MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHELL CLIMATE CRIMES EXPOSED IN NEW REPORT

Environment groups criticize Shell CEO van der Veer for undermining Climate Policies

Brussels, Amsterdam, London, Washington - 29th June 2009

Fresh evidence of oil giant Shell’s colossal contribution to global climate change and its continued investment in carbon intensive fossil fuels has been revealed today in a new report.[1] The report also reveals new internal documents that show that Shell knew of the environmental dangers of gas flaring in Nigeria more than fifteen years ago, but chose not to stop for purely financial reasons.

As Shell’s new Chief Executive, Peter Voser, takes charge this week, Friends of the Earth, Oil Change International and PLATFORM have released new research showing that despite attempts by outgoing CEO, Jeroen van der Veer, to portray a green image, the company has opted for a way forward that is in stark contradiction with the need to reduce CO2 emissions. Shell’s heavy investments in the most carbon-emitting energy sources, such as tar sands, liquefied natural gas and crude oil from Nigeria - which is associated with huge levels of gas flaring - make it the dirtiest of all major oil companies with regard to CO2 emissions.

The three campaign groups call on the EU and the US to stop listening to Shell in discussions of how to tackle climate change. They say van der Veer has personally led lobby efforts in Brussels against improvements to the EU’s Emission Trading System, and threatened to move refineries out of Europe if Shell and other oil companies were made to pay for their emissions.

Paul de Clerck from Friends of the Earth International said: “Shell attempts to paint itself as a sustainable company when in reality it is the dirtiest oil producer of all. It continues to make huge profits but still argues that it cannot afford to pay for effective CO2 reduction measures. The EU should no longer listen to Shell in talks about tackling climate change.”

Since 1996 Shell has promised to stop gas flaring in Nigeria - the biggest contributor to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. But the company has repeatedly broken its promises and rejected statements by the Nigerian government that flaring should be stopped. Shell refuses to implement the 2011 deadline imposed by the Nigerian government for phasing out gas flaring and is now speaking about a 2013 phase out.

Steve Kretzmann from Oil Change International said: ‘Shell could stop flaring gas in Nigeria for only 10% of last years’ profit for the company. The company’s new head, Peter Voser, has the power to stop gas flaring, spare Nigerians from inhaling deadly toxins, and help to curb climate change in one stroke. The question is: will he?”

Today’s report, ‘Shell’s Big Dirty Secret’, comes after a global backlash against the energy giant’s abuses of human rights and the environment. On June 8, Shell was forced to pay $15.5 million to settle an embarrassing lawsuit in the US for human rights abuses in Nigeria. The company is also facing legal action in The Hague concerning repeated oil spills which have damaged the livelihoods of Nigerian fisherfolk and farmers.

CONTACT:

Belgium: Paul de Clerck, Friends of the Earth International:
+32-494-38-09-59 or paul@milieudefensie.nl

Netherlands: Anne van Schaik, Friends of the Earth Netherlands,
+31-20-5507387, +31-6-21829589, anne.van.schaik@milieudefensie.nl

U.S. (DC): Steve Kretzmann, Oil Change International, +1-202-497-1033;
steve@priceofoil.org

U.K. (London): Ben Amunwa, PLATFORM, +44-207-357-0055, +44-7891-454-714,
ben@remembersarowiwa.com

NOTES:
The report, ‘Shell’s Big Dirty Secret’ is available here.

# # #

Visit www.ShellGuilty.com for more information. The ShellGuilty campaign is a global coalition including Friends of the Earth (www.foei.org), Oil Change International (www.priceofoil.org), and PLATFORM’s remember saro-wiwa project (www.remembersarowiwa.com), with support from environmental and human rights groups in Nigeria, North America, and Europe.

