Shell Out

Climate crimes have perpetrators; they also have facilitators. For years, Shell has knowingly funded our climate crisis. Now this morally bankrupt company is positioning itself as part of the ‘zero carbon’ solution (while continuing to invest the vast majority of its capital in fossil fuel extraction). It is shameless greenwash. By accepting Shell’s money, complete with ‘gagging clause’ not to do or say anything that might embarrass their sponsor, the Science Museum enables that greenwash – and makes itself complicit in Shell’s past and present crimes.

On 19th May, the Science Museum opened its “Our Future Planet” exhibition, exploring solutions to climate change. The exhibition is sponsored by Shell [sic]. Since the exhibition’s opening, various environmental groups have been urging the Science Museum to stop accepting fossil fuel sponsorship. On 19th June, UKSCN activists (whose placards actually feature in the exhibition) and XR Scientists staged a peaceful “occupation” of the exhibition; they were evicted by the police. Meanwhile, Extinction Rebellion Hammersmith & Fulham, with the help of other London groups, has maintained a daily presence outside the Museum, giving flyers and stickers to the museum’s visitors, the vast majority of whom have been shocked by the museum’s relationship with Shell and supportive of the protest. This Saturday 31st July, XRHF is planning a bigger action outside the Museum entrance. The action will be combining hard-hitting imagery with playful street performance, e.g. ahead-in-the-wall display for children to fire water pistols at. The cast of characters includes: a Grim Reaper, a Broken Earth and Peter Petrolhead running rampant. (See photos for more information.)

In a letter to Jonathan Newby, Director of the Science Museum, XR H&F said: “ The Science Museum’s effective endorsement of Shell’s inadequate carbon targets is shocking. Shell’s history of climate change denial, obfuscation and greenwash – not to mention their human rights abuses – is well-documented; that the Science Museum should choose to ignore that and instead confer respectability on this company is a betrayal of their duty to science and young people.” As David Wilkins from Greenwash.earth said: “When tobacco sponsorship became toxic, Government policy on smoking changed. We want the same to happen with fossil fuels sponsorship. Perhaps if Governments removed their subsidies to companies like Shell, they could properly fund our institutions again with the billions they would receive in additional public revenue.”

This action comes two days after the Science Museum was revealed by Culture Unstained(as reported in Channel 4 News) to have signed a gagging clause with Shell. It was also revealed that the Director of the Science Museum asked Shell to “champion” the exhibition to The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (a fossil fuel industry body) in an apparent bid to secure additional funding for the exhibition. The Channel 4 News report has provoked an outcry from the public, with Science Museum trending on Twitter today. Dr Emma Saya, a contributor to the exhibition said in the Channel 4 News report: “When I realised who the sponsors were …. I felt embarrassed to be involved because If I’d know who was sponsoring the exhibition, that it was by a big oil company, I wouldn’t have contributed.”

The Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and other cultural institutions have already stopped accepting fossil fuel sponsorship. The Photographer of the Year sponsorship at the Natural History Museum has recently been replaced from Shell to renewables company, Orsted, though they have not ruled out fossil fuel sponsorship or renaming their Hintze Hall. The Science Museum has invested its reputation in a morally stranded asset – and the sooner it realises that, the better for the museum and the planet.

As Greta tweeted: “The “Science” Museum just killed irony (and their own reputation)”

Email: press@extinctionrebellion.uk
Phone: +44(0)7756136396
Facebook| Instagram| Twitter| Media Assets | Donate
#ShellOut #DropShell #ExtinctionRebellion

Further information:
TheGuardian
SHELL’S LONG-RUNNING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOUTHBANK CENTRE AND
BFI TO END THIS YEAR:
Culture Unstained

XR H and F correspondence with Science Museum MD, Jonathan Newby and Dame
Archer, Chair of Trustees.
Google Docs

Link to a variety of information given to visitors to the Science Museum
Link Tree

ABOUT EXTINCTION REBELLION
Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and increasingly rapid climate change. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, and the societal collapse and mass loss of life that that implies. The younger generation, racially marginalised communities and the Global South are on the front-line. No-one will escape the devastating impacts. Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government. Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
What Emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers |This Is Not A Drill: AnExtinction Rebellion Handbook
Get involved
● In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us
know how you can help out.
● Start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
● Find your local group.
● Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German,
Italian and UK websites.
● And while your time and energy are of most importance, if you are financially
able to donate money, see our crowdfunder.

Another great site by the Dangerous Globe