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Nigeria Advocacy Day
Friends--
Some of you may already have seen information about the Nigeria
Advocacy Days coming up the week of September 15th. I am reposting
information about this event as many subscribers may not have seen
materials posted over the summer. If you have already seen this,
please consider it a reminder! Note that this posting also has a
reply form for you to complete if you are planning to attend. This
will assist the planning committee. Thanks.
Doug Tilton
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Sierra Club Call for Action Week
Environmental Rights are Human Rights
Come to Washington, D.C. to participate in
NATIONAL ACTION WEEK FOR NIGERIA!!
September 15-19, 1997
Join activists from environmental, human rights, labor,
religious, African American and Nigerian democracy organizations
to demand a return to democracy, an end to human rights
violations and an end to environmental devastation in Nigeria.
On Nov. 10, 1995, the Nigerian military government hanged writer
Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other minority rights campaigners. The
Sierra Club and others believe that the nine were executed
because of Saro-Wiwa's effective grassroots organizing directed
at the environmental devastation caused by Shell's oil
exploitation.
According to the New York Times, among Nigeria's roughly 7,000
political prisoners, are 20 Ogoni activists still being held for
the same murders for which Ken Saro-Wiwa was falsely accused.
Most have been in prison for three years, several in solitary
confinement. One of the group died, one has gone blind and
another lost his fingers during torture. "Mr. Abacha knows that
executing or even trying them would draw unwanted attention,"
said the Times editorial. "Instead he seems prepared to let them
die in jail untried."
Nigeria's military junta has suspended the democratic
constitution, stripping the Nigerian people of their most basic
human and civil rights, including the right to demonstrate,
organize or protest for environmental protection. In wealthy
Nigeria, nearly 40 percent of Nigerian children suffer from
malnutrition and the diseases of acute poverty while the generals
spend millions of dollars on lobbyists in Washington.
The U.S. Responds
In response to this crisis, Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ10) has
introduced H.R. 1786, "The Nigeria Democracy Act." The bill
currently has 22 cosponsors. In addition to codifying limited
sanctions already imposed by the Clinton administration, the bill
would also ban new U.S. corporate investment in Nigeria until
such time as the country has demonstrated progress toward
restoring democracy. The bill's other key provisions include:
* A ban on U.S. arms sales
* Denial of visas to member of the military government
* A ban on direct air travel between the U.S. and Nigeria
* Denial of U.S. economic aid except for human rights and
democracy programs
* A freeze on the personal assets of members of the regime
* U.S. opposition to loans from the IMF and the World Bank
The Nigerian government, in conjunction with the multinational
oil companies that do business in Nigeria, lobbied hard to defeat
similar legislation in the last Congress. We are sure that they
will marshal their vast resources to do again. That's why we
need YOUR help. The Washington Post reported that Nigeria spent
more than $10 million in the U.S. on lobbying and public
relations efforts in the year following the execution of
Saro-Wiwa.
Nigeria receives more than $10 billion a year from oil --
accounting for more than 90 percent of its foreign export
earnings and 80 percent of government revenues. While royalties
from these sales line the pockets of Nigeria's military leaders,
rich farmland has been poisoned by oil spills and the venting of
toxic gasses. Meanwhile many communities lack running water,
electricity, or adequate schools or health care. Americans are
the largest customer for Nigerian oil, approximately 8% of our
total oil imports. However, this amounts to only 3.5% of our
total oil consumption in this country. Americans can do without
Nigerian oil.
In brief, there has been no change in the horrible conditions in
Nigeria's Ogoniland since Saro-Wiwa's execution, except for the
fact that Ogoni is now a military zone and MOSOP has been forced
underground. Not only are outside visitors strictly prohibited,
but the Ogoni themselves are forbidden to assemble in groups
larger than two, to discuss environmental protection, or even to
mention Ken's name or work. Teachers are arrested if they mention
Ken Saro-Wiwa in the classroom, preachers are arrested if they
mention Ken in church.
***WHAT YOU CAN DO***
Come to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 15 and 16 to participate in the
"Nigeria Advocacy Days."
During the week of Sept. 15, call or fax your Representative to
urge support for H.R. 1786, "The Nigeria Democracy Act". The
phone number for the U.S. Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
Alternatively, arrange to visit your Representative's home
district office during this week to discuss this issue with your
Representative or members of his or her staff.
The Sierra Club has long held that citizen participation in
government decision-making is indeed the key to environmental
protection. In order for people worldwide to take action to
protect their environment, their rights concerning political
participation, personal security, and personal autonomy -- for
example, the freedom to speak and organize -- must be recognized
and respected by their governments. Environmental activists must
be free from the threat of retaliation for exercising these
rights.
Nigeria's human rights and environmental crisis can, we believe,
only be solved together. Without respect for human rights, the
Nigerian government will continue to repress Ogoni demands for
justice from Royal/Dutch Shell and other multinational oil
companies. At the same time, the powerful democratic spirit
unleashed in the Ogoni struggle for environmental justice will
contribute mightily to the broad campaign for democracy and human
rights in Nigeria.
For more information about the Nigeria Advocacy Days, contact
(1) Stephen Mills, Human Rights and the Environment Campaign
Director, Sierra Club, 408 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20002. Tel: (202) 675-6691, Fax: (202) 547-6009, E-mail:
stephen.mills@sierraclub.org, or visit our web page at
http://www.sierraclub.org/human-rights.
or
(2) Doug Tilton, Washington Office on Africa, 110 Maryland Ave.
NE #509, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: (202) 546-7961, Fax: (202)
546-1545; E-mail: tilton@africapolicy.org.
or
(3) Mira Tanna, St. Louis AFSC and the St. Louis Support
Committee for MOSOP, 438 N. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130.
Tel: 314-862-5773; Fax: 314-862-8155; E-mail:
mvtanna@artsci.wustl.edu.
If you are planning to take part in the advocacy day activities,
please complete the form below and return it to Doug Tilton at
the Washington Office on Africa. (See above for contact info.)
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NIGERIA ADVOCACY DAY
__ I plan to participate in the Nigeria Advocacy Day in
Washington, DC, on September 15-16.
__ I intend to meet with my representative's local staff. Please
send me a lobbying packet.
Name ____________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City / State / Zip ______________________________________________
Phone ___________________________ Fax _________________________
Email ___________________________________________________________
My representative is ____________________________________________
Please return to Doug Tilton, Washington Office on Africa, via
fax (202-546-1545) or e-mail (tilton@africapolicy.org)
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