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Take the challengeOil giant’s US president says hugely controversial drilling operations off Alaska will stop for ‘foreseeable future’ as drilling finds little oil and gas.
Earlier this year, the US government gave Shell Oil the thumbs up to restart drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean. Many we're confused, disappointed and feeling a little dirty after hearing the news.
Well, today tells a different story. One about people-power helping to bring about real change.
Shell is abandoning its controversial Arctic oil exploration indefinitely in the face of mounting opposition and finding insufficient indications of oil and gas to justify the high costs of its exploratory drilling well in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.
Environmentalists are celebrating the announcement as a major victory over the oil industry, although some say cost issues were most likely the main driver of this decision.
Reacting to the news, Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said:
"Big oil has sustained an unmitigated defeat. They had a budget of billions, we had a movement of millions. For three years we faced them down, and the people won. "- John Sauven
Environmental groups have vehemently opposed Shell's Arctic drilling, even blocking a ship necessary for drilling activities in port in Seattle and Portland, Oregon using a flotilla of kayak activists and people suspended below a bridge.
The fossil fuel industry is looking more vulnerable than ever before, thanks to a movement of millions taking action for what they believe in.
Now it's more important than ever we keep the pressure on Shell and other companies like them to stop their damaging extractive activites.
So let's enjoy this moment and remember how powerful we are when we act together. The wise words of Margaret Mead summed it up better that I ever could:
"Don't ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."- Margaret Mead
And Shell, try not to hit an iceberg on your way out!
[Header image: Greenpeace]
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