Communal Memory - the power of community to resist Shell in Nigeria

Communal Memory – the power of community to resist Shell in Nigeria

I’m holding in my hands a report published by Amnesty International in November last year – ‘A Criminal Enterprise? Shell’s involvement in human rights violations in Nigeria in the 1990s’. It analyses in forensic detail exactly how much Shell staff knew about, and were involved in supporting, the actions by the Nigerian military taken against...
IRIN news: Gas flares still a burning issue in the Niger Delta

IRIN news: Gas flares still a burning issue in the Niger Delta

The UN’s humanitarian news network, IRIN has reported on the ongoing health crisis caused by gas flaring in the Niger Delta. The burning off of gas that comes mixed with crude oil is harmful, illegal in Nigeria and has been found to violate human rights. Approximately $2.5 billion of gas is wasted each year, whilst less...

Video: Chevron rig blazes off the coast of Nigeria

This disturbing video from Al Jazeera shows what’s left of Chevron’s KS Endeavour gas rig, which exploded on 16 January 2012. Over 20 days later the site is still ablaze and the intense flames and plumes of smoke can be seen from the nearby fishing village. Local community activists released this footage:  

Nigeria could lose billions under new oil law

Today, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) warned that Nigeria stands to lose billions of dollars in oil revenue over the coming years if the new oil law, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed unamended. “NEITI does not see the rationale for passing a bill that is designed to reduce government revenue from petroleum operations...

Gas Flaring linked to Acid Rain: Climatologist Warns

Gas currently being flared in Nigeria’s oil fields is polluting the Niger Delta with a ‘huge quantity’ of toxins which are a major cause of acid rain, claims an international professor. The finding could overturn years of skepticism from oil companies and government officials, who regularly downplay the impact of  flaring on communities. As the...

Contracts Curse: Leaked Oil Deals Put Ugandans at Risk

Oil contracts signed secretly in Uganda and exposed by PLATFORM will allow major oil companies to flare gas with impunity in the country’s Lake Alberta region on the border with Congo. As the New York Times reports: “Production is going to start in 2010 with no environmental assessment having yet been carried out,” said Platform’s...

Shaping the Future: global art residency launched by families of Ken Saro-Wiwa and Stephen Lawrence

‘Shaping the Future’: a PLATFORM residency programme of art, activism and education launched with a fiery spectacle at 5pm on Tuesday 10th November at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Lewisham, London. ‘Shaping the Future’ is led by the arts and ecology group PLATFORM, and speakers at the launch included the Mayor of Greenwich, Doreen Lawrence,...

War for Oil in the Niger Delta

For the past few months, the Nigerian military has waged war on the Niger Delta in a desperate attempt to restore Nigeria’s faltering oil production, which has almost halved due to security concerns. Tuesday 15th September is due to be the last day of the ceasefire observed by MEND, the main group of insurgents in...

Carbon offsets –> more gas flaring in Nigeria

Another reason why CDM and carbon offsets is not the way (or even an efficient way) to deal with climate change. Flaring gas from oil projects in Nigeria (and elsewhere) is a crazy practice and a human rights abuse, causing acid rain, sickness and heavy local pollution, as well as enormous carbon emissions. There are proposals that oil...

Two Reports + Amnesty’s Campaign on Shell

Shell’s polluting practises blasted by 2 reports: Take Action HERE As Peter Voser becomes Shell’s new CEO on 1st July, his inbox is already feeling the weight of a 143-page report from Amnesty International, and a critical report from the ShellGuilty coalition. The reports document Shell’s appalling impact on the human rights of oil-producing communities...

SHELL CLIMATE CRIMES EXPOSED IN NEW REPORT

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Environment groups criticize Shell CEO van der Veer for undermining Climate Policies Brussels, Amsterdam, London, Washington – 29th June 2009 Fresh evidence of oil giant Shell’s colossal contribution to global climate change and its continued investment in carbon intensive fossil fuels has been revealed today in a new report.[1] The...

London Rally- Shell told: Justice is coming

Activists made sure Shell staff arriving at work this morning at their London HQ knew their company is soon to face trial for human right abuses in Nigeria. Leaflets were distributed amid chants of ‘justice is coming’ by activists brought together by the ShellGuilty coalition. Photos below: Campaigners outside Shell’s headquarters in London make sure...