To be effective, the Panel will need to work hard to gain the trust and respect of key stakeholder groups including local communities, state governments, the federal government, NGOs, Shell Nigeria itself, and hopefully as well the other oil and gas companies operating in the region.

FORBES: Shell's New Biodiversity Action in the Niger Delta

The Shell Oil hoax did not announce itself as a parody (though a discerning viewer could detect it), and so neglects the second standard.

CNN: Was the Shell oil hoax ethical?

In South Africa, which may have the largest shale-gas reserves on the continent, the shales in the Karoo basin have attracted the attention of Shell, which is increasingly billing itself as a gas-focused company.

ECONOMIST: Shale gas should make the world a cleaner, safer place

As it prepares to move into the Arctic, has Shell set itself apart from its competitors, or is the company taking avoidable risks in an unforgiving environment?

FORBES: The Frozen Frontier: Is Shell Ready For The Risks Of Arctic Drilling?

Even if the Working Group were just a shell, why not call a spade a spade, as opposed to insulting an industry that the newspaper itself depends upon to bring it a percentage of its news and some of its revenues?

FORBES: Shame on The New York Times