Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

[franksterr]

No Its only "N" live there.
The Damage done to Nigeria's environment and its people is orders of magnitude worst than the gulf oil spill - WHERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhDH76BvCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VvMfaqWeAE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkRcKuGBmSg&feature=related

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell

[Blackstar*]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: franksterr</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="font-style: italic">No Its only &quot;N&quot; live there.
The Damage done to Nigeria's environment and its people is orders of magnitude worst than the gulf oil spill - WHERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA???</span> </div></div>Where is the Nigerian government defending the interests of the people? If Nigerian leaders don't care, why should the international media/community? Really, what is stopping leadership from passing laws and enforcing them? After all, Nigeria is an extremely wealthy country and doesn't have to beg anyone for assistance.

<span style="font-size: 8pt"><span style="font-style: italic">Rhetorical questions, but you get my drift.</span></span>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The oil companies just ignore it. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 11pt">The lawmakers do not care </span></span>and people must live with pollution daily. The situation is now worse than it was 30 years ago. Nothing is changing. When I see the efforts that are being made in the US I feel a great sense of sadness at the double standards. What they do in the US or in Europe is very different.&quot;

&quot;We see frantic efforts being made to stop the spill in the US,&quot; said Nnimo Bassey, Nigerian head of Friends of the Earth International. &quot;But in Nigeria, oil companies largely ignore their spills, cover them up and destroy people's livelihood and environments. The Gulf spill can be seen as a metaphor for what is happening daily in the oilfields of Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

&quot;This has gone on for 50 years in Nigeria. People depend completely on the environment for their drinking water and farming and fishing. They are amazed that the president of the US can be making speeches daily, because in Nigeria people there would not hear a whimper,&quot; he said.

<span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">It is impossible to know how much oil is spilled in the Niger delta each year because the companies and <span style="color: #CC0000">the government </span>keep that secret. </span></span>However, two major independent investigations over the past four years suggest that as much is spilled at sea, in the swamps and on land every year as has been lost in the Gulf of Mexico so far.

...

&quot;Oil spills and the dumping of oil into waterways has been extensive, often poisoning drinking water and destroying vegetation. These incidents have become common due to the <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 11pt">lack of laws and enforcement measures </span></span>within the existing political regime...&quot;

...

In Nigeria, both companies and government have come to treat an extraordinary level of oil spills as the norm...

...

&quot;It is clear that BP has been blocking progressive legislation, both in the US and here. In Nigeria, they have been living above the law. They are now clearly a danger to the planet. The dangers of this happening again and again are high. They must be taken to the international court of justice.&quot;</div></div>

[Blackstar*]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

A comment on the same article in The Guardian - figures would have to be verified.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the Nigerian government </span></span>is the principal owner of ALL of the major upstream companies operating in Nigeria. They own 55% of Shell Nigeria, 60% of Agip, 60% of Mobil and 60% of Chevron. </div></div>

[Blackstar*]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Another excerpt from a comment with which I wholeheartedly agree.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...The oil companies bring millions and millions of tax dollars into Nigeria and where does it go? The place should look like a swampy version of Bahrain by now, but no...its all in numbered accounts in Swiss banks. Whos fault is that? theres no colonial government to blame now.

This country is potentially one of the jewels of Africa, yet is so corrupt from top to bottom that it is virtually ungovernable... <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the blame for the mess </span></span>doesnt lie with foreigners, it <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">lies with the Nigerians who are too busy lining their own pockets to care about their own country and their fellow man.</span></span>

If a tiny amount of the potential oil wealth of this country could be put properly into health, education and infrastructure for the population, Nigeria could be an African superpower within a decade. Sadly, it'll never happen and the divide between obsenely rich and poor will continue to grow.

I'm not normally such a rabid extremist, but the injustice and poverty caused by such greed and corruption in this superb country makes me incredibly angry and blaming it on anyone other than the Nigerian governing class is just patronising and insane.</div></div>

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Wow! Another one! I don't recall seeing this one on the news

[Peasie]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Except that, Nigeria <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">is</span></span> a foreign country to Niger.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This country is potentially one of the jewels of Africa, yet is so corrupt from top to bottom that it is virtually ungovernable... <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the blame for the mess </span></span>doesnt lie with foreigners, it <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">lies with the Nigerians who are too busy lining their own pockets to care about their own country and their fellow man.</span></span></div></div>

[Wahalla]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Except that, Nigeria <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">is</span></span> a foreign country to Niger.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This country is potentially one of the jewels of Africa, yet is so corrupt from top to bottom that it is virtually ungovernable... <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the blame for the mess </span></span>doesnt lie with foreigners, it <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">lies with the Nigerians who are too busy lining their own pockets to care about their own country and their fellow man.</span></span></div></div> </div></div>

the Niger delta is in Nigeria...

[Leddih]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Except that, Nigeria <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">is</span></span> a foreign country to Niger.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This country is potentially one of the jewels of Africa, yet is so corrupt from top to bottom that it is virtually ungovernable... <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the blame for the mess </span></span>doesnt lie with foreigners, it <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">lies with the Nigerians who are too busy lining their own pockets to care about their own country and their fellow man.</span></span></div></div> </div></div>

The Niger Delta is a part of Nigeria. Niger is a landlocked country to the north and therefore has no seacoast.

