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

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

[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

This Bitter Earth – rendering the invisible visible

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

You’ll want this stunning new poster artwork for the Ogoni 9

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

Vigil & Dance the Guns to Silence II, Nov 10th

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!

Fossil Funds Free campaign – We are at 300!

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"

“This is a victory for the people, especially the Inupiat”

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

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

‘Doing Nothing is Not an Option’, exhibition by Michael McMillan inspired by Ken Saro-Wiwa

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

Civil Society in Nigeria calls for deeper commitment to clean-up

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...
Poetry that changes us - and join Shake! in August

Poetry that changes us – and join Shake! in August

We are not idealists. We know that art alone does not make the revolution. But we are not fools. We know that revolution is impossible without the art. Frente Popular, Dario Santillan Platform was invited to take part in the recent ‘Footprint Modulation: art, climate and displacement‘. This was a multi-site exhibition and season of...
What is Energy Democracy and how do we pay for it?

What is Energy Democracy and how do we pay for it?

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...
Divest and reinvest: 6 local governments that are innovating for sustainability

Divest and reinvest: 6 local governments that are innovating for sustainability

This guest blog by Stuart Anderson was original posted by Friends of the Earth Scotland “The fossil fuel divestment movement is the fastest growing divestment campaign in history with over 500 active divestment campaigns underway at universities, cities, churches, banks, and other institutions.” – 350.org Over the past two years there has been a growing...