Damning Evidence Reveals Shell’s Complicity with Crimes Against Humanity; Landmark Case Resolved in Favor of Families of Executed Nigerian Environmental Leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and Others After 13 Year Legal Battle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2009

CONTACT:
U.S. (DC): Steve Kretzmann, Oil Change International, +1-202-497-1033; steve@priceofoil.org
U.S. (NY): Han Shan, Oil Change International, +1-917-418-4133, han@priceofoil.org
U.S. (DC): Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth U.S., +1-202-222-0719, ebast@foe.org
U.K. (London): Ben Amunwa, PLATFORM/Remember Saro-Wiwa, +44-207-357-0055, +44-7891-454-714, ben@remembersarowiwa.com

New York– After legal battles lasting nearly fourteen years, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has been forced to pay a $15.5 million out-of-court settlement. Plaintiffs from the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta have successfully held Shell accountable for complicity in human rights atrocities committed against the Ogoni people in the 1990s, including the execution of writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. The legal action is one of the few cases brought under the U.S. Alien Tort Statute that have been resolved in favor of the plaintiffs. The settlement includes establishment of a $5 million trust to benefit local communities in Ogoni.

“We congratulate the plaintiffs on their victory. Let there be no doubt that Shell has emerged guilty. With this settlement, Shell is seeking to keep the overwhelming evidence of its crimes away from the scrutiny of a jury trial,” said Ben Amunwa from the UK-based Remember Saro-Wiwa project. “Shell could not stand the damage of bad publicity around this human rights case. Global campaigners have helped to highlight Shell’s abuses and we share in this historic victory.”

“Shell is guilty. Despite this victory, justice will not be served in Ogoni and throughout the Delta until the gas flares are put out, the spills cleaned up, and the military stops protecting the oil companies and starts serving the people,” said Steve Kretzmann, Executive Director of Oil Change International. “This issue will not be solved until these legitimate grievances of the community are addressed.”

“This case should be a wake up call to multinational corporations that they will be held accountable for violations of international law, no matter where they occur,” said Han Shan, ShellGuilty Campaign Coordinator for Oil Change International.

The next phase of the struggle continues with another case with an Ogoni plaintiff pending in the New York District Court, and a further legal action in The Hague, Netherlands, where Royal Dutch Shell is headquartered. The company faces a legal action there for repeated oil spills, brought by residents of the Niger Delta, with support from Friends of the Earth Netherlands and Friends of the Earth Nigeria.

“Shell will be dragged from the boardroom to the courthouse, time and again, until the company addresses the injustices at the root of the Niger Delta crisis and put an end to its environmental devastation,” said Elizabeth Bast, International Program Director for Friends of the Earth U.S. “Communities, human rights lawyers and activists will continue to demand justice with the same determination and hope shown by Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni people.”

# # #

The ShellGuilty campaign is a coalition effort of Friends of the Earth (www.foe.org), Oil Change International (www.priceofoil.org), and PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project (www.remembersarowiwa.com), with support from environmental and human rights groups in Nigeria, North America, and Europe. Visit www.ShellGuilty.com for more information.

To read the Lawyers Press Release, use this link.

To read the official Statement of the Plaintiffs, use this link.

To read the official Statement of the Attorneys, use this link.

To read the settlement documents, click here and here.

To read the deed for the Kiisi Trust, click here.

For a pdf document of all settlement agreements and orders, click here.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Next Pre-trial Conference in Wiwa v. Shell Now Set for Wednesday June 3rd
‘Video Shell Doesn’t Want You to See’ Viewed More Than 60,000 Times in Past Four Days

CONTACT:
U.S.:     Celia Alario, (310) 721-6517, celiaalario@gmail.com
Han Shan, (917) 418-4133, han@priceofoil.org
U.K.:    Richard Howlett, +44 207 357 0055, +44 796 046 5594, richard@remembersarowiwa.com

New York– There has been another postponement in the landmark human rights trial at which Shell is expected to defend itself against charges that it colluded with the Nigerian military to brutally suppress peaceful opposition to its operations in the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta in the 1990s. Meanwhile, a ‘campaign video’ removed from the plaintiffs’ website under court order after legal motions by Shell has been viewed more than 60,000 times on YouTube in only the past four days.

