NIGERIA: Communities sue oil firms

On June 21, communities across the Niger Delta, supported by Friends of the Earth Nigeria, filed legal action in Nigeria's High Court against Shell, Chevron-Texaco and Nigerian oil companies, to stop the flaring (burning off) of associated gas. While cheap, gas flaring is hugely environmentally destructive and dangerous. Nigeria has the most gas flaring in the world. Shell recently withdrew from an agreement to end flaring by 2008, blaming, in part, a lack of "community cooperation" with its mines for the problem. One of the plaintiffs from the Akalu-Oka community said: "For many years, we have been living with continuous flaring of gas. Our farmlands have been polluted. Our roofs are corroded. Our children are sick. We cannot continue with this suffering." To help, visit <http://www.eraction.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, June 29, 2005.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 631