Legal case against Shell

Legal case against Shell

Do you remember the disastrous oil spill caused by BP in the Gulf of Mexico? Five times as much oil has been leaked in Nigeria. A recent UN report (UNEP, August 2011) found that the region is even more severely polluted than we feared. The consequences for the local population are dramatic. Extremely high concentrations of carcinogenic benzene have been found in the drinking water. The fertile land has been covered by a layer of oil, meaning that residents of the Niger Delta can no longer provide for their own livelihoods. Shell, as the largest foreign oil company in Nigeria, bears a significant degree of responsibility for this. We therefore want Shell to clean up the oil and compensate local residents.

Oil destroys vulnerable nature

The Niger is the third-largest river in Africa, after the Zaire and the Nile and the Niger Delta region and its mangrove forests is also one of the largest wetland areas in the world. Unfortunately, this superb nature is being destroyed by oil. A yellowish-brown layer covers many creeks, pools, mangroves and rivers of the Niger Delta. Furthermore, many of the region’s animals are under threat, including chimpanzees, leopards and elephants.

From thriving community to deserted villageKanos uitgebrand

The village of Goi is deserted. It used to be a thriving community with fish farms, a bakery and a poultry farm. Now, oil floats atop the fish ponds and earning an income has become impossible. The village chief, Chief Barizaa Tete Dooh, can barely survive. Fishing is no longer possible and he can no longer earn income from the fruit trees and vegetables, now that almost all the residents have moved away. It is distressing to see that while so much is earned in the oil industry, area residents have scarcely benefitted – they have only experienced the disadvantages.

A future for the Nigerian farmer

As the largest foreign oil company in Nigeria, Shell bears significant responsibility for the oil pollution. The UN, among others, has stated that the multinational has not cleaned up the leaked oil for decades, or has done so insufficiently, and that Shell does not comply with legal environmental standards.

In 2008, Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) instituted legal proceedings jointly with four Nigerian farmers to address the ongoing oil pollution in Nigeria. We want Shell to restore this exceptional nature area with its mangrove forests, creeks, rivers and lakes, and to compensate residents, such as Chief Barizaa.

How can you help?

Proceeding with this legal case is expensive and we therefore ask for your financial support. Your support is of great importance to the region and its residents.

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