‘Return’ – new poem for the Bus by Sai Murray
Nov 6, 2015
This summer, Platform commissioned Sai Murray – poet, writer, and spoken word supremo – to write a poem about the Bus’s journey to Ogoniland. Sai made some stunning political connections to other struggles, connections in all these years we had not made ourselves. John Ruskin once said “The best response to a work of art...
Release the Bus memorial NOW: Artists, campaigners and others speak out!
Nov 6, 2015
Twenty years ago, on 10th November 1995, the Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed, alongside eight colleagues, for crimes they did not commit. They were campaigning against Shell’s exploitation and environmental destruction of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. As a Living Memorial, The Battle Bus, a large-scale mobile interactive steel sculpture...
Nov 10th Artists on why Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni struggle matters
Nov 5, 2015
The Bus memorial to writer and campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8 has been seized by Nigerian military. On Nov 10th it will be 20 years since the executions of Ken and the other Ogoni men by Nigeria’s then military government for protesting against Shell and other oil companies. Shell still have not started...
RELEASE: ‘Living Memorial’ to Ken Saro-Wiwa seized by Nigerian Customs
Nov 5, 2015
RELEASE: ‘Living Memorial’ to Ken Saro-Wiwa seized by Nigerian Customs Thursday, November 5th, 2015 Suzanne Dhaliwal – [email protected] +447772694327 UK contact for images and interviews Memorial sculpture to murdered activist seized at Lagos port by Nigerian Customs Customs chief was on tribunal that condemned Ken Saro-Wiwa to execution; Shell stands accused of conspiring in the...
Seizure of Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus #bus4ogoni9
Nov 3, 2015
This statement is issued to call public attention to the seizure by the Nigerian Customs Service of a “Living Memorial” to Ken Saro-Wiwa donated by Platform – friends and colleagues in the United Kingdom – to the Ogoni people. The memorial is a sculpture of a bus made in remembrance of the struggles of Ken...
Head looking backward the bird flies forward – a night for Ken Saro-Wiwa in Peckham
Nov 3, 2015
[In 7 days’ time it will be 10th November – the 20th anniversary of the executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Ogoni colleagues. This blog is a response to a powerful poetry event at Peckham Platform last Friday, inspired by the work and life of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Come to the events on Nov 10th –...
This Bitter Earth – rendering the invisible visible
Nov 2, 2015
During my leave over the summer I was really glad to catch the performance Arctic Requiem outside the Shell Centre in August. Here’s a piece I wrote about it, prior to Shell’s decision to cease drilling in the Arctic Ocean. The rain lashes down. A strong south westerly drives it along the Thames, across Jubilee...
You’ll want this stunning new poster artwork for the Ogoni 9
Oct 27, 2015
Long-term struggles need new creative energy to stay nourished. So today we launch a stunning new print artwork – a collaboration between the internationally acclaimed political artist Alfredo Jaar and designer Jon Daniel. Platform commissioned it mark the 20th anniversary of the executions of writer and campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Ogoni colleagues. Below, see how you can...
Darkness Falling – 100 days in Azerbaijan
Oct 20, 2015
Today the appeal trial of Leyla and Arif Yunus continues in Azerbaijan. As it does James Marriott reflects on 100 days in Azerbaijan. For over 100 days I have been away from the hum of collective life in Platform, away from the buzz of e-mails and twitter, away from the news feed darting this way...
Fossil Funds Free campaign – We are at 300!
Oct 8, 2015
Over the past ten days since the launch of Fossil Funds Free, ever increasing numbers of artists, writers, performers, and organisations have joined the Fossil Funds Free commitment. This is what they are committing to: ‘We do not take any oil, coal, or gas corporate sponsorship for our cultural work. We call on our peers and...
“This is a victory for the people, especially the Inupiat”
Sep 29, 2015
Seven years, $7 billion, and hundreds of protests was what it took. Shell is leaving the Alaskan Arctic. This morning we were outside Shell’s HQ on London’s South Bank to celebrate. I ended up sharing the stage with Aurora – Greenpeace’s spectacular bus-sized polar bear puppet – and Emma Thompson. But I really wish I...
Letting Laurel Speak
Sep 21, 2015
This is a guest blog by Victoria, mother of Laurel, 13, from Children Against Global Warming. Last Sunday my daughter was one of three children who performed an intervention at the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery as part of a day of protests organised by Art Not Oil, against BPs sponsorship. Laurel is...
