>Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: 10 May 97 22:54:16 EDT

I'm passing on this message forwarded me by Judith Snow regarding the WWF
nomination of Shell for a BC environment award. I understand the WWF
reasoning after having spoken with Peggy Dover at WWF, however, I still
think the contadictory message to Shell, that it's OK to plunder one country
if you do something nice for another, needs to be challenged.

>From: "Judith A. Snow" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: FW: WWF nominates Shell for Award
>WWF nominates Shell for award .... call 'em off!
>
>If you have a chance to respond to this - even if it's just calling the
>1-800-26-PANDA number and letting WWF know that they shouldn't be nominating
>Shell for anything at this time.
>
>With Thanks
>
>(This is the 6th forwarding, at least, of this message. I tidied it up. Judith
>Snow)
>
>Shell Oil Nominated for Minister's Environmental Award by World Wildlife Fund
>
>URGENT ACTION REQUESTED
>'We all stand before history.  I am a man of peace, of ideas.  I have
devoted my
>intellectual and material resources, my very life, to a cause in which I have
>total belief and from which I cannot be blackmailed or intimidated. I have no
>doubt at all about the ultimate success of my cause, not matter the trials and
>tribulations which I and those who believe with me may encounter on our
journey.
>No imprisonment nor death can stop our ultimate victory . . .
>-Ken Sara-Wiwa, 1941-1995
>
>BACKGROUND:
>
>World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has nominated Shell Oil to receive the BC Minister's
>Environmental Award for 1997. Shell was one of four oil companies that they
>nominated. WWF made the nomination because the oil companies gave up their
>marine exploration rights in Gwaii Haanas, South Moresby region of Haida Gwaii,
>(on the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia).
>
>The action of the oil companies is no doubt a positive step. However, as
>concerned people in British Columbia we should think about the fact that as the
>World Wildlife Fund was filling in the forms for this nomination, 19 Ogoni
>activists were likely being tortured in a Nigerian jail. Their crime was
>protesting Shell for extracting oil on their tribal homelands. Currently,
>Shell's activities in Nigeria are threatening the survival of their people.
>These activists will likely face execution if the international community does
>not unanimously condemn Shell Oil.
>
>While these activists suffer, a Canadian environmental group has nominated
Shell
>for an award. What would the Ogoni activists, (9 were hanged 1 1/2 years ago;
>JS), think of Canadians if they were informed of this?  What will we think of
>ourselves if we pat Shell on the back for giving up exploration rights while
>activists are tortured in Nigeria?  Shell will use this nomination to rebuild
>its shattered reputation while the Ogoni are (murdered; JS), tortured and
>displaced. If Shell wins this award, it will have a direct impact on the
>suffering of the Ogoni activists in jail in Nigeria. If they are executed,
a few
>drops of their blood will be on our hands.
>
>The environmental community in BC should follow the lead of the Georgia Strait
>Alliance, who before the international community was made aware of Shell's
>activities in Nigeria, applied for and received a $5,000 grant from Shell
Canada
>for public education displays.  However, after the execution, (despite the fact
>that they were in dire financial straits at the time) they sent the money back,
>with a letter explaining why. Subsequently in 1996, the Georgia Strait Alliance
>was nominated for an Ethics in Action Award from VanCity for this public
stance.
>
>The activists currently in jail in Nigeria are colleagues of Ken Sara-Wiwa,
>winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa and nominee for a Nobel
>Peace Prize. Mr. Sara-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni activists were executed by the
>military dictatorship in Nigeria on November 10th, 1995. They died for
leading a
>peaceful protest against Shell Nigeria's destruction of Ogoni land. This
>outrageous act, was perpetrated by military dictatorship which is supported by
>Shell.
>
>Shell's actions (drilling and exploring for oil) in Ogoni territory caused the
>protests. (Shell spills "waste & excess" oil on farm land. It burns off other
>oil causing extensive regional air polution. Their trucks destroy local roads.
>Farmers have been ruined/or displaced; JS) -  Shell admitted that they have
>urged the government to call in the army to quell protest and supplied arms for
>the security force. In fact, 40% of the military dictatorship's revenue is
>derived from Shell.
>
>Shell Canada has refused to condemn or accept responsibility for these
>outrageous acts despite the fact that 78% of Shell Canada's stocks are owned by
>Shell UK and Royal Dutch Shell - the international parent company which
made the
>decision to continue oil exploration in Nigeria despite human rights abuses of
>the Nigeria military dictatorship.   If we award Shell Canada we will in effect
>be awarding the actions of Shell UK and Royal Dutch Shell.
>
>In our global environment, out of a concern for human rights we cannot separate
>what is happening in Canada from what is happening in Nigeria. We must remember
>that without our solidarity the 19 activists currently in jail in Nigeria may
>die.
>
>PLEASE:
>
>1) COPY THIS NOTE AND SEND IT TO 10 OF YOUR FRIENDS.
>
>2) PHONE THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND @ 1-800-26-PANDA, EXPLAIN WHY YOUR CONCERNED
>AND ASK THEM TO WITHDRAW THE NOMINATION, OR EMAIL MONTE HUMMEL (EXECUTIVE
>DIRECTOR WWF CANADA AT [log in to unmask]
>
>3)IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF WWF TELL THEM THAT UNLESS THEY WITHDRAW THE NOMINATION
>YOU WILL CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
>
>4)URGE WWF (AND ALL OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS) TO REFUSE FUNDING GRANTS FROM
>SHELL UNTIL THEY LEAVE NIGERIA AND PUBLICLY DENOUNCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OF
>THE NIGERIAN DICTATORSHIP.
>
>5)WRITE, PHONE OR FAX CATHY MCGREGOR, THE BRITISH COLUMBIA MINISTER OF
>ENVIRONMENT AND ASK HER NOT TO GRANT THE AWARD TO SHELL CANADA.
>
>PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
>VICTORIA, BC
>V8V 1X4
>PHONE: (250) 387-1187
>FAX:  (250) 387-1356
>
>If you want more information about how to work in solidarity with the Ogoni
>people in Nigeria please contact the Ogoni Solidarity Network at (604)
873-8554.
>The Ogoni Solidarity Network holds protests every week at Shell Stations
>throughout the Lower Mainland.
>
>Forwarded to me from:
>Karl Flecker, CUSO Cooperant Officer
>Kingston, Ontario, K7A 7A8
>613-530-2110 phone
>613-530-2111 fax
>
>31 Lesley Drive
>Belleville, Ont.
>K8N 4G2
>(613)967-2411
>
>
>Love; Judith Snow
>
>
>
David Burman            [log in to unmask]
LETS Toronto            phone: 416-978-0536
                        fax:   416-878-8511