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Greenpeace criticizes BP’s “Broken Promises” to investors, consumers
Media Releases | Greenpeace Canada | April 15, 2010
15 April 2010 (Calgary, Alberta) — Greenpeace, First Nations, other environmental groups and a coalition of shareholders co-ordinated by FairPensions, are opposing energy giant BP’s tar sands plans today in Calgary and London.
In Calgary, Greenpeace activists are “greenwashing” the BP headquarters. Dressed in business suits and top hats, with money flowing from their pockets, they are painting huge 6-foot tall letters spelling out “TAR SANDS” with green paint. They also have a banner reading: “BP = Broken Promises.” The Calgary activity coincides with similar protests today in London outside BP’s AGM. Today’s activities are the culmination of two weeks of protests against BP across the UK, coordinated by the UK Tar Sands Network.
The protests focus on BP’s claim to be “Beyond Petroleum.” BP has purchased a 50 per cent stake in the Sunrise Project in Alberta, an extraction project that by 2012 could produce 200,000 barrels of tar sands oil a day. A shareholder resolution has been tabled highlighting concerns about the financial risks of tar sands production and the reputational risks of environmental damage and negative impacts on Indigenous community livelihoods. The resolution will be discussed and voted on at the AGM. The Indigenous Environmental Network will have speakers addressing the BP AGM.
“BP’s involvement in the toxic tar sands industry exposes the hypocrisy behind its carefully crafted image of being beyond petroleum,” said Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Melina Laboucan-Massimo. “With its stake in the tar sands, BP more accurately stands for “Broken Promises” and can’t claim any longer to be “Beyond Petroleum”. BP’s involvement in the tar sands has seriously dirtied its image. The tar sands are wreaking havoc on local communities as the developments continue to fragment forests, destroy vibrant and living ecosystems, tread on Indigenous rights and cripple communities in northern Alberta.”The Canadian and Albertan governments are allowing tar sands projects to proceed despite the fact that many directly infringe on the treaty rights of First Nation communities. Just last week, the Duncan First Nation and Horse Lake First Nation successfully applied to the Supreme Court of Canada to intervene in the face of mounting tar sands extraction on the basis that their rights under Treaty 8 are being violated. The case may have major legal implications for tar sands development, including pipelines and tar sands infrastructure projects.
“We are seeing a terrifyingly high rate of cancer in Fort Chipewyan where I live,” said George Poitras, a former chief of Mikisew Cree First Nation who is attending the BP AGM. “We are convinced that these cancers are linked to the tar sands development on our doorstep. It is shortening our lives. That’s why we no longer call it ‘dirty oil’ but ‘bloody oil’. The blood of Fort Chipewyan people is on these companies’ hands.”
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For more information, please contact:
- Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, 780-504-5567 (on location in Calgary)
- Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous Environmental Network, 011 44 7504915014 (attending the BP AGM with George Poitras)
- Raina Delisle, Greenpeace media officer, 604-253-7701, ext 21, or 778-228-5404
Tagged with: first nations, indigenous environmental network, bp, greenpeace canada, investment, greenpeace uk, shareholder activism
