Shell’s unwelcome sponsorship of the arts

Earlier this year campaigners and climate activists applauded the end of the Shell Classic International series at the South Bank Centre in London. 

SEE: Campaigners celebrate end of Shell’s Southbank sponsorship

Protestors, including from the Shell OUT SOUNDS organisation and PlatformLondon.org strongly objected to what has been aptly described as “oil-branded concerts.”

All take particular exception to Shell’s atrocious track record in Nigeria.

Today The Irish Times has published an article reporting that the Shell to Sea campaign group in Ireland intends to mount a public protest about Shell’s sponsorship of the largest traditional Irish music Festival, “Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.”  

The festival is due to be held in Sligo from the 10th to 17th August and is expected to attract an attendance of up to a quarter of a million people.

Shell to Sea claim that the Irish President Michael D Higgins has been placed in an awkward position of opening the event, bearing in mind that he has  previously spoken out against the controversial Shell led Corrib Gas project in Ireland.

UPDATE 17:10 Wednesday 6 August 2014

The Irish Times published an article this evening reporting that “The organisers of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann have bowed to pressure and rejected sponsorship of the annual traditional music festival by oil giant, Shell.”

SEE: Fleadh bows to pressure and gives money back to Shell

UPDATE Saturday 9 August 2014

SEE: If the Fleadh can go ahead as planned without Shell’s money, why did the organisers seek the sponsorship in the first place?