[Peasie]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Oh. Is di Niger delta dem was talkin bout? I doan read too goodly due to mi Jamaican edumacation

[Yuriatin]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Leaks and pollution and spills are happening everyday and we never hear about them.

A wicked situation going on in China right now that no one's waving a flag about. It's all so sad and even more so because it's all mostly, avoidable.

___

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 17pt">
Acid leak prompts new enviro-protection rules</span></span>
By Nie Peng (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-07-14 13:52


China's Ministry of Environmental Protection said it will tighten rules on environmental information disclosure by listed companies, after a copper smelter of the country's largest gold producer leaked acidic water and killed large numbers of fish.

In a document published on its website Tuesday, the ministry ordered local authorities at various levels to oversee that listed companies in their jurisdiction make timely, complete and accurate disclosure of environmental issues and release annual environmental reports. The authorities will look at the annual report, as well as the results of existent checks, to determine whether a listed company meets environmental protection standards or not.

The ministry said that it will publicize on its website on a quarterly basis a name list of enterprises that have passed environmental checks by the ministry as well as authorities at the provincial level. It will also release once a year the results of environmental monitoring on enterprises that have passed environmental checks.
<span style="color: #FF0000">
The ministry said that some of the local authorities didn't do enough on-the-spot checks or failed to continue monitoring listed companies that had passed environment checks</span>. In very rare cases, some of the environment watchdogs at the provincial level even violated examination rules, which “severely disturbed” the examination work on listed companies' environmental protection.

In May, the ministry said that among the 58 listed companies that had passed environment examinations in 2007 or 2008, 11 listed companies still have severe environmental problems.

The toxic spill from Zijinshan Copper Mine, owned by Zijin Mining Group Co,<span style="color: #FF0000"> happened on July 3, but the company did not announce the incident until a press briefing nine days later on July 12.</span>

The spill has contaminated a major waterway in East China's Fujian province, poisoning up to 1,890 tons of fish, according to local environmental authorities Monday. [Zijin's copper mine sewage contaminates river]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-07/14/content_10105566.htm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jamaica_dreamin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow! Another one! I don't recall seeing this one on the news </div></div>

[johnnycakes]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

Come on!
It should be no secret and no mystery to anyone why this is happening.

The oil corporations either own the government or the two of them work hand in hand to reap the wealth and the country gets ruined and a huge percentage in this incredibly oil-rich nation live in dire poverty.

The reason? LACK OF DEMOCRACY.
The reason ? Capitalism which is not democratic.
The reason capitalism: a system where the rich and powerful get the wealth and the poor have NO SAY in how this happens.

Where is the international outrage?

Be serious. That is not a serious question.

The international media is owned by whom?
The people. Right?
Those who want the brutal truth of capitalism to be understood by all the citizens of the world?

WRONG. The purpose of the international media and all media is TO MAKE MONEY. They are huge businesses. They are not in the business of educating the public. To the opposite, they have a vested interest in keeping the masses of poor and working people as ignorant as they are and quiescent. That's why they only print &quot;news&quot; that is acceptable to the wealthy classes.

No corporate media outlet would keep or not fire any journalist who would blame capitalism for what is going on in Nigeria.

That is why those looking for the truth have to search the web for sources like Znet, TomDispatch and a handful of others who do not take advertising or depend on it to survive for the truth.

To depend on the corporate media as most readers of this do is to be in a perpetual state of ignorance and worse, being disinformed, told and believing things that are deliberate lies.


Most of you think capitalism is a good thing with just a few minor problems don't you ?

Most of you think that you live in a democratic society where you elect the people who are supposed to represent your interests, don't you?

Yes, well most of you should shoot your televisions, burn the Gleaner, crush your radios and get your heads out of your (donkeys) and stop acting so dyamned surprised when things like this happen in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

It's high time you started the process of learning why the world is so screwed up and start making the changes necessary.

As the saying goes, those changes start with you.

What are you going to do?



Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet.

[sistactry]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

ohh man, this is all soo sad~

[johnnycakes]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

When I talk about media control over your minds, you should believe me.
When I say you need to seek out alternative sources for your understanding of the world, you should believe me.

The link following goes to an article that points out the truth of what I say:

It is about how the media controls what people think and this story is not to be found in anything most of you rely upon for your information:

http://www.zcommunications.org/buying-the-press-by-eva-gollinger

[Wahalla]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A comment on the same article in The Guardian - figures would have to be verified.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #CC0000">the Nigerian government </span></span>is the principal owner of ALL of the major upstream companies operating in Nigeria. They own 55% of Shell Nigeria, 60% of Agip, 60% of Mobil and 60% of Chevron. </div></div> </div></div>

lawd sumadi finally hear wha mi been saying fi years pan yah.... when mi tell unno none ah unno listen.. add to dis.. shell Nigeria is also owned further by various nigerian entities... But it is easy to condemn shell, chevron ect.....

Obasanja made the point that withing the Shell organisation they account for every penny.. once out of shell there is no accountability...

But mi naw talk mi nuh wan get call hidiat no more!

[blugiant]

Re: Niger delta Oil spill - does anybody care???

wan bbc programme, sum afrikkan sey y dem fiiteinn iss cah aff de polluteshan


oonnoo tink annee wan reallee care bout polluteshan ann ile spill inn afrikka