End gas flaring in Nigeria
13 May 2009

In January we asked you to write to the Nigerian government urging them to put a stop to the illegal and harmful practice of gas flaring.

Gas flaring

Gas flares are open-air fires that burn the natural gas that is released when oil is extracted from the ground.

Gas flaring is illegal under Nigerian law. It endangers human health and also:

Harms local ecosystems
Emits large amounts of greenhouse gases
Wastes vast quantities of natural gas

Nevertheless, major oil producers have been allowed to continue this practice for decades.

Shell on trial

On May 26, oil giant Shell will face a ground-breaking trial in the United States federal court for complicity in human rights abuses.

Shell faces a number of serious charges. These include conspiring with a Nigerian military dictatorship to bring about the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa.

On 10 November 1995 Saro-Wiwa, along with 8 fellow Ogoni activists, were executed by the Nigerian government for their campaigning.

Petition to end flaring

Friends of the Earth Nigeria will deliver a petition of 10,000 signatures to the Nigerian government later this month - many thanks if you took part.

We're calling for the law criminalising gas flaring to be upheld, and gas flaring to be stopped immediately.

Leaving a legacy

Jeroen van der Veer, Shell's Chief Executive, will retire this summer.

He has the opportunity to choose the legacy he'll leave behind - one of environmental devastation and broken promises, or one of leadership and progress.

In partnership with the ShellGuilty campaign we are calling on Mr van der Veer to make the right choice and end gas flaring in Nigeria once and for all.

A legacy of hope

Dear Mr van der Veer

You are no doubt aware of the devastating impact gas flaring has on the health of Nigerian people and their land—as well as the harmful impact it is having on our climate. Flaring in the Delta region causes respiratory illnesses, blindness, cancer and birth defects amongst local people. The toxic compounds in the gas have entered streams and fields, endangering the fishing and farming people rely on for their subsistence and livelihood. But the impact does not end in Nigeria. Gas flaring has caused more greenhouse gas emissions than all other sources in sub-Saharan Africa combined, thereby worsening climate change, which has damaging consequences for us all. This atrocious practice must end. Shell has promised to stop gas flaring countless times. These broken promises aggravate the communities that continue to suffer the effects of 24-hour flaring and show a flagrant disregard for our climate that belies your professed concern. The Wiwa v. Shell trial beginning in May has once again put a spotlight on your business in Nigeria. People across the planet will remember how Ken Saro-Wiwa and members of the movement he led fought to end gas flaring. This message is a sign of my commitment to continue their struggle. It is expected that you will soon step down as CEO of Royal Dutch Shell. As you do, I believe you have a choice of what kind of legacy you will leave behind; one of broken promises or one of honourable leadership on this issue in doing the right thing by ending gas flaring. I urge you to take this opportunity to end the injustice of Shell's gas flaring in Nigeria once and for all.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

Required data

Title

Please choose a title

First name

Surname

Postcode

Find Address

House Name / No.

Street

Town / City

Country

Please enter your country

Please tick this box if you would like Friends of the Earth to use the contact details you have supplied, including your email address, to keep you up to date on our work and what you are helping us to achieve.

Friends of the Earth is a collective name for Friends of the Earth Trust, registered charity 281681, company number 1533942, and Friends of the Earth Limited, company number 1012357, both of which may use the above information. In both cases the registered office is at 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1 7JQ.

End gas flaring in Nigeria13 May 2009

Gas flaring

Shell on trial

Petition to end flaring

Leaving a legacy

A legacy of hope

News

Get involved

Related links

End gas flaring in Nigeria
13 May 2009