TRIAL DELAY
The trial had been set to begin with jury selection on Wednesday, May 27th in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. On Tuesday, there was an 11th-hour postponement with no new trial date set. However, the court set a pre-trial conference with the two opposing counsel for Monday, June 1st. Late on Friday, May 29th, the court announced that the Monday conference is pushed back to Wednesday, June 3rd at 2pm.

VIDEO SHELL DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE
On May 12th, Shell’s lawyers filed a motion opposing the admission of prominent human rights attorney Paul Hoffman to serve as trial counsel for the plaintiffs, citing the fact that he had posted a link on his law firm’s website to a video on the plaintiffs’ website. The motion refers to the “plaintiffs’ ‘campaign video’ that [the defendants] have previously raised with the Court.” The court ruled against the defendants’ motion to oppose admission of Mr. Hoffman to serve as trial counsel for the plaintiffs, but ordered the removal of the video from the plaintiffs’ educational website about the case.

The ShellGuilty campaign re-posted the video, dubbing it ‘The Video Shell Doesn’t Want You to See,’ and wrote about Shell’s attempts to suppress it in an article on Huffington Post, which was widely circulated via social networking sites such as Digg, Twitter, and Facebook. The video lays out the plaintiffs’ case against Shell, and includes documentary footage of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, leading Ogoni activist who was hanged by the Nigerian military in 1995 along with eight fellow activists. The plaintiffs, including Saro-Wiwa’s son Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., assert that Shell conspired with the Nigeria military in the prosecution and execution of the men, known as the ‘Ogoni 9.’

Beginning last Thursday, news of the impending trial and the video shot around the web. The video has been seen more than 60,000 times since Thursday. The video and article can be viewed here: http://www.shellguilty.com/wiwa-v-shell-video/

In addition, ShellGuilty campaign supporters have sent more than 10,000 letters to Shell CEO Jeroen van den Veer to deman an end to gas flaring in Nigeria, one of the key abuses that has animated opposition to Shell in the Niger Delta for decades and continues to this day. The ShellGuilty campaign is gearing up for a high-profile escalation of its activities in order to keep the spotlight on this historic case.

# # #

The ShellGuilty campaign is a coalition effort of Friends of the Earth (www.foe.org), Oil Change International (www.priceofoil.org), and PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project (www.remembersarowiwa.com), with support from environmental and human rights groups in Nigeria, North America, and Europe. Visit www.ShellGuilty.com for more information.

ShellGuilty on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php#/group.php?gid=171744785281
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShellGuilty
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ShellGuilty

Rallies in Nigeria, U.K., and U.S. Ahead of Wiwa v. Shell Trial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2009

*Images of protests in three countries available: Nigeria, U.K., U.S.

CONTACT:
Nigeria, Celestine Akpobari, Ogoni Solidarity Forum, +234 8032733965
Ken Henshaw, Social Action, +234 8034053707
US, Celia Alario, +1(310) 721-6517, celiaalario@gmail.com
UK, Benjamin Diss, +44 207 357 0055, carbonweb@gmail.com

Stunning protests swept three different countries ahead of the delayed Wiwa v Shell trial. The trial was due to open on 27th May, but the court announced a delay yesterday without setting a new date, saying that the earliest that jury selection would begin would be June 2nd. Despite the delay, hundreds of people across the globe demanded that Shell be held to account for human rights abuses.

In Nigeria, a rally, a candlelit vigil at the graveside of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and a mock trial were held at Bane, in Saro-Wiwa’s community. The events ran into controversy after Rivers State Police arrested a number of women activists in an attempt to prevent them from attending demonstrations. Protestors demanded their release, and eventually forced the police to release the detainees and respect their right to protest.

A noon rally took place in New York at Foley Square in Manhattan, near the federal courthouse where the trial had been scheduled to open today. A hundred supporters came out ahead of the trial, unfurling a banner that read, ‘JUSTICE FOR THE OGONI’. Inspiring speakers stressed that Shell cannot escape justice for their role in human rights abuses in the 1990s, and put pressure on Shell to end the ongoing environmental and social devastation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. A group of Ogoni activists closed the event by singing the Ogoni solidarity anthem.

