Thank God for internet

A thread with many interesting comments on Poison Fire tops the huge Nigerian website nairaland.com right now

A couple of excerpts:

This video and others like it never cease to shock me - the sheer destruction, the poverty, the utter helplessness of the people.(...) I must say these lawyers, rights activists and community leaders are the real heroes, not the gun totting MEND or whatever they call themselves. These guys are working hard to change things within the law. Sadly they are not always successful, but their spirit and determination must be applauded.


Wow, I had goose pimples watching this movie. I don't even know what to say. No matter how corrupt the country is, that is no excuse for the way Shell is behaving. Thanks for posting this.
Thank God for internet. We can all do something, even if it is as little as sending the link to all your friends on facebook, please do. People need to see this, especially the Hague conference. To say you do not have fund to stop flaring of gas, is the most ridiculous thing. Like we all don't know the price of gas now. I have so much to say, but I will start by cursing all of them. I am so angry. This is so sad, tears sef wan comot.


They turned Sub-saharan Africa into a dump where they can do whatever they wish and get away with it.

There is no charity involved here - If you pollute the environment, YOU CLEAN UP. Its not a favour or benevolent action, that is what is required from the company according to local and international law, as well as its own self proclaimed policies. If they still work with the same government they say is corrupt to make their profits, then it is unacceptable that corruption will be used as the excuse to continue pollution. Shell should clean up its act or get out.

From other corners of the internet, a discussion at naijarules.com:

But na wa o...i knew things were bad in that place but i never knew they were this bad. I used to think these people were a nuisance & disgrace to our people and that they give a bad image about our country. Now i think differently. How i wish those yeye top govt officials could spend a day in those communities and see/feel what it's like there.

And over at The Ecologist:

Another case of certain corporations dismissing the rights of humanity for profit. It makes me sick. I won't be able to watch another Shell commercial without feeling contempt for them. I won't be buying gas from Shell. May the Nigerians continue to stand up to them with continual courage