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International Campaigns: Nigeria Sierra Club Board of Directors Resolution: Condemnation of the Governement of Nigeria, Boycott of Royal Dutch Shell and its Subsidiaries Adopted Novemeber 19, 1995: The Sierra Club condemns the actions of the military government of Nigeria in executing Ken Saro-Wiwa and other environmental and community activists. As the human crimes and environmental abuses of the Nigerian government are inseparable, Nigeria must return to democracy and institute environmental reforms in its oil and gas development practices. The Club also condemns Royal Dutch Shell for the pollution problems caused by its operations in the Ogoni lands of Nigeria and for ignoring the repression of human rights and environmental activism by the Nigerian military government. The Sierra Club believes international, national, and individual actions are necessary to stop these assaults on environmental and human rights. Shell Boycott The Sierra Club calls on its members and all other citizens to join in a boycott of Royal Dutch Shell, its subsidiaries, and their products. Royal Dutch Shell has a documented record of polluting Ogoniland with its operations and of ignoring the Nigerian government's repression of environmental and other citizen activists who have organized to oppose the pollution of their communities, their drinking water, and their farmland. This boycott should begin immediately and should continue until such time as: Royal Dutch Shell has cleaned up existing pollution in Nigeria so that it is no longer a public health or environmental hazard. Royal Dutch Shell has agreed that future operations in Nigeria will conform to standards no weaker than those they would be required to meet in the United States for similar operations. Royal Dutch Shell has paid fair compensation directly to the peoples adversely affected by their activities in Nigeria. We also call on Royal Dutch Shell to suspend plans for and construction of any new major developments in Nigeria which will contribute to additional pollution until it has met conditions 1-3 above. Furthermore, the Sierra Club calls upon all oil companies operating in Nigeria to use their obvious influence on the Nigerian government to stop the environmental and human abuses. We also ask those companies to identify strategies that those companies will pursue to prevent future environmental degradation and human rights abuses in Nigeria. Actions Against Nigeria The Sierra Club also calls on the United States government and all other governments around the world to impose sanctions against the government of Nigeria. We similarly call on The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Finance Corporation, and all other international lending agencies to withhold funding of all but humanitarian projects within Nigeria. These sanctions should remain in force until such time as: The Abacha government resigns and steps are taken to restore democratic government to Nigeria. The bodies of the nine Ogoni victims who were executed November 10, 1995, are returned to their families for burial. Royal Dutch Shell cleans up its existing pollution, pays compensation for damages caused by its pollution, and agrees to abide by environmental standards no weaker than they would be required to meet within the United States. Until these conditions are met, the Sierra Club urges that the following sanctions be applied: International economic sanctions, including a boycott of Nigerian petroleum products. Investigation by the War Crimes Tribunal of The Hague of the executions on November 10, 1995, of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his associates. Barring Nigerian national teams from participation in all international sporting events. Freezing personal assets and bank accounts of Nigerians directly involved in or closely associated with the Nigerian military regime. Denial of visas to Nigerians directly involved in or closely associated with the Nigerian military regime. Withholding financial support by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Finance Corporation, and all other international lending agencies for further developments in Nigeria, except humanitarian projects. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club