In the UK, protestors in London targeted Shell’s London Headquarters at Waterloo with activists handing out leaflets to Shell employees while chanting, ‘Justice is coming’. The protests were coordinated by the ShellGuilty coalition and global partners. Photos of each of the protests are available to download along with a note of information. Follow this link for:
Nigeria: http://www.shellguilty.com/ogonilandmay27
New York: http://www.shellguilty.com/newyorkmay27
and London http://www.shellguilty.com/londonmay27.

Ben Amunwa from PLATFORM said, “This trial is long overdue. In 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa was framed and executed so that Shell and the Nigerian regime could continue pumping oil at a devastating cost for local communities. Global activists spoke in one voice today to demand that Shell held to account for its crimes.”

Steve Kretzmann from Oil Change International said, “We are pleased that Shell is due to be on trial in New York, but real justice is an end to Shell’s daily abuse of human rights in Nigeria. Shell continues to ignore the suffering of communities in the Niger Delta and to destroy their land and health with toxic gas flares.”

NOTES:

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a writer and leading activist demanding rights for Nigeria’s Ogoni people, including an end to Shell’s gas flaring in Ogoni regions. As a result of his activism, Saro-Wiwa was detained, imprisoned and tortured throughout the early 1990s. On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the Nigerian government for their campaigning. Substantial evidence indicates Shell collaborated with the Nigerian government in a campaign of brutal crackdowns that culminated in the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. Shell may be forced to face this evidence in US federal district court in New York City. Since the postponement on May 26, the court has not yet set a new date, but has said that jury selection would begin on June 2nd at the earliest.

For more information visit www.ShellGuilty.com.

Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, with member groups in 80 countries. Friends of the Earth campaigns on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.

Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. Oil Change is dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.

PLATFORM is a U.K.-based arts and campaign group focusing on the impact of the oil and gas industry on the rights of local communities. PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project aims to create a permanent Living Memorial to Ken Saro-Wiwa in London and to raise awareness about the ongoing environmental and social devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies, particularly Shell.

# # #

International Experts to Speak About Shell in Nigeria, Then and Now

Opening of Landmark Human Rights Trial, Wiwa v Shell is DELAYED.

Contact: Celia Alario, (310) 721 6517, celiaalario@gmail.com; on site: Han Shan, (917) 418 4133, han@priceofoil.org.

Who: International experts and campaigners, supporters of corporate accountability, human rights, and environmental justice. Speakers to include: Brent Blackwelder, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, Steve Kretzmann, Executive Director of Oil Change International and Ben Anumwa, campaigner from PLATFORM. (see bios below)

What: Rally, speakers, creative political theater

Where: Foley Square, Manhattan, at the ‘Triumph of the Spirit Monument’ across from U.S. Federal Courthouse

When: 12:00pm Noon, Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Why: Rally to support landmark trial, and call for end to Shell’s abuses in Nigeria

New York–A rally will proceed as scheduled in Foley Square, close to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse beginning at noon tomorrow, Wednesday May 27, despite a last minute announcement today of a delay in the opening of the landmark Wiwa v. Shell trial.

International experts and campaigners will be on hand to provide commentary and up-to-the-minute analysis on the current situation, including ongoing gas flaring in the Niger Delta. The rally is being organized by members of the ShellGuilty Campaign: a coalition effort of Friends of the Earth U.S. and Friends of the Earth International, Oil Change International and PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project, with support from environmental and human rights groups in Nigeria, North America, and Europe.

The rally in New York tomorrow follows after troops broke up peaceful protests in Nigeria today, where activists from Ogoni and other communities were barred from solidarity rallies and some arrested by soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State. Most of those arrested are women (in 5 buses) were on their way to Ken Saro-Wiwa’s village for a rally to protest the complicity of Shell and the Nigerian government in the Ogoni murders in advance of the opening of the trial in New York.

Visit www.ShellGuilty.com for more information on gas flaring, and our efforts to demand that Shell comes clean, and ends gas flaring once and for all.

