Below is the revised version of the letter to the RGS-IBG calling for a
SGM to vote on Shell's sponsorship, plus signatories. I need to send this
letter tommorrow as I am away next week, so if anyone has any further
amendments to suggest, or if anyone would like to add their name to the
list, please let me know a.s.a.p.
Thanks
Mike Woods
To: Dr John Hemming
Director, RGS-IBG
Dear Dr Hemming,
We were interested to learn that the Council of the Royal
Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) has at
its meeting on 10th June, discussed the motion passed at the Open Forum
during the Strathclyde conference which called for the Society to end its
sponsorship agreement with the Shell Oil Company, following allegations
concerning that company's complicity in human rights violations in
Nigeria. Whilst we welcome the establishment of an Ethics Committee, which
we hope will promote responsible co-operation between the Society and
commercial associates, we were however, disappointed to learn that the
Council had decided not to follow the recommendation of the motion, and
that Shell will continue to be a corporate sponsor of the Society. We do
not regard the decision of the Council to be a satisfactory response to
the motion, which was overwhelmingly supported by Fellows present at the
meeting in Glasgow. Therefore, as Fellows and Associate Fellows of the
Society, we request that the proposition,
"We call upon the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of
British Geographers) to end the Shell Oil Company's position as corporate
sponsor immediately."
be referred to a Special General Meeting of the Society, in accordance
with Chapter VI, Section 2, Paragraph 2, of the Society's bye-laws. As we
are sure you will agree, this is a matter of extreme importance for the
Society and we feel that all Fellows and Associate Fellows should have the
opportunity to vote on this issue.
Thank you for your time and assistance and we look forward to hearing from
you.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Woods Tracey Mawby Danny Dorling
Steve Pile Stuart Peters Louise Crewe
Peter Jackson Jane Wills Jamie Peck
Catherine Brace Jo Little Elsbeth Robson
Chris Hamnett Neil McInroy Joe Painter
Chris Philo Dave Clarke David Gilbert
Brian Hoskin Mark Goodwin David Atkinson
Liisa Cormode Keith Halfacree Paul Waley
Eleonore Kofman Miles Ogborn Kris Olds
Steven Cooke Adam Tickell Claire Dwyer
Marcus Doel Joanne Norcup Alison Blunt
Tim Hall Brendan Gleeson Nancy Duncan
Pam Shurmer-Smith David Matless David M Smith
Neil Smith Katy Bennett Elizabeth Mooney
Steve Hinchcliffe Christian Berndt
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|