On Aug. 4, 2011, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report that detailed the absolute tragedy that is occurring in Ogoniland (Niger Delta) due to devastating oil spills in the past five decades.
The UN report says the damage will cost $1 billion and take up to 30 years to clean.
The report documented the extent of the damage these oil spills have caused, including extremely high contamination of land and water, and Shell's complete failure to meet basic standards of safety for decades.
Not only that, but an independent report revealed that Shell routinely worked with Nigeria's military and police to violently suppress the peaceful protests against this unjust and systematic pollution.
Shell must pay. They must pay for the cleanup and they must make good for the human rights abuses that they facilitated. Please tell Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to declare an environmental state of emergency in Ogoniland, and to hold Shell accountable for this emergency.
Dear Decision Maker,
On Aug. 4, 2011, United Nations Environment Programme released a report that detailed the absolute tragedy that is occurring in Ogoniland, Nigeria due to devastating oil spills in the past five decades, for which Shell oil is mainly responsible.
The report announced that the contamination reaches a 1,000 sq km area of Ogoniland. The consequences for the people and wildlife of this area are simply tragic. Land and water contamination has been found more than 40 years after an oil spill. And community drinking water has high concentrations of benzene and other contaminants.
Soil contamination is more than five metres deep in some areas, destroying the potential for economic growth by farming in the area.
The report calls for a clean-up fund of $1 billion for spills in Ogoniland. This process is likely to take 25-30 years to complete. The consequences from these horrific spills have been unmeasurable for the people of Ogoniland, and it's only right that Shell and any other oil companies involved should have to pay for their failures to maintain safe operations.
In addition to these environmental transgressions, it has been shown in courts that Shell contributed to severe human rights abuses by funding armed militants, who are implicated in the killing and torture of residents in the oil-rich Niger Delta. This is an oil company funding the violent crack-down on peaceful protests against the environmental destruction of their home land. This is an outrage and Shell needs to be held responsible.
Please, declare an environmental state of emergency in Ogoniland, and hold Shell accountable for the cleanup and their horrific contribution to human rights abuses in the area.
