This page lists any entry on the site marked with one of the selected categories in the left hand column, most recent first. Selecting other categories will further hone this list.

Head looking backward the bird flies forward – a night for Ken Saro-Wiwa in Peckham
Blog post -
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
Blog post -
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
Blog post -
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...

Vigil & Dance the Guns to Silence II, Nov 10th
Oct 21, 2015
JOIN US – Share via FB November 10th 2015 is 20 years since the executions of writer and campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Ogoni colleagues by the Nigerian military government. They were murdered for their successful protest against Shell’s destruction of the Niger Delta environment. We’ve been campaigning hard to support our Ogoni and Nigerian allies to...

Fossil Funds Free campaign – We are at 300!
Blog post -
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”
Blog post -
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...
Local Government Pensions, Fossil Fuels & the Transition to a New Economy
Publication -
Sep 24, 2015
Local governments in the UK have pension funds worth over £230 billion. £14 billion of this – over 6% – is invested into fossil fuel corporations. The briefing Local Government Pensions, Fossil Fuels & the Transition to a New Economy analyses the breakdown of investments of all UK local authorities through their 101 pensions funds, responsible...

‘Doing Nothing is Not an Option’, exhibition by Michael McMillan inspired by Ken Saro-Wiwa
Sep 8, 2015
Platform is delighted that next Thursday night, artist Michael McMillan and Peckham Platform gallery are launching Michael’s new work ‘Doing Nothing is Not an Option‘ which takes the life and campaigning of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa as its starting point. The exhibition runs 18th September – 18th November 2015. Platform has been in a productive...

Civil Society in Nigeria calls for deeper commitment to clean-up
Blog post -
Aug 25, 2015
This month marked the 4th anniversary of a historic UNEP report calling for extensive action for the clean-up in the Niger Delta. I caught up with reactions from our partners in Nigeria and jumped on Arise TV to share our responses to the meetings that took place and to ramp up pressure on Shell to follow through...

What is Energy Democracy and how do we pay for it?
Blog post -
Jun 22, 2015
To build energy democracy we need to break the control of corporations over our energy. Companies like BP and Shell and the Big Six play an enormous role in determining which fuels are used to generate energy, how much we pay for electricity, and where the profits go. These big companies work hard to convince...