[View the story "The Ogoni vs oil giant Shell " on Storify ]The Ogoni vs oil giant Shell Legal case highlights real cost of Nigerian oil extraction. Storified by The Stream · Thu, Mar 08 2012 12:48:14
Amnestyusa
After several failed petitions, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the landmark case, Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum Plc , under the Alien Tort Statute which allows foreign plaintiffs to seek justice for acts in breach of international law. The plaintiffs for Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Shell are Nigerian relatives of the "Ogoni Nine", a group of environmental activists who were hanged by the Nigeria's 1995 military regime. Ogoni refers to one of the largest ethnic groups in the Niger Delta.
Shell's Nigerian subsidiary is the accused party for alleged violations that include torture and murder. It is accused of supporting Nigeria's military regime by provided them with food and transportation as well as allowing community attacks to take place on company property. The court case will be reargued later this year during the Supreme Court's next term. The case brief can be found below.
A Shell spokesman issued the following statement to The Stream:
“Shell denies any allegation that it engaged in any form of human rights violation in Nigeria. We strongly condemn such human rights abuses, which clearly violate both our company values and our high respect for the dignity of all people.” Previous litigation against Shell Nigeria was pursued by environmental groups and Nigerian farmers from the Niger Delta. The case was spearheaded by the wife of deceased environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa who was part of the "Ogoni Nine." The Wiwa v. Shell case ended with a pre-trial payment settlement of $15.5m from Shell in 2009.
The video below explains the Wiwa v. Shell case and highlights Ken Saro-Wiwa's Shell protest efforts.
The people of Nigeria versus Shell (English)milieudefensie
In the video below, a delegate at a One Young World Conference asks a Shell representative about Shell's role in human rights abuses in the Niger Delta.
Shell's Martin Haigh on Nigeria at One Young World 2011capqatar
As the largest oil company in Nigeria, Shell is experiencing greater scrutiny for its petroleum and natural gas operations, which contribute to about 10% of Shell's global output and 3% of the world's supply. Despite being oil-rich, Nigeria’s absolute poverty rate rose from 54.7 to 61 percent in 2010 while its economy grew an annual average of 7 percent. Critics attribute the lack of distributive wealth in Niger Delta, which sources 80% of the country's oil, to government corruption and opaque industry practices. The map below shows oil pipeline locations in the Niger Delta.
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Environmental degradation is of equal concern to the Niger Delta communities. Shellexperiences 150 to 200 oil spills each year which have spoiled crops, contaminated drinking water supplies and poisoned fish, costing the livelihoods of many. The United Nations Environment Program estimated it would cost $1bn and take 30 years to clean up the accumulated oil spills in Niger Delta.
The picture below is of a pond in Ikarama in the Niger Delta following an oil spill in 2011.
Crude oil impacted pondAJstream
In addition, emissions from gas flaring, an illegal practice, induces acid rain which kills crops and has been linked to a myriad of health problems. Environmental activists have argued that the gas eliminated due to flaring would be better served towards providing electricity for surrounding communities. The documentary below explores the hazards of gas flaring in the Niger Delta.
Poison Firemaweni
Shell Nigeria has denied responsibility for the majority of oil spills, claiming oil theft from its pipelines and sabotage are to blame. Activists from MEND, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, is considered by Shell amongst those responsible for pipeline sabotage.
Akamaihd
MEND has now renewed promises that it will once again target oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The movement tweeted the following about the Kiobel v. Shell case.
M.E.N.D supports this case in the SCOTUS filed by fellow Niger Deltans: Kiobel, et al., v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, et al. (doc# 10-1491)MENDnigerdelta
Niger Delta residents haveminimal access to hospitals, paved roads or other basic infrastructure likeelectricity. 95% of the population relies on contaminated water. Environmental activists argue that the gas eliminated due to flaring would be better served towards providing electricity for surrounding communities.
Pictured below is gas flaring conducted by AGIP, another oil company operating in the Niger Delta.
Flaring, Niger DeltaMicrowave Chef
Filmed by Amnesty International three years after a major oil spill in 2008, the video below chronicles the long-term impact on the Bodo community in the Niger Delta.
Nigeria Shell oil spill - Celia and Emmanuelamnestynl
Niger Delta activists and international human rights organisations have been vocal in their opposition to Shell's business practices in the region. The following images depict campaign efforts to target the oil pollution and gas flaring taking place in the Niger Delta.
Priceofoil
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Affiche Shell: come clean about oil pollution in the Niger DeltaAmnesty International (Belgium, Flemish)
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The video below is of London protesters who donned 'death' attire and Shell masks in memory of Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Shell Protest in Memory of Ken Saro Wiwatalliwacker2002
Despite accusations of environmental degradation and exploitation, Shell maintains that it invests in Niger Delta communities, as illustrated in the video below.
Shell companies in Nigeria: Investing in communities to gain skillsshell
