Multinational oil company Shell is a primary sponsor for the exhibit entitled "Atmosphere: Exploring Climate Change" at the London Science Museum. Environmentalists charge the public was confused as to the relationship of the company to such scientific event. Head-scratching and ire from critics were noted upon the release of the official partnership.
Some people thought the Shell behind the exhibit was a different company with the same name, but it is indeed the large oil corporation that provides petroleum products to many nations. It turns out that the influence of Shell on one part of the exhibit was made public by the release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
The collaboration began in the 1960s when independent scientist James Lovelock wrote a paper discussing his predictions for the Earth in year 2000. Lovelock is popular for his apocalyptic and controversial theories associated with climate change. The said predictions involved a transformation of the planet and damage to the human and animal civilizations as the earthly climate completely goes haywire. In climate circles, he is known for his theory on Earth's ability to self-regulate its systems, referred to variously as the Gaia Theory or Earth System Science.
It was discovered that Shell commissioned Lovelock's paper, which contains the information the museum wanted to present. The musuem needed to obtain Shell's permission, and so the collaboration began. Since then, both parties exchanged page after page of email messages, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. "These emails reveal that the Science Museum is a significant cog in Shell's propaganda machine," said Chris Garrard, an environmental campaigner.
"In terms of the broader content, for me what was really interesting was how Lovelock sketched out the big trends driven by a rising population - in terms of energy use, urbanization, public transport, communications, etc.," a Shell employee wrote to the museum. "I wondered if this was something you wanted to reflect? If possible I'd prefer the wording not to focus on pollution and environmental damage."
In defense of the effects of carbon emissions brought about by companies like Shell, the notion is that the information to be presented will focus on the modernization and land consumption as the reasons for the physical and financial impairments from extreme climate changes. Shell also appealed to the museum to present its company as an energy corporation, rather than a petro-chemical one. It also aims to see an exhibit that centralizes on urbanization changes, instead of pollution and environmental deterioration.
Photo: Heather Cowper | Flickr
