Why is Shell not proud of their profit making?

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday February 01, 2007 18:19

by Dublin Shell to Sea - Shell chun Sáile

dublinshelltosea at gmail dot com

c/o 134 Phibsborough Road Dublin 1

0876181620

Is it because the company doesn't want to be asked to use its billions to clean up its mess?

Most of us are happy if people think we are good at what we do. There's a certain sense of pride attached to the notion of doing a job well, and getting better and achieving our aims. Some of us get satisfaction through family and interests, maybe even altruism or hedonism, but most of like to think that if our co-workers or employers were asked if we any good at our jobs thay would say yes.

So why don't Shell have a big banner outside their office announcing that they are making record profits? Why don't they issue a press release saying that they are doing better than ever, and things are improving for their shareholders like never before?

Why aren't they celebrating?

Is it because they are ashamed at the obscene amount of their profits? Is it because they don't want to be asked why they can't use some of their billions to clean up their mess?

Shell to Sea protesters in Dublin today drew attention to just how much Shell are making by asking passers-by to calculate how long it would take for them to earn what Shell made last year.

Shell's profits don't include the amount of oil and gas reserves they own, or the huge amount of equipment and buildings they are leasing or that they own. This is money that they have after they have paid all the bills (although not the security costs at Bellanaboy- the taxpayer pays that), and everyone's salary. This is pure profit for their shareholders.

This year's figure - €20, 000, 000, 000 is deceptive because it hides the fact that the dollar is weak at the moment, and energy has to be traded in dollars (Saddam Hussein started to sell oil in euros a few years ago, and look what happened to him). Profits are way up this year. The company never had it so good.

So why aren't they having a big party with free lemonade for everyone?