Sierra Club Chico Mendes Award Advisory

[stephen.mills@sfsierra.sierraclub.org]

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  CONTACT:
   September 11, 1997     Stephen Mills, (202) 675-6691
   
   ***MEDIA ADVISORY***
   
   SIERRA CLUB ANNOUNCES WINNER OF 1997 "CHICO MENDES AWARD"
   Capitol Hill Ceremony Features Nobel Laureate Charged With Treason
   
   WHO:   Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka; Congressman Donald Payne, author 
   of Nigeria sanctions bill; Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chair, Congressional 
   Black Caucus; Dr. Owens Wiwa, brother of executed Nigerian writer Ken 
   Saro-Wiwa; Ledum Mitee, President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni 
   People (MOSOP);  Michael McCloskey, Sierra Club Chairman.
   
   WHERE: Room 106, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
                  
   WHEN:  Wednesday, September 17, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
   
   WHAT:  Sierra Club's Chico Mendes Award recognizes either individuals or 
   non-governmental organizations, outside of the United States, who have 
   exhibited extraordinary courage and leadership in their efforts to protect 
   the environment.  Courage is the key word in the purpose of this award, which 
   was named after the late Brazilian rubber tapper and environmentalist.  The   
   Sierra Club believes those who have endured significant risks (to their 
   lives, their freedom, their families, their livelihood), in their 
   environmental campaigns, should receive a very special form of recognition.
   
   WHY:  The 1997 Chico Mendes Award is being presented to MOSOP because of the 
   extraordinary courage and leadership its members have shown in defending the 
   environment of Nigeria's Ogoniland located in the Niger river delta.  MOSOP 
   has inspired a community to oppose the double-standard of an irresponsible 
   Royal/Dutch Shell, and to fight the corruption of a brutal military 
   dictatorship. More than 2000 Ogoni men, women and children have died in 
   clashes with the military since the environmental group's campaign against 
   Shell's pollution began.
   
        In 1995, writer and MOSOP leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were 
   found guilty on fraudulent murder charges and hanged.  The executions, 
   following a trial before a military tribunal that was a mockery of justice, 
   touched off an international outcry against Nigeria.  Congressman Donald 
   Payne (D-NJ) has introduced H.R. 1786, "The Nigeria Democracy Act" in the 
   U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill would impose economic sanctions 
   against Nigeria.
   
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