These flares at Rumuekpe in Niger Delta burn for 24 hours a day next to a large community and agricultural land
After last week’s boiler-suit protests, CU Amnesty has renewed their calls for Shell to clean up their act in the Niger Delta.
It comes after bosses from the oil giant accused students of making “unsupported allegations” to reach “superficial conclusions”.
‘Shell Hell’ day was organized to highlight pollution caused by oil extraction in Nigeria and the continued practice of gas flaring in the region despite it being made illegal in 1984.
The protests come as a blow to Shell, who have stepped up their campus recruitment efforts in the last few months in order to clean up their image.
Last week Varsity – who have previously recieved advertising revenue from Shell – printed a response from Shell which defended their actions in Niger and focused on the benefits of their operations.
Alice Ajeh, International Relations Manager of Shell claimed that “much of the oil pollution is caused by sabotage” and that her firm was committed to stopping leaks as quickly as possible.
Defence: Varsity gives Shell reason to smile
However, court records from an investigation of a major spill in 1997 show that the explanation of sabotage was used as an afterthought by Shell.
Again, in 2002, the energy company used the same excuse even though conclusive independent evidence proved the cause to be equipment failure.
Shell wrote to the governor of the Delta State claiming sabotage two days before the investigation had even begun.
They refuse to acknowledge their role in the pollution problem, blaming militants for oil spills and blaming militants again for hindering the clean up process.
It has now emerged that Amnesty International obtained documents that show the oil giants have refused to clean up a spill in 2007 despite officials confirming the leak had been caused by corrosion.
Chair of CU Amnesty International Hannah Perry told The Tab that Shell “must face up to the fact that it is this kind of behavior that feeds community distrust and anger, and in turn fuels conflict”.
The campaign has also focused on the illegal practice of gas flaring in the Niger Delta.
Ajeh appealed to protestors to keep things in perspective, claiming that there were “fewer than 110 flares in an area the size of Portugal”.
Protesters demonstate against Shell's gas flaring.
CU Amnesty has been swift to respond, recognizing Shell’s commitment to stopping flaring.
However, they remind us that the environment and air is still severely polluted in the areas where the practice continues, having an impact on health.
Perry believes that “had Alice Ajeh lived next to one she might not be so chirpy”.
The student group grants that some positive contributions have been made by Shell in Nigeria, including providing employment and implementing an AIDS programme.
Yet they stand by their campaign for Shell to stop gas flaring and to clean up their operations in the Delta.
The war of words highlights how seriously international companies take student activism in Cambridge.
Nevertheless, as both sides refuse to back down, it seems that this argument has enough energy to keep it burning for the distant future.
fantastic article, well done the tab!
Absolutely terrible article, what are you talking about? "who has stepped up their campus recruitment efforts " WHAT? You are at Cambridge and you can't write English.
CU Amnesty have also picked a poor cause- Shell are doing very little wrong as far as I can see, unless you are looking with unecessary skepticism at their claims; remember that the integrity of multi-national businesses and their client relationships depend upon the trustworthiness of their press releases. Accusing Shell of lying is facetious, petty and poorly argued.
What are you talking about you idiot? It clearly makes grammatical sense. Sorry, I forgot multi-nationals are a pardigm of integrity and would never manipulate reports. O wait, it's on record in the courts.
'implementing an AIDS programme' – the bastards, as if the fires weren't enough.
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Great article. Well done for providing miles better and more balanced coverage than Varsity.