What's WrongWith

S hell Oil?You can be sure of Shell to have only one interest - money - making profits from whoever andwhatever they can. They pollute the environment, collude with repressive regimes, exploit people,censor their critics and spout propaganda to ensure maximum profits. By avoiding Shell, youavoid supporting their activities, and the activities of those they fund.

REMEMBER BRENT SPAR?Shell had the government's permission todump an massive oil storage platform at sea.If protests and consumer boycotts hadn'tforced them to drop the idea, other oilcompanies would now be free to do thesame with hundreds of other similar oilinstallations soon to be decommisioned.The success of the campaign demonstratesthe influence that ordinary people can have.

DAMAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAlthough guilty environmental damagethroughout the world, Shell Oil is infamousfor it's exploitation of Nigerian oil reserves;laying pipelines through villages, creatingfrequent oil spills, destroying once fertileland, polluting rivers, and increasingrespiratory diseases. The Ogoni people ofthe oil rich Niger delta organised themselvesin peaceful protest and successfully forcedShell to virtually abandon Ogoni in 1993.

ROBBING THE POORShell makes over $300 million a year fromNigeria and is about to begin work on a $4billion natural gas joint venture with themilitary regime. While these huge oil dealsbenefit the corrupt Nigerian dictators, thepeople of Ogoni remain among the poorest inAfrica, lacking running water, electricity, oradequate schools and healthcare.The people have endured 25 years of militaryrule. Oil provides 90% of Nigeria’s foreignincome, and 80% of its military revenue.About half of this comes from Shell.

PR

INT

ED

ON

RE

CY

CL

ED

OR

RE

US

ED

PA

PE

R

vB2a

(Nov

96)

Respect and condolences to the families and friends of;Dr Barinen Kiobel, John Kpuinen,Baribor Bera, Saturday Dobee,Felix Nuate, Nordu Eawoh, Paul Levurah, Daniel Gbokoo andKen Saro-Wiwa - murdered by Shell's silence -we will not forget!

@nt

icop

yrig

ht, P

aul V

erno

n, 1

996People and nature,

notprofits and cars!

WHAT YOU CAN DO - Together we can fightback against the institutions and the people inpower who dominate our lives and our planet,and we can create a better society withoutexploitation. Workers can and do organisetogether to fight for their rights and dignity.People are increasingly aware of the need tothink seriously about our dependence onfossil fuels and cars. People in poor countriesare organising themselves to stand up tomultinationals and banks which dominate theworld's economy. Environmental and humanrights protests and campaigns are growingeverywhere. Why not join the struggle for abetter world. Talk to friends and family,neighbours and workmates about theseissues. Please copy and circulate this leafletas widely as you can.

For further information about Shell and Nigeria, contact: the MOvement for the Survival of the Ogoni People:(tel. 0181 563 8614) Suit 5, 3-4 Albion Place, Galena Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 0LTor the Peoples Embargo for DEmocracy in Nigeria: (tel: 0171 924 9033) PO Box 256, London SE11 5THor Delta: (tel. 0116 255 3223) Box Z, 13 Biddulph Street, Leicester LE2 1BH

MURDER AND TORTUREIn May 1994, after a secret meeting withShell, the Nigerian Head of Internal Securitycalled for “ruthless military operations”. Theresults? Dozens of villages destroyed,thousands of people made homeless andhundreds massacred. Shell even admittedthat it had supplied guns for the ‘securityoperations’. In an attempt to end the growinginternational protests, nine key campaignerswere arrested. Shell offered to help securetheir release only if they called off the globalcampaign. On the 10th November 1995,despite international condemnation, thecampaigners were hung. The brutaloppression continues, and nineteen othercampaigners are being detained in appallingconditions and face execution.

EXPLOITING WORKERSShell also played a leading role in the de-recognition of oil workers unions. Even afterthe Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, demands forimproved safety rights, were refused andnon-union labour employed.

BOYCOTT SHELLAn embargo of Nigerian exports and aboycott of Shell Oil may help to end theenvironmental and human rights abuses inNigeria. Tell Shell what you think about theirdisregard for the environment and toleranceof injustice - and demand that theycompensate the Ogoni people.Freepost: Shell Centre, London SE1 7YYFreephone: 0800 414414

BUT ITS NOT JUST SHELLWhat's wrong with Shell is also wrong withother companies; causing massiveenvironmental devastation and abuse ofhuman rights in their quest for greaterprofits. British Petroleum, Texaco, Total,Mobil, ELF, and Esso are among the othercompanies with interests in Nigeria andother oppressive regimes.Total and Texaco, operate in Burma wherethe military dictators are using slave labourto clear rainforest for oil companies.BP has invaded aboriginal land in Australiaand has recently been accused ofenvironmental vandalism and collusion withsecurity forces in Columbia.Texaco devastated areas of ecologicallysensitive Amazonian rainforest and forcedindigenous peoples from their homes.

FUELLING THE CAR CRISISWhilst train and bus travel decline - carsales continue to rise resulting in moreroads, increasing pollution, and deaths.Motor vehicles burn half of world's fossilfuels and account for more air pollution thanany other human activity. In Britain: one inseven children now suffer from Asthma, 130people are seriously injured, and ten killedby motor vehicles every day.We don't have to be dependent on cars andfossil fuel. Most car journeys are of only afew miles and can be made usingalternative methods. You could try to keepyour car for essential journeys only, sharecar journeys with others, use publictransport or sustainable alternatives such ascycling, or walking.

This leaflet has been created by independent activists, to mark the anniversary of the deaths of Ken Saro-Wiwaand the other eight Ogoni campaigners murdered by Shells silence. The information comes from various sources including:GreenPeace, Amnesty International, Sierra Club, newspapers and the McSpotlight Internet site (http://www.mcspotlight.org)

We believe all people have the right to a healthy environment, the right of free speech, the right to assemble and to organisethemselves without oppression from authority. We are opposed to all forms of militarism and imperialism. We reject theconcept of state borders and believe people should be free to travel unhindered. We believe war and oppression can only evercome to an end when people take control of their own lives and reject notions of nationality, property and ‘leaders’.In the mean time, we demand the release of all political prisoners, an end to the arms trade and compensation to Ogoni peoplefor the devastation of their environment, their homes, and for the murder of their friends and families. We urge people toorganise for a better world where resources are shared, and people, animals and the environment are not exploited.