NGO outrage at Shell-funded report on Nigeria oil spills

TOKYO – Reports that a major UN investigation into Nigeria oil spills funded by oil giant Shell relies more on figures produced by oil companies and Nigerian state statistics than on community testimony and organizations on the ground who work with communities, has outraged NGO Friends of the Earth.
After releasing some information last week about [...]

World Bank told to keep their hands off climate change billions

SINGAPORE ~  Environmental organizations throughout the world say the World Bank is not fit to be the custodian of the billions of dollars being set aside by industrialised countries to combat climate change.
More than 140 organisations issued a statement in Poznan today in which they make it clear they do not trust the bank, [...]

Palm oil club is a dismal failure: Greenpeace

SINGAPORE ~ The palm oil industry body, the Roundtable on Sustainable Oil (RSPO), has failed dismally to take up the challenge of sustainable oil, Greenpeace said yesterday.”‘Sustainable palm oil’ continues to be a farce while RSPO stands exposed as a weak and ineffectual industry body.” said Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaigner.

Shell being sued for oil-spills, environmental damage

LONDON ~ Four Nigerian citizens, Friends of the Earth Netherlands and Nigeria will file a unique lawsuit against Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell in The Hague tomorrow, Friday 07 November.
For the first time in history Shell’s international headquarters will have to appear in court to respond to charges of causing environmental damage abroad.
The Nigerian plaintiffs, fishermen [...]

Malaysia palm oil lobby accused of green-wash, dishonesty

SINGAPORE ~ Malaysian palm oil is finding its way into the fuel tanks of automobiles and other road vehicles in Europe despite concerns about its carbon balance and the rainforest being destroyed to produce it.
According to a new report by Friends of the Earth international, claims by the UK’s Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) that Malaysian [...]

Plastics from sugar cane coming to Asia

SINGAPORE ~ Braskem, a Brazilian petrochemical company, and Japan’s Toyota group have decided to bring to Asia what they choose to call  “green” polyethylene.
Braskem plans to produce the polyethylene from sugar-cane for the first time in the world on an industrial scale by 2011, it said in a statement.

Activists taking Wal-Mart to court in landmark action

USA ~ An American environmental group is taking the world’s largest retailer to court.
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is taking the massive Wal-Mart corporation to court for its failure to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by new proposed Wal-Mart Supercenters.
In a landmark case that will be watched by major worldwide retailers such as [...]

Honda touts routemaster as fuel saver

HONDA Motor Company is to launch a car navigation service to guide drivers to routes that will help them consume less fuel. The new service will be accessible via the car navigation system in the remodelled Honda Legend high-end sedan to be launched on September 05, the company said in a press release.

Shell found guilty by UK watchdog

“If Shell were serious about sourcing sustainable energy, then they would be far better placed investing in renewable energy, such as wind, tidal or solar power.”

American revolution to start this week: ACE official

ONE of the world’s most important biofuel events gets under way next week when the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)  21st Annual Ethanol Conference and Trade Show takes place in Omaha, USA.
Environmentalists will be amused to note that the event, which brings together the movers and shakers of the US ethanol industry, starts with a round [...]