Background:

After more than thirteen years, multinational oil giant Royal Dutch Shell must finally answer to charges that it conspired with the Nigerian military to bring about the execution of Nigerian human rights and environmental leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his colleagues. The November 10, 1995 executions of the ‘Ogoni 9’ caused global outrage, and a massive backlash against the company.

Shell also faces charges for arming, financing, and transporting the Nigerian military, which conducted raids on villages that resulted in beatings, torture, shootings, and killings of innocent people in the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta. The plaintiffs, including Saro-Wiwa’s family, charge Shell with colluding with the military to suppress nonviolent opposition to its operations in the oil-rich Delta region.

The historic trial will open in the wake of recent raids by the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta, which local people have said resulted in massacres of civilians. The military has said its operations intended to root out armed groups that are opposed to the exploitation of oil resources by foreign multinationals.

# # #

International Experts Available for Interviews and Analysis:

Steve Kretzmann is Executive Director of Oil Change International and has worked on international oil issues for more than 20 years. He was an advisor to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People. In April 2009, he testified in the US Congress regarding the impact of the oil industry on the Niger Delta. Cell: +1 202 497 1033

Ben Amunwa is a campaigner for PLATFORM, a charity that focuses on the impact of the oil industry on local communities. He coordinates remember saro-wiwa, a project to create a Living Memorial to Ken Saro-Wiwa in London, UK. The project uses art and activism to raise awareness about the ongoing injustices in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta. Ben has relatives in oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta. Cell: +1 617 717 4653

Han Shan is ShellGuilty Campaign Coordinator for Oil Change International. A longtime human rights and environmental activist and film producer, he’s traveled internationally investigating human rights and social justice issues. Han and be video blogging and Twittering from the courthouse during the trial. Cell: +1 917 418 4133

Nnimmo Bassey is Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Nigeria (also known as Environmental Rights Action). Nnimmo established the organization in response to human rights abuses in Nigeria that have stemmed from the unbridled pursuit of natural resources by both government and transnational corporations. Over the 9-year history of Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Nnimmo has suffered arrests and harassments aimed at silencing him and preventing him from associating with other advocacy groups. Tel/Fax: +234-52-880-619. Cell: +234 803 727 4395

For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2009

CONTACT:
Steve Kretzmann, Oil Change International, US Mobile in London +1-202-497-1033; steve@priceofoil.org
U.S. (Washington DC): Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth U.S., +1-202-641-7203, ebast@foe.org
U.S. (New York): Han Shan, Oil Change International, +1-917-418-4133, han@priceofoil.org

London, May 19 – Research by four leading environmental organizations released today to coincide with Royal Dutch Shell’s Annual General Meeting, reveals the carbon intensity of the top international oil companies.  Shell is now the most carbon intensive oil company in the world based on its total resources.

The research examined the leading international oil companies and measured their carbon intensity by calculating emissions per future barrel of oil produced.  While all the companies are moving into higher carbon production, Shell stands out because of its reliance on Nigerian crude which is associated with huge levels of gas flaring, liquefied natural gas which is highly energy intensive, and Shell’s massive gamble on Canada’s tar sands.  Shell revealed to investors last year that 30% of its total resources are tar sands.

“As carbon control legislation moves forward in the US, and the world looks towards Copenhagen for action to limit climate change, Shell is going the wrong way by massively increasing the carbon intensity of its production,” said Steve Kretzmann, Executive Director of Oil Change International, and one of the authors of the report.

Charlie Kronick, senior climate advisor of Greenpeace UK said “Shell has a stated goal to be the leading tar sands operator, but they can’t lead on tar sands and climate change at the same time. A strategy based on tar sands will inevitably not just damage the climate but also increase risks to the company’s future as well as shareholder and investor value.”

“Shell’s carbon heavy portfolio explains why they have been leading the industry lobby against EU carbon control legislation in Brussels,” said Paul de Clerck, Corporate Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth International.

