Shell, Greenpeace and  Brent Spar
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: November 2, 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 391
ISBN-13: 9780333745465
Subjects: Central government policies; Pollution & threats to the environment; Pressure groups & lobbying; Nature; Environmental Studies; Nature/Ecology; United Kingdom, Great Britain; Environmental Conservation & Protection - General; Environmental Science; General; Political Science / General; Management - General; Decision making; Decommissioning; Environmental aspects; Environmental policy; North Sea Region; Oil storage tanks
First sentence: This book may seem to some to be a large undertaking over a minor oil industry decision about the disposal of a redundant facility, but the significance of the events described in this book is indicated by the following quotations - selected from a lengthy list of similar sentiments: Brent Spar will enter history as the symbol of our failure to establish our position and connect in a meaningful way with a wider audience (Heinz Rothermund, Managing Director, Shell Expro, Society of Petroleum Engineers Conference, 15 April 1997).
Description: "The decision by multinational Shell not to dispose of the Brent Spar oil facility in the North Atlantic was taken after several occupations of the structure by Greenpeace, and as a result of large-scale pro-Greenpeace protest in the UK, Germany and other continental countries. The case is often cited as showing the power of single-issue pressure groups and is presented as leading to a pivotal reconsideration by big business of the importance of environmental dimensions.

However, detailed research proves that Shell changed its mind on the Brent Spar issue because of the corporate structure of the company, which meant that some parts were reluctant to bear the bad publicity.".

"Using this case-study, Grant Jordon considers the role of scientific advice in shaping governmental decisions on matters such as BSE, GM foods, global warming - and the consequences of a divided scientific view. He looks as the manipulation of the media by groups and companies attempting to control the political agenda."--BOOK JACKET.