In the meantime…

New Report: PLATFORM has co-published a new report with Greenpeace. Reserves Replacement Ratio in a Marginal Oil World: Adequate Indicator or Subprime Statistic[4] examines current practices of reporting on oil reserves to be derived from tar sands, deep water drilling and Arctic crude. You can download the report here[5].

Vote for BP! We have worked with the Indigenous Environmental Network[6] to have BP nominated as the Worst Corporation in the 2011 Public Eye Awards. It takes just 5 seconds to vote, and they are currently in second place with just one week to go. You can vote here[7] , and you can also see a one minute clip of Clayton Thomas Mueller from IEN explaining the nomination here[8].

Shake! Preview: Sat 26 Feb, 6.30 – 10pm, The Albany, Deptford, London.

A chance to see the amazing work in progress of our new arts and social justice project with young people ‘Shake! Young Voices on Arts, Media Race, & Power’, that we piloted with the Stephen Lawrence Centre[9] in 2010 and how it’s going to grow in the next three years. Revel in performance poetry, DJ sets, some politics, and a premiere screening of the Shake video[10] , presented by the young people with the artists DJ Eric Soul, Poets Zena Edwards and Simon Murray, Ana Tovey from Chocolate Films and PLATFORM. At this point, express your interest in attending by emailing [email protected]  Shake also now has a newsletter for people who have been involved in the course that you can check out here[11].
The Next Gulf: During a recent purge of the storage cupboard, we came across a few boxes of The Next Gulf: Washington and Oil Conflict in Nigeria by James Marriott from PLATFORM, Andy Rowell and Lorne Stockman. One review[12] of the now out-of-print book described it as “a highly authoritative work of history and politics” that “also contains many poignant and personal reflections.” We’d love to see the last copies go to good homes. You can send us £5 and your address via paypal to [email protected], or you can post a cheque made out to PLATFORM: LONDON to the office.

Arts, oil and the environment in London:

Ben Jones, who came to prominence during the Black Arts Movement of the seventies, is exhibiting at Rich Mix[13] in Bethnal Green until 24 Feb. His work there includes Thank You BP that “playfully documents the grim conflict between nature and big business.” More info here[14].

Greenland is a play openning at the National Theatre that, “explores the big issues around climate change.” The writers spent six months interviewing key individuals from the worlds of science, politics, business and philosophy in an effort to understand the changing planet. It runs from 25 Jan to 2 Feb. More information and booking here[15].

PLATFORM is on facebook – you can find us here[16].