This is not just a problem for Shell. Investors around the world are voicing their concerns over tar sands investment. 30% of ConocoPhillips shareholders voted for a resolution calling for an assessment of the environmental impact of the company’s tar sands projects and today at Statoil’s annual meeting significant support is expected for a motion calling for the company to end its tar sands investment altogether. This research shows that Shell’s tar sands liability and carbon exposure is in fact the greatest among its peers and its claims on “responsible energy” need to be seriously questioned by investors.

“Next week, Shell will go on trial for crimes against humanity and murder for its activities in Nigeria 14 years ago,” said Kretzmann. “The company publicly expresses regret over the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, but maintains its innocence despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. One wonders if 14 years from now, they will similarly profess innocence for the state of the world’s climate.”

Click here to download the report as a PDF document.

# # #

Protests planned for Shell’s annual shareholder meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2009

CONTACT:
U.K.: Richard Howlett, Platform, +44-207-357-0055, +44-7960-456-594, richard@remembersarowiwa.com
Netherlands: Anne van Schaik, Friends of the Earth Netherlands, +31-20-5507387, +31-6-21829589, anne.van.schaik@milieudefensie.nl

London & Den Haag - With one week to go until Shell stand trial in New York for human rights abuses including the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa, activists will turn up the heat on Shell at their Annual General Meeting next Tuesday 19th May. Spectacular fire-breathing performance and protests in London will bring Shell’s gas flaring in the Niger Delta to the attention of shareholders. Campaigners will petition investors, angry at the company’s generous remuneration package, to demand that Van der Veer’s pension go towards ending the harmful practice of gas flaring.

The protest is organised by ShellGuilty, a new coalition including Friends of the Earth, Oil Change International, PLATFORM and remember saro-wiwa which is pressing for an end to Shell’s environmental irresponsibility and human rights abuses. The protest marks the start of an International Week of Action against Shell’s abuses, bringing together activists from across the globe. The campaign’s chief demand is an end to gas flaring in the Niger Delta. The practice poisons communities, emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases, and wastes approximately $2.5 billion of natural gas annually.

Richard Howlett, campaigner at PLATFORM said: “Shareholders need to start worrying more about Shell’s impact on the planet than the impact of the company’s pension packages on their pockets. Shell are planning to invest $5bn in tar sands – the dirtiest means of oil extraction. This money would more than cover the cost of ending gas flaring in Nigeria. Shell needs to wake up to its responsibility for environmental devastation’

Anne van Schaik of Friends of the Earth Netherlands said: “In addition to the trial in New York, Shell also faces legal action in the Netherlands, the first time Shell has had to defend itself in a Dutch court. Friends of the Earth Netherlands and Nigerian plaintiffs are bringing an action over repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta.”

“We hope the Dutch judge will decide that Shell Headquarters is accountable for the company’s operations worldwide and that the company will be forced to clean up the pollution and compensate the victims properly.”

Steve Kretzmann from Oil Change International added: ‘We are glad to see Shell finally being held to account for their human rights abuses in this month’s trial. But for justice to really be done the illegal gas flaring Ken Saro Wiwa died fighting against must end’.

NOTES:

The London protest and performance will take place at 9.30am GMT on Tuesday 19th May at the Silk Street entrance to the Barbican Centre. Pictures will be available afterwards.

Gas flares are open-air fires that burn natural gas that is released when oil is extracted from the ground. A World Bank study concluded that flaring in the Rivers and Delta states in Nigeria releases 35 million tons of carbon dioxide and 12 million tons of methane each year - equivalent to the annual global warming pollution of 56 coal plants or 47 million cars. Gas flares are toxic and harmful to human health, which is why they are strictly regulated in countries such as the United States or the UK But because such flaring is cheap when environmental and human costs are not taken into consideration, Shell and other oil companies have burned gas flares continuously for decades in countries like Nigeria.

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a writer and leading activist demanding rights for Nigeria’s Ogoni people, including an end to Shell’s gas flaring in Ogoni regions. As a result of his activism, Saro-Wiwa was detained, imprisoned and tortured throughout the early 1990s. On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the Nigerian government for their campaigning. Substantial evidence indicates Shell collaborated with the Nigerian government in a campaign of brutal crackdowns that culminated in the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. Shell will be forced to face this evidence in US federal district court in New York City in a trial that begins May 26th. On April 23rd, Judge Kimba Wood rejected Shell’s last-ditch attempt to avoid trial, rejecting the company’s claim that the court did not have jurisdiction to consider the case.

