Shell's Greenwash Stunt: Driving Around (Some of) the World [1]
Submitted by Diane Farsetta [2] on
"In a bid to underline its 'green [4]' credentials, Shell [5] is currently sending a fleet of Volkswagen Golfs in [Around the World in 80 Days' protagonist Phileas] Fogg's footsteps, on an expedition 'around the world in 50 fill-ups'," reports The Independent. The goal is "to win a place in the Guinness Book of Records for circumnavigating the globe in the most fuel-efficient manner possible," using "Shell's specially customized vehicles." However, unlike Fogg, Shell's journey will avoid Africa. Guy Adams writes, "Shell has a - shall we say? - dodgy record in those parts, as a result of its ongoing operations in Nigeria." Environmental, social and human rights concerns - including the 1995 murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa [6] - have resulted in Shell [5] boycotts. Shell spokespeople have called Nigeria the company's "worst public relations nightmare [7]," according to the Multinational Monitor [8]. But the company insists that its "strange itinerary" is simply due to "difficulties taking all the cars through customs" in Africa.