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Shell shareholders to hear B.C. complaints about planned methane project

Apr 20, 2008
By Ian Austin

The B.C.-based watchdog group Dogwood Initiative will speak to Shell Oil shareholders in Europe to express concern over a proposed coalbed methane plant at the headwaters of the salmon-bearing Stikine, Skeena and Nass Rivers.

"This is the case of a risky unproven industry being proposed in a region that already has a rich economy based on wild salmon," said Dogwood Initiative corporate campaigner Eric Swanson, who will address the multinational oil corporation's Annual General Meeting in The Netherlands.

"The people of the region have stated clearly that the minimal benefits of coalbed methane are not worth the tremendous risks to the environment.

"I think Shell has grossly underestimated how much people in this part of the world care about their home.

"If Shell pushes ahead, this conflict is only going to deepen."

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