Shell vindictive on Greenpeace, say Thompson and Fry
DAME EMMA THOMPSON, Stephen Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch have put their names to an open letter accusing Shell of waging a “callous and vindictive” legal battle against Greenpeace.
The actors, along with environmental campaigners including Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion group, have accused Shell chief Wael Sawan of personally overseeing “one of the biggest attacks on Greenpeace’s right to protest in the organisation’s 53-year history”.
Shell sued Greenpeace for $2.1m (£1.7m) in damages last year in response to a protest at one of its vessels.
The letter to Mr Sawan reads: “You may believe that this lawsuit will dissuade all those justifiably alarmed by the impact your industry is having on the planet and the people who live on it from expressing their dissent through protest. On the contrary, it makes your company look callous and vindictive and will serve only to increase support for organisations like Greenpeace who seek to hold you to account.”
Shell has said it “absolutely” respects the right to protest but argued the boarding of the moving vessel was “unlawful and extremely dangerous”.
Greenpeace activists boarded one of Shell’s platforms in January 2023 near the Canary Islands while it was being transported to the Shetland Islands. The unit was occupied for 13 days.
Shell said the scale of the damages sought reflects the cost of extra security to keep its crew and subcontractors safe. The company is also seeking a ban on similar protests.
However, Greenpeace and its allies have accused Shell of seeking to “silence” the campaign group.
A Shell spokesman said: “The right to protest is fundamental and Shell respects it absolutely. But it must be done safely and lawfully.”
‘It will serve to increase support for organisations like Greenpeace who seek to hold you to account’