For more information visit www.ShellGuilty.com.

###

PLATFORM is a U.K.-based arts and campaign group focusing on the impact of the oil and gas industry on the rights of local communities. PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project aims to create a permanent Living Memorial to Ken Saro-Wiwa in London and to raise awareness about the ongoing environmental and social devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies, particularly Shell.

Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, with member groups in 80 countries. Friends of the Earth Campaigns on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.

Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. Oil Change is dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.

Ads demand Shell finally end gas flaring that Ken Saro-Wiwa died trying to stop; they will begin running in New York City this week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2009

CONTACT:
U.S.: Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth U.S., +1-202-641-7203, ebast@foe.org
U.S.: Steve Kretzmann, Oil Change International, +1-202-497-1033, steve@priceofoil.org
U.K.: Ben Amunwa, PLATFORM/Remember Saro-Wiwa, +44-207-357-0055, +44-7891-454-714, ben@remembersarowiwa.com

New York City— The ShellGuilty campaign announced today it will begin running TV ads in New York City this week to hold Shell accountable for its continued toxic gas flaring in Nigeria — one of the abuses that Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other nonviolent Nigerian activists died trying to stop.

Shell will be put on trial in federal court in New York beginning May 26, in a case in which it is charged with complicity in the executions of Saro-Wiwa and the other activists, as well as other human rights abuses.

The ads that will begin airing this week demand an end to gas flaring, which harms Nigerians and exacerbates the climate crisis. The ads can be viewed at http://www.shellguilty.com/psa/. The campaign’s network has sent over 9,000 letters to Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer demanding an end to Shell’s practice of gas flaring in Nigeria.

For more information about the ShellGuilty campaign visit www.ShellGuilty.com. The April 27 news release announcing the formation of the ShellGuilty campaign can be found here.

Notes:

* Ken Saro-Wiwa was a writer and leading activist demanding rights for Nigeria’s Ogoni people, including an end to Shell’s gas flaring in Ogoni regions. As a result of his activism, Saro-Wiwa was detained, imprisoned and tortured throughout the early 1990s. On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the Nigerian government for their campaigning. Substantial evidence indicates Shell collaborated with the Nigerian government in a campaign of brutal crackdowns that culminated in the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. Shell will be forced to face this evidence in U.S. federal district court in New York City in a trial that begins May 26. On April 23, Judge Kimba Wood rejected Shell’s last-ditch attempt to avoid trial, rejecting the company’s claim that the court did not have jurisdiction to consider the case.

* Gas flares are open-air fires that burn the natural gas that is released when oil is extracted from the ground. Industry sources and World Bank research estimates vary, but most indicate that gas flaring in the Niger Delta sends 53 to 60 million tons of carbon dioxide (a global warming pollutant) into the atmosphere each year. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of nine to ten million cars in the U.S. Gas flares are toxic and harmful to human health, which is why they are strictly regulated in countries such as the U.S. or U.K. But because such flaring is cheap when environmental and human costs are not taken into consideration, Shell and other oil companies have burned gas flares continuously for decades in countries like Nigeria.

For more information about the campaign, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and gas flaring, visit www.ShellGuilty.com

###

Friends of the Earth U.S. (www.foe.org) fights for a healthy and just world and is the U.S. voice of Friends of the Earth International. Friends of the Earth International (www.foei.org) is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with member groups in 77 countries and more than 2 million individual members and supporters.

PLATFORM is a U.K.-based arts and campaign group focusing on the impact of the oil and gas industry on the rights of local communities. PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project aims to create a permanent Living Memorial to Ken Saro-Wiwa in London and to raise awareness about the ongoing environmental and social devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies such as Shell.

Oil Change International (www.priceofoil.org) campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. We are dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.

