Social Licence: Complicity in the Age of Extraction
Mar 14, 2012
At first glance, there might not seem to be an obvious common ground between indigenous activists in Canada, performance artists in the UK and climate activists in both countries. However, the international controversy over Canada’s tar sands industry in northern Alberta has galvanised individuals from all these communities into new cooperative relationships opposing the developments....
IRIN news: Gas flares still a burning issue in the Niger Delta
Mar 12, 2012
The UN’s humanitarian news network, IRIN has reported on the ongoing health crisis caused by gas flaring in the Niger Delta. The burning off of gas that comes mixed with crude oil is harmful, illegal in Nigeria and has been found to violate human rights. Approximately $2.5 billion of gas is wasted each year, whilst less...
‘Tate à Tate’ Launch Party 23.3.12
Mar 8, 2012
Tate à Tate, the audio tour is ready to launch – on Thursday 22 March it will be available to download for free. On Friday 23 March, Platform, Liberate Tate and Art Not Oil invite you to come and celebrate the audio unveiling of this participatory piece of interventionist sound art.
Join Platform’s Reading Group on ethics, business sponsorship, and making art
Mar 8, 2012
“Take the money and run? Some positions on ethics, business sponsorship and making art” Tuesdays 15 & 29 May; 12 & 26 June, 2012; 6.30 – 8.30pm; London. Booking essential. As part of our work critiquing corporate sponsorship of the arts, we have set up this Reading Group, and you’re invited! The sessions will be based on...
15th March – an evening with the Journal of Aesthetics & Protest
Mar 2, 2012
One of the co-editors of the groundbreaking Journal of Aesthetics & Protest is passing through town, and we're hosting him for an evening that will include a lecture/presentation and production/performance (group-research) elements. When – Thursday 15th March, 18.30 – 20.30 Where – The Platform office, 7, Horselydown Lane, Tower Bridge, SE1 2LN
“The Oil Road” – in search of a subtitle
Mar 2, 2012
Platform has submitted a complete manuscript of “The Oil Road” to Verso; it’s gone to the copy-editors now and will be published in May (with a different cover!). But we’re still trying to pick a sub-title – do you have any suggestions? Here’s a blurb about the book, and we’ve copied some possible subtitles below....
Care about the climate? Move Your Money out of RBS/Natwest
Mar 1, 2012
Pinch and a punch, first day of the Move Your Money month! All over the country, people are cutting up their cash cards from the main big banks and shifting their cash to ethical banks, credit unions and building societies, as part of Move Your Money’s sustained campaign to get people to stop providing banks...
Hold Shell accountable for human rights abuses in Nigeria
Feb 28, 2012
A global coalition of NGOs, human rights monitors, academics and analysts have joined Platform in sending a letter to the Board members of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Nigeria which holds Shell to account for its role in recent human rights abuses in Nigeria. Below is a short extract from the letter: Today the US...
Top 7 Resources for Kiobel v Shell @ #SCOTUS
Feb 27, 2012
Tomorrow the Supreme Court of the United States hears Kiobel v Shell, a case that alleges Shell aided and abetted human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by the Nigerian military against the Ogoni people from 1992 onwards. The case has significance for the global movement for corporate accountability. The outcome in Kiobel will...
BP puts off trial, but the oil disaster is ongoing
Feb 27, 2012
The BP disaster civil trial was due to start this morning in New Orleans. It has now been delayed until next Monday 5th March while BP continues to attempt to settle out of court with over 116,000 plaintiffs this week. The trial is different to the criminal charges also being readied against the company. If it goes...
Egyptian businessman admits personal motivation for gas deal with Spain / Eni
Feb 25, 2012
Businessman Hussein Salem – on the run from corruption charges in Egypt – admitted his personal & political motivations in signing Egypt’s controversial gas export deals with Israel (via pipeline) and Spain (via Damietta LNG), in discussion with Egyptian journalist Mohamed Heikal: “Yes I made gas deals with Israel. We have a lot of gas...
Arts Council to embed sustainability into its funding
Feb 24, 2012
Last week I gave a talk at the State of the Arts Conference in a parallel session on Artists & Our Future Environment. What was inspiring about that session, the one that followed in the afternoon, and the general discussion around the conference, was just how many people were talking about how the arts can,...
