[Lecture & Movie] Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa, Slain Ogoni Leader

Event Description:

US OIL COMPANIES CONTINUE TO RAVAGE THE NIGER DELTA (NIGERIA) REMEMBER KEN SARO-WIWA, SLAIN OGONI LEADER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 7, 2005

LOCAL CONTACT: Dino Marcaccio, 281-788-5879, Email:

Please join us for a speech and radio interview by a prominent local Nigerian Ogoni activist Mr. James Nalley (see below for details). Since the late 1950's and under the protection of various repressive Nigerian governments, the Shell and Chevron Oil Companies have exploited the huge high quality oil reserves existing in southeastern Nigeria in an area known as the Niger Delta. The Ogoni, as well as other native people of the Niger Delta, receive little to nothing in compensation for the exploitation and destruction of their homeland and traditional way of life.

Beginning in 1990, (MOSOP) the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, led by Ken Saro-Wiwa, rose to international acclaim after a massive non-violent 1993 public protest campaign against Shell Oil. On Nov. 10, 1995, the Ogoni leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was illegally executed by the US supported Nigerian military dictator General Sani Abacha.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International both continue to strongly condemn the Nigerian Government for gross violations of human rights against the Ogoni as well as the extra-judicial execution of their leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Today, Nigeria has emerged from decades of strict military rule, but oil companies like Shell and Chevron continue to devastate the Niger Delta while poverty and growing instability plague the indigenous Niger Delta communities.

We urge all Houston area progressive activists to attend this event and call for a boycott of Shell and Chervon Oil companies in support of the OGONI and other oppressed peoples of southeastern Nigeria (Niger Delta).

RADIO INTERVIEW:
WHEN: THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006 at 7 PM. KPFT 90.1 FM, Radio Program:
Radio Program Name: "The Progressive Forum", hosted by Mr. Wally James.
WHO: Mr. James Nalley, Chairperson - Houston Chapter, MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People)
Statement by the leader of MOSOP (Mr. Ledum Mite).
WHAT: Discussion regarding the exploitation and oppression of the people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the struggle of the Ogoni people.

LECTURE AND MOVIE: WHEN: MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Lecture: by Mr. JAMES NALLEY (Chairperson - Houston Chapter - MOSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, http://www.mosop.org/ ).
Movie: "The Drilling Fields": Glen Ellis Documentary about the exploitation of the Ogoni and their homeland by Shell Oil and the repressive and violent Nigerian government (52 minutes) (See description below).
$5.00 donation is suggested but no one will be refused entry.
For more information about struggle of the Ogoni and the peoples of the Niger Delta please visit the websites http://www.november10th.com or http://www.kenarawiwa.com or google search using the key words (MOSOP, OGONI, or KEN SARO-WIWA).
Please buy your gasoline from CITGO, the nationalized Oil Company of Venezuela and support President Hugo Chavez.

The Drilling Fields Glen Ellis | United Kingdom | 1994 | 59 min. | documentary video
In the oil-rich Niger Delta of Nigeria, the native people (Ogoni and other tribes) are violently oppressed by Nigeria's military dictatorship, who use force to protect the flow of oil on which the government depends. For over 40 years the Ogoni people have quietly endured military oppression and watched the devastating effect of the oil operations on their environment. The Drilling Fields explores the shady and sometimes illegal relationship between Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Nigerian government. New York Premiere, 1995 Human Rights Watch Festival.  Distributed by Lisa Ronchetti, c/o Channel 4, 124 Horseferry Road, London SWIP 2TX UK, Tel: (44 71) 396-4444 Fax: (44 71) 306-8345.

Event Sponsor:
MOSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People

Event Contact Name:
Dino Marcaccio

Event Phone Contact Information:
281-788-5879

Event Email Address:
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