Campaigners demand Shell end the illegal gas flaring that Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa died trying to stop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2009

CONTACT:
U.S.: Nick Berning, Friends of the Earth U.S., +1-202-222-0748, nberning@foe.org
U.S.: Steve Kretzmann Oil Change International, +1-202-497-1033, steve@priceofoil.org
U.K.: Ben Amunwa, PLATFORM/Remember Saro-Wiwa, +44-207-357-0055, +44-7891-454-714, ben@remembersarowiwa.com
Netherlands: Paul de Clerck, Friends of the Earth International: +32-494-38-09-59 or paul@milieudefensie.nl

NEW YORK CITY—Days after a judge confirmed Shell Oil will stand trial here May 26 on charges it was complicit in the murders of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Nigerian activists, environmental and human rights groups announced they have formed a global campaign to hold Shell accountable and demand that it stop gas flaring in Nigeria.

The campaign, headquartered at www.ShellGuilty.com, is being coordinated by Oil Change International, Friends of the Earth, and PLATFORM/Remember Saro-Wiwa. In addition to the website, the campaign will include grassroots advocacy, TV and online ads, and calls for Shell to come clean about its corporate irresponsibility, human rights abuses, and record of environmental devastation. The campaigners are demanding that Shell stop gas flaring.

“Ken Saro-Wiwa’s hanging revealed the true price of oil,” said Steve Kretzmann of Oil Change International. “Now, as Shell finally goes on trial for its crimes, we continue the struggle that Saro-Wiwa died for. For the climate and the communities of Nigeria, Shell must end gas flaring.”

“Gas flaring in Nigeria, where Shell is by far the largest oil company, poisons Niger Delta communities and is a large, wasteful source of global warming pollution,” said Elizabeth Bast of Friends of the Earth. “It’s time for Shell to end to its human rights abuses and climate crimes, including its gas flaring in Nigeria.”

“We remember Saro-Wiwa by keeping alive his nonviolent struggle,” said Ben Amunwa of PLATFORM/Remember Saro-Wiwa. “People around the world who care about these issues can demand justice from Shell—for all the victims of the oil industry—by joining our campaign at www.ShellGuilty.com.”

Notes:
* Ken Saro-Wiwa was a writer and leading activist demanding rights for Nigeria’s Ogoni people, including an end to Shell’s gas flaring in Ogoni regions. As a result of his activism, Saro-Wiwa was detained, imprisoned and tortured throughout the early 1990s. On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the Nigerian government for their campaigning. Substantial evidence indicates Shell collaborated with the Nigerian government in a campaign of brutal crackdowns that culminated in the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. Shell will be forced to face this evidence in U.S. federal district court in New York City in a trial that begins May 26. On April 23, Judge Kimba Wood rejected Shell’s last-ditch attempt to avoid trial, rejecting the company’s claim that the court did not have jurisdiction to consider the case.

* Gas flares are open-air fires that burn the natural gas that is released when oil is extracted from the ground. Industry sources and World Bank research estimates vary, but most indicate that gas flaring in the Niger Delta sends 53 to 60 million tons of carbon dioxide (a global warming pollutant) into the atmosphere each year. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of nine to ten million cars in the U.S. Gas flares are toxic and harmful to human health, which is why they are strictly regulated in countries such as the U.S. or U.K. But because such flaring is cheap when environmental and human costs are not taken into consideration, Shell and other oil companies have burned gas flares continuously for decades in countries like Nigeria.

For more information about the campaign, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and gas flaring, visit www.ShellGuilty.com.

###

Friends of the Earth U.S. (www.foe.org) is the U.S. voice of Friends of the Earth International. Friends of the Earth International (www.foei.org) is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 77 national member groups in 77 countries and more than 2 million individual members and supporters.

PLATFORM is a U.K.-based arts and campaign group focusing on the impact of the oil and gas industry on the rights of local communities. PLATFORM’s Remember Saro-Wiwa project aims to create a permanent Living Memorial to Ken Saro-Wiwa in London and to raise awareness about the ongoing environmental and social devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies such as Shell.

Oil Change International (www.priceofoil.org) campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. We are dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.