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US climate scientist Dr. James Hansen to Norwegian PM: pull Statoil out of tar sands
Media Releases | Greenpeace | May 18, 2010
19 May 2010 (NORWAY) — On the day of the Statoil AGM in Stavanger, Norway, Dr. James Hansen, one of the world’s foremost climate scientists, has thrown his support behind a Greenpeace and WWF motion that calls on Statoil to withdraw from its contentious investments in the tar sands through an op-ed and a full-page ad directed at the Prime Minister of Norway, placed in two Norwegian national newspapers.
The op-ed will run today in the major Norwegian national daily Aftenposten¸ and the full-page ad, cosigned by 26 environmental and social justice groups as well as several First Nations affected by tar sands projects, will run today on page 7 of Dagsavisen. The timing of the ad and op-ed coincides with the Greenpeace and WWF initiative to urge Statoil to withdraw from the tar sands. The motion by the two groups will be voted on at today’s AGM at 17:00hrs CET in Stavanger, Norway.
“Norway stands today at a crossroads for the world,” reads the ad, which was translated into Norwegian. “Norway could lead the way down a path of destruction, initiating a continual unfolding of climate disasters over the course of this century, by developing the tar sands — and, incidentally, decimating Canada’s carbon-storing boreal forest, wasting massive quantities of fresh water and natural gas, and violating human rights of Canada’s Indigenous people. Or Norway could stand tall among nations, renouncing exploitation of the tar sands. Norway would then have the moral authority to badger and cajole the great economic powers, drawing world attention to the actions that are needed to preserve our planet with its remarkable life.”
The ad, which can be viewed here, and here in English, is a direct plea to Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to use his power as leader of the Norwegian government, 67 per cent owner of Statoil, to vote in favour of the motion to pull Statoil out of the tar sands.
The timing of Dr. Hansen’s plea is particularly relevant, as he has recently been recognized in Norway with the prestigious Sophie Prize for his outstanding work on climate issues. The 2010 Sophie Prize was awarded to Dr. Hansen for “his clear communication of the threat posed by climate change and for his genuine commitment to future generations.” Dr. Hansen will be in Norway to accept his award on June 22 and 23.
Support for the motion has been growing across the Nordic countries over the past five weeks, with more and more investors voicing their concern over the vast environmental and social implications of tar sands extraction, and the departure that this investment represents from Statoil’s purported image of a responsible oil company.
The Hansen op-ed, which can be viewed here in English, contains similar language to the ad and is also a direct plea to the Prime Minister, with a more personal tone than the ad.
“Prime Minister Stoltenberg, the world has reached a critical juncture in the climate debate,” reads the op-ed. “We can either move into the production of the most damaging fossil fuel, or we can begin to address our destructive addiction. We desperately need leadership at this time. I am confident that you could provide that leadership. Please do not prove me wrong. I look forward to my visit to Norway in June. I hope that it can be a time to celebrate Norwegian leadership in responsible environmental policies.”
Media who wish to speak with Dr. Hansen directly can do so by contacting Jessica Wilson at +47 4782 3154.
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For more information, please contact:
Jessica Wilson, media & PR officer, on temporary assignment in Norway, +47 4782 3154
Martin Norman, Greenpeace climate & energy campaigner in Norway, +47 9580 4950
Truls Gulowsen, campaign director of Greenpeace in Norway, +47 9010 7904
Tagged with: greenpeace, investment, james hansen, statoil, norway
