NIGER DELTA CRISIS/ Lessons from Ni

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Subject: NIGER DELTA CRISIS/ Lessons from Nigeria

Just add Elf, Total. News from the Delta...

disera@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> U.S. Delegation Finds Immense Environmental and Human Rights Abuses in
> Niger Delta
> 
> Sept. 20, 1999 (Lagos) A fact-finding delegation comprised of nine U.S.
> citizens spent Sept. 6-20, 1999, touring the Niger Delta. Their
> collective findings will be released soon in a report to be shared with
> members of the Clinton Administration, the U.S. Congress,
> non-governmental organizations, the press, and the American people.
> 
> "As the U.S. is the number one consumer of Nigerian crude, we are
> particularly concerned about the impact our consumption of oil and gas
> is having on the people and the environment of Nigeria," said Monica
> Wilson of Essential Action in Washington, DC, co-leader of the
> delegation.  "We view self-determination for the people of Nigeria as
> essential to maintaining long-term stability for the region," she said.
>  "We believe long-term stability for Nigeria is the basis for
> accountability for the multinational corporations."
> 
> Key findings from the delegates' forthcoming report include the
> following:
> 
> 1. Although elections have taken place, democracy is still far from
> assured for Nigeria.
> 
> 2. The issues of self-determination and environmental and social
> justice for the people of the Niger Delta remain central issues for
> achieving stability in the region.
> 
> 3. The entrenched greed and irresponsibility of the multinational oil
> companies are continuing threats to the survival of the people of the
> Niger Delta, and therefore to the stability of the Nigerian state.
> 
> 4. The level of oil industry-related environmental degradation,
> inequity and human rights violations in Nigeria is staggering.
> 
> "The seeds of democracy can not germinate, much less take root, in the
> infertile soils of continued corporate greed, repression and government
> collusion," said Walter Turner, chair of the board of Global Exchange
> and co-leader of the U.S. delegation.
> 
> "In many cases, the patterns of injustice by corporations such as Shell
> and Chevron are identical to what we have observed in our home
> communities," said Margie Richard of Concerned Citizens of Norco,
> Louisiana.
> 
> The U.S. delegation interviewed government officials, villagers, and
> oil industry representatives, observing first-hand the effects of oil
> production on the Niger Delta from Sept. 6-20. Delegates included:
> 
> Monica Wilson, Essential Action
> Walter Turner, Global Exchange
> Alfredo Quarto, Mangrove Action Project
> Laura Livoti, Making Contact Radio
> Henry Clark, West County Toxics Coalition
> Umar Tate, Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network
> Margie Richard, Concerned Citizens of Norco
> Daphne Wysham, Institute for Policy Studies
> Eowyn Greeno, University of California, Berkeley