Trying to prevent catastrophe

The sHell NO! campaign’s greatest concern is that, unless we humans stop the mad rush to extract every possible drop of crude oil, global warming will pass a tipping point and enter a catastrophic phase. Their immediate concern is that, despite their assertions, Shell will not be able to drill safely in the arctic.

Even if Shell’s assertion that they can drill safely in the Arctic is sincere, their environmental record gives the lie to the assertion. You only have to look back as far as 2012, when the drilling rig Kulluk broke loose and ran aground on the Alaska coast. (Search “Coast Guard blames Shell risk-taking in Kulluk rig accident”) In addition, any number of sources have covered the appalling record of violations on board the Noble Discoverer that resulted in numerous felonies and $12.2 million in fines. (A mere pittance as a percentage of their vast oil profits.)

But the more telling information will be found by researching Shell’s abominable record in the Niger River Delta, home of the Ogoni people of Nigeria. (Search “Oil, the Curse of the Ogoni” and/or “A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary” by Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria’s heroic martyr.)

I salute Greenpeace, Rising Tide Seattle and all the kayaktavists who put themselves at risk in Everett and Seattle. If, by their efforts, they move us even a little bit closer to stopping the madness, it will have been well worth the effort.

Jackie Minchew

Everett