Shell oil-Dutch government revolving door protest

Shell demonstration at VVD conference

This photo shows a demonstration today on the stage of the conference of the Dutch VVD party; a pro-Big Business party, the biggest one in the new coalition government.

On the photo, from left to right: a ‘security’ man; anti-Big Oil demonstrators hidden behind a sign saying Shell 1; another ‘security’ man; and VVD Prime Minister Rutte, whose speech was interrupted by the activists, young Socialist Party members.

According to the demonstrators, the new government, usually called ‘Rutte 3’, Rutte being prime minister for the third time, should really be called ‘Shell #1′; as Shell and other big corporations influence government policy undemocratically.

A mild criticism of this good activism: unfortunately, it is not the first time that Shell and similar corporations influence government policy undemocratically. So, ‘Shell a lot more than #1′ would have been better. As Shell also is connected to governments in Ireland … in Britain … and to the NATO military organisation.