Refinery Reform Campaign/groundWork
(project of texas SEED COALITION)
Media Advisory

For Immediate Release For More Information Contact:
October 28, 2002 Denny Larson (USA): 800-670-3841;  dennylarson@earthlink.net
Bobby Peek (So. Africa): 011-27-82-464-1383; bobby@groundwork.org.za

First Ever Review of Shell Oil's Global Environmental Performance.
Major New Book Marks Anniversary of Shell Critics' Execution.

"Riding the Dragon: Royal Dutch Shell and the Fossil Fire" Investigates
Environmental, Worker Safety & Human Rights Record vs. Company Rhetoric.

(London, U.K.) Human rights and environmental watchdog groups will mark the seventh anniversary of the execution of eight Shell activists including noted Nigerian poet, Ken Saro-Wiwa, with the international release of a major new book that probes, for the first time, the global footprint of the world's second largest oil company. With discoveries as recent as today's headlines, Riding the Dragon compares riveting examples of Shell's historical and ongoing problems - many with life and death consequences - against their self-professed rebirth as a "new" company committed to human rights, sustainable development, and environmental protection.

Riding the Dragon: Royal Dutch Shell and the Fossil Fire is a new 300+ page paperback book written by noted corporate researcher, Jack Doyle, who received wide acclaim for Taken for a Ride, a major work on the American Automobile Industry. Mr. Doyle has published a number of other in-depth corporate analyses. Texas-based Refinery Reform Campaign, a project of the Texas Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, is making Riding the Dragon available for free to reporters and activists on the World Wide Web at www.shellfacts.com

WHAT: Shell activists from around the world will hold a press conference and seek a meeting with top company officials on immediate steps Shell can take in a select number of "hot spot" areas to improve community relations and plant and worker safety. Recommendations on performance and community relations will be provided.

WHO: Goldman Environmental Prize winner, Bobby Peek, groundWork, South Africa; Denny Larson, Refinery Reform Campaign, USA; Hilton Kelley, Shell refinery neighbor, Port Arthur, TX; Desmond D'sa, South Durban Shell refinery neighborhood leader, South Africa; Asume Osuaka, Environmental Rights Action, Ogoni, Nigeria; Iris Carter, Norco Louisiana neighbor that led a successful campaign to relocate her community away from a Shell Chemical plant.

WHERE: Global Press Conference in London - London Action Resource Centre (LARC, 62 Fieldgate St., London E1. Whitechapel or Aldgate East tubes; tel: 020 7377 9088.)
There will also be a vigil for justice with banner and delivery of the new Shell book at Shell Centre, The Cut, Waterloo at 11am.
Press Events in New York, Texas, Louisiana, Delaware, Durban, South Africa; Nigeria, Manila, more and exact locations TBA.

WHEN: Nov. 12, 2002; 1pm London time. Event times at other locations to be announced.

WHY: Shell claims it has been "reborn" as new environmentally and socially conscious oil company, but no independent investigation has ever been conducted until now.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES - GLOBAL SHELL REPORT CARD & MORE

Web: www.shellfacts.com, www.groundwork.org.za or www.refineryreform.org



>>we would ask you to let folks know that we will be holding a vigil for
justice with banner at Shell HQ at 11 AM and delivering the new Shell Book
to the folks there then --- anyone is welcome to join us