A set of global business principles, known as the Global Sullivan Principles (GSP) and developed in part by senior Shell executives, was launched at a function at the United Nations headquarters in New York in November.

Reverend Leon Sullivan, who has spearheaded the project, jointly launched the landmark principles with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan before a gathering of international government and business leaders.

The GSP objectives are:

• to support economic, social and political justice by companies where they do business...
• to support human rights and to encourage equal opportunity at all levels of employment...
• to train and advance disadvantaged workers for technical, supervisory and management opportunities...
• to assist with greater tolerance and understanding among peoples, thereby helping to improve the quality of life for communities, workers and children with dignity and equality...

Shell's involvement came about following discussions between Shell Group Senior Advisor Alan Detheridge and United States rights campaigner Reverend Leon Sullivan at the US Embassy in London more than three years ago.

Speaking at the launch, Clive Mather, Chief Executive of Shell Services International, said, "Shell's own Business Principles already broadly reflect the Global Sullivan Principles but Shell hopes that through its involvement with this initiative, Shell will learn from others and so continue to improve its own performance."

• Paul D. Skinner has been appointed a Managing Director of The 'Shell' Transport and Trading Company and a Group Managing Director of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. He also remains Chief Executive, Oil Products.
  
  
• Jim Dawson, CEO of Shell International Renewables, will be succeeded by Karen de Segundo, who was CEO of Gas and Power.
  
  
• Linda Cook, who was Director of Business Development Support for Shell International E&P, has replaced Mrs de Segundo as CEO of Gas and Power.

Business doesn't have to choose between profits and principles, Royal Dutch/Shell Group Managing Director Jeroen van der Veer told a 'Globalisation, Ecology and Economy' conference in The Netherlands in November.

"Long-term success depends on improvements in our financial, environmental and social performance," he said.

The conference, attended by senior figures from governments and environmental agencies across the globe, heard that while oil and gas remain essential for the health and wealth of modern economies, Shell's steady progress towards developing viable renewable energy projects and building a broader energy strategy must continue.

"At a time when Shell's immediate financial performance is under the spotlight as never before, it is vital that we do not lose sight of our long-term sustainable development goals and principles. Only in that way can we be confident of earning our licence to grow in the future," said Mr van der Veer.

Shell is committed to investing around $500 million in its renewables business over the next five years, and has implemented a Sustainable Development Management Framework and key performance indicators to measure the Group's performance in this field.

"Long-term investment in commercially viable renewables, in new energy solutions and in cleaner fuels are all helping us to meet new customer and stakeholder expectations. They are helping us contribute to a more responsible, sustainable and successful future," said Mr van der Veer.

Palaces with golden domes, carpets, emeralds and rubies, mosques, mosaics and smoking incense burners: these precious objects are the high points of Islamic art. Over 300 of these art treasures are on show until 24th April in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, at an exhibition entitled 'Earthly Beauty, Heavenly Art', one of the principal sponsors of which is Shell Nederland.

Prof Michail Piotrovski, Arabist and Director of the Hermitage in St Petersburg, took the universal language of Islamic art as a guide when putting the exhibition together. This language is reflected, for example, in the characteristic Arabic decorative art and calligraphy which are to be found on the objects on display. These date from the period between the 7th and the 19th century. Through themes such as the palace, the mosque and paradise, the visitor is guided past the many art treasures, through surroundings enlivened with pools, fountains and aviary birds.

Apart from calligraphy, architecture is the most important form of expression of Islamic art. The House of Mohammed still serves as a model for Arabic mosque buildings, in which the lamp is an important element - the light being the symbol of the presence of God. One example is a decorative ceramic mosque lamp from 1549, which is on show at the exhibition.

When the exhibition closes in April in Amsterdam, it will move on to the Hermitage in St Petersburg.

Shell Petroleum N.V. and BASF recently announced the signing of an agreement to combine Elenac, Montell and Targor to create one of the world's largest polyolefins enterprises.

BASF and the companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group will each own 50 per cent of the enterprise, which will have its holding company in The Netherlands.

The new enterprise will be the world's largest producer of polypropylene and the fourth largest polyethylene producer with revenues in excess of US $6 billion. It is also expected that considerable savings will emerge, provisionally estimated at $100 million per year.

In January, Shell and Commerce One, the leading provider of global business-to-business e-commerce solutions, announced their intention to form a joint venture to develop an Internet market place for procurement in the oil, gas and chemicals industry. The parties expect to sign a binding agreement by the end of March.

The aim is to establish an electronic exchange to link buyers and sellers of goods and services across the energy industry throughout the world. The new global exchange, which will be based on the Commerce One MarketSite portal, will be designed to be open to energy companies, their suppliers and customers. It will also be designed to help regionally based small and medium-sized enterprises to compete globally in a way that was not possible before.

It is anticipated that Commerce One will be paid license fees for their Internet technology. Initially, Shell will have the majority stake in the new joint venture; Commerce One and the joint venture staff will also have an equity stake.

Harry Roels, a Shell Group Managing Director, says, "This new exchange is intended as an open gateway and we welcome other energy companies to join it. There are huge efficiencies to be gained by everyone and the more members we get, the more successful it will be."

Mark Hoffman, President and CEO of Commerce One, says, "Shell has recognised the huge impact that e-commerce will have on the energy industry. Our leadership in that area, combined with Shell's strong industry presence worldwide, will enable us to add a major new trading community to the Commerce One Global Trading Web."

The market is planned to 'go live' in the second quarter of this year.

In November, Ferrari reclaimed the Formula One Constructors' World Championship after a gap of 16 years. The victory was clinched at the final event of the season at Suzuka, Japan, when the Italian manufacturer reached 128 points for the season to edge out arch rivals McLaren- Mercedes who finished with 124.

The Shell-sponsored Ferrari team won on the back of an excellent team effort from Eddie Irvine, Michael Schumacher and Mika Salo.

After Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone early in the season, Irvine stepped up for Ferrari and won four Grand Prix races. Irvine was also on the podium on five other occasions and earned points in 14 of the 16 Grand Prix.

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo expressed his gratitude to Paul Skinner, Shell's Chief Executive Officer, Oil Products. "Without Shell's generous technical back-up, this World Championship would never have been possible," he said.

With Ferrari's triumph this year, Shell itself has notched up its 12th Constructors' Championship.