Working Together
By Maritime Union of Australia
The alliance between the MUA, Greenpeace and other environmental
groups campaigning for cleaner and safer seas was once thought
impossible. The old guard of Greenpeace was reluctant to work
with unions, although both organisations were fighting a common
cause. It is great to see the MUA and Green groups lining up and
uniting in the fight for the environment.
Energy giant BP petroleum spend $200 million on the re-branding
of their image each year, according to Greenpeace spokesperson
Lena Ashlby. But they only spend 15 per cent on renewable energy
each, and they still spend about $6 billion on oil and gas exploration
each year (Lateline, ABC TV, August 13).
The change of name from British Petroleum to Beyond Petroleum,
an endeavour to present a complete new environmental image, has
been met with scepticism from Greenpeace. However BP says to give
it time. "If there is social, environment or safety kind issues,
I think where we will go is that those things will always be able
to be brought up," Mark Glazebrook, BP corporate citizenship adviser
told Lateline. "Even if it involves money, we still want people
to bring it up," he said.
Scepticism will remain. Is this a serious change of heart or another
clever marketing ploy? According to Greg Bourne, BP president
for South East Asia and Australia, there is a triple bottom line,
not a gimmick to improve its performance on environmental matters
on ethical grounds. They mean to become more transparent about
environmental issues.
The track record of accomplishments by BP in the past leaves much
to be desired. Professor David Brich of the corporate citizens
research unit of Deakin University says that while it would be
nice to re-think company law, for example, as they are doing in
the UK right now, to regulate for the need for a social and environmental
report, it is still a couple of years away and there's a lot of
things still to be done.
If Beyond Petroleum is sincere in their endeavour, they should
act upon, the horrific environmental damage done to our oceans
and seas by Flag of Convenience shipping. This would fit with
the triple bottom line they are espousing.
The MUA, the International Transport Federation and Greenpeace
have collated enough evidence to encourage BP and other multinationals
who have no ethical conscience regarding the environment to clean
up their act.
Beyond Petroleum could start by having their products carried
in ships from countries with merchant fleets that are aware of
the environment and have a safe and diligent record in the cartage
of petroleum products. That includes the Australian merchant fleet
whose seafarers, professionalism, environmental and safety record
is second to none in the maritime industry.
Ross J Campbell
Retired Member
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