Shell and Siemens [RE-wrenches]

[David Blecker]

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Wrenches,

For those of you who's purchasing decisions are influenced by more than 
just price, read on.

While on the surface, Shell's acquisition of Siemens may appear to be a 
good thing for solar in terms of greater capitalization and increased 
access to world markets, it does come with a cost.  Shell, along with the 
other major oil companies, has a dismal record of alleged human rights 
violations through its oil exploration and development activities.  Rather 
than offer a long-winded narrative, I would point you to the following 
links to learn more:

http://www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/motherlode/shell/shellgame.html

http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/nigeriabkg1214.htm

http://www.mcspotlight.org/beyond/oil.html

Our organization does a lot of RE work with Native American communities 
with the objective, in part, to offset the economic, environmental and 
social damage inflicted from fossil fuel development and use.  While there 
are no absolutes, I have found it necessary to select product based not 
only on cost and performance, but on the real or perceived ethical 
implications of a particular product.

The point is simply that our purchasing or product recommendations DO have 
consequences.  Before embracing the Shell-Siemens partnership, realize that 
it limits our ability to keep dollars out of the hands of corporations that 
have shown little regard for rights of individuals and for the 
planet.  Given that most RE installs are not done for purely economical 
reasons, its important to be able to inform customers about where their $$ 
are going.

Now back to our regular programming,
David


David A. Blecker, P.E.  Co-Director, Earth Energy Systems, Ltd.
Phone:	608-424-1870
Toll-Free: 	800-566-3902		
Fax:		608-424-1810
e-mail:	blecker at earthsys.org

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