<nettime> check out shell website about to be censored

["Eveline Lubbers" <evel@xs4all.nl>]

> A very interesting website detailing Shell's nuclear
>
> interests and the resulting dumping after the facility was
>
> closed is available for a very short time only at:
>
> www.nuclearcrimes.com
>
> The website will shortly be closed thanks to Shell's
>
> clout. This will be the second time they have suceeded in
>
> doing so despite evidence which does not support their
>
> denials.
>
> The website was created by: johndyer@journalist.com
> Further info also from dave@hedweb.com
>
>
> From: "Kieran Turner" <kieran@kemptown.org>
>
> Hi all,
>
> The computer which hosts www.oilcompanies.org is now hosting a
> new site about nuclear testing, and waste dumping, by our old
> friends Shell.
>
> The site is at www.nuclear-crimes.com
>
> Shell's solicitors have leant on a previous host of this site,
> and are now leaning on us. Naturally, they don't want anything
> to get to open court, so we're not particularly quaking.
>
> The letter from their solicitor is copied below for interest.
>
> K
>
> -- Letter from solicitor for Shell, to internet hoster --
>
> Direct fax 020 7716 3709
> svn@djfreeman.com
> By post and e-mail
>
> 22 November 2000
>
> Our ref SVN/01131999
>
> Dear  Sir
>
> Shell's Nuclear Crimes Site
>
> We are writing on behalf of Shell International Limited and their associated
> companies, for whom we act.
>
> We refer to a website called Shell's Nuclear Crimes, the web address of which
> is www.nuclear-crimes.com.  The registrar of this site is Easyspace.com and it
> is our understanding that you provide the name servers for this site.
>
> The website contains a number of false and defamatory allegations against our
> clients including an assertion that they operated a nuclear reactor in the
> 1960s at their Thornton research centre and that the demolition of this
> fictitious reactor represented a serious hazard to public safety.
>
> You will be aware that you have a duty to take reasonable care not to cause or
> contribute to the publication of defamatory material by means of your service.
> We would draw your attention to the recent case of Godfrey -v- Demon Internet
> Limited in which it was held that an internet service provider who was aware
> that defamatory material had been posted on its site but chose not to remove
> it could be held liable in defamation and could not rely on the defence of
> innocent dissemination.  The offending material in this case is defamatory of
> our clients, and is capable of causing damage to its public reputation.
>
> This website had previously been hosted by Easyspace but they removed the site
> from their service once we notified them of the defamatory material contained
> in it.
>
> What steps you take to deal with this defamation are of course entirely up to
> you but meanwhile our clients' rights are expressly reserved.
>
> Yours faithfully
>
> 21 November 2000
>
> Solicitors
>  43 Fetter Lane
>  London EC4A 1JU
>  Tel 020 7583 4055
>  Fax 020 7353 7377
>  DX 103 London
>  www.djfreeman.co.uk
>
> The partnership is regulated in the conduct of its investment business by the
> Law Society
> A list of partners is available for inspection at the above address

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