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International Campaigns: Nigeria Resolution of the Harvard Undergraduate Council in Response to Human Rights Violations in Nigeria (Simons, Kasper, Freeman) Adopted September 4, 1996 WHEREAS, on Friday, 10 November 1995, the military government of Nigeria executed nine anti-government activists, including playwright, environmental and human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, in trials which Amnesty International believes to have been politically motivated an unfair; WHEREAS, the international community has reacted with outrage and condemnation to the executions, the United States and other nations have withdrawn their ambassadors to Nigeria, the 52-member Commonwealth of Britain has suspended Nigeria as a member, and the brutal government of Nigeria has been described by Nelson Mandela as "counter to the most basic human rights." WHEREAS, the Nigerian government is supported in large part by foreign investment, especially from oil corporations, most of the oil from which is exported to the United States; WHEREAS, Harvard University is a shareholder in corporations which invest in Nigeria; BE IT RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Council requests that President Neil Rudenstine sign letters to the Nigerian government and to Shell Oil, in which Harvard owns shares, expressing outrage and dismay at the executions; BE IT RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Council requests the University Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility to recommend a policy of supporting all shareholders' resolutions calling for corporate withdrawal form Nigeria by drafting a letter to the student representative, Adrienne Bradley, which she shall read on behalf of the Undergraduate Council. BE IT RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Council requests the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers of Harvard College to adopt a policy of selective purchasing which would prohibit any part of the University or its subsidiaries from buying products from or entering into contracts with oil companies which invest in Nigeria. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Council requests that Harvard University divest fully from oil companies which invest in Nigeria. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club