate it’s understandable the government would be susceptible to an airport which is playing on its economic fears - that business will leave the UK without additional capacity. But as Ken Livingstone points out in this interview on Radio 4, only 4 out of 10 flights out of Heathrow are business-related, and “we have to make a tough choice to reduce the amount of holiday traffic going through in order to make sure we develop links with the emerging markets… we have, in the west, to live within our airport capacity because the environmental implications are so shocking.” This is a time to embrace sustainable business models, invest in renewable energy and sustainable transportation, and make the UK an attractive tourist destination rather than a network of polluted and noisy suburbs we can’t wait to hop on a plane to escape.

The UK is already not meeting its current carbon budget, and will fall even further behind if airports are allowed to expand any further. Our air pollution laws are also being breached, and communities suffering side effects of airports which don’t contribute to their local economies, but suck life out of the area by bulldozing existing businesses and creating zones so noisy as to make white collar and clerical work impossible. So bravo to the subvertisers making their dent in the aviation lobby. We vow to fight airports in favour of real sustainable solutions for communities both here and in the ‘emerging markets’ who stand to lose the most if we carry on flying and emitting beyond our capacity.

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Tags: airport expansion, aviation, city airport, Climate Change, climate rush, Heathrow, heathrow third runway
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Posts Tagged ‘Climate Change’

Waitrose, Dump Shell!

Paul McCartney <3 Climate Rush 4eva

PMQ’s - If you see Norman Baker!

#ShellisHell oil graffiti - Shell must invest in renewables

Get Radical 2012 - Tell us your inspirations

BMI Airlines: #dontgiveawayourplanet

No filibustering this Friday! Make it Lighter Later

World-changing designers and activists wanted

Heathrow - bringing climate change to our doorstep

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