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Stop Gas Flaring Nigeria
Since 1979 – almost 30 years ago -- the government of Nigeria has been setting deadlines for oil companies to stop their wasteful and toxic practice of gas flaring.

The current deadline to stop gas flaring is January 1, 2008. But Shell and other oil companies say they will just pay the fines and continue the gas flaring. The multinationals – who save money while Nigeria?s people, environment and economy suffer from gas flaring – want to postpone the deadline yet again to 2011.


Nigerian communities and environmental organizations in the Niger Delta region are demanding enforcement of the January 1 deadline – and they are asking the international community to raise a global clamor to force the oil companies to stop this very destruction practice now.

Please add your voice to this campaign today. See the model letter below.

Gas flaring is the burning off of gas, which sends a cocktail of poisons into the atmosphere. In the mix are carbon dioxide and methane that are major causes of global warming. Gas flaring causes acid rain which acidifies the lakes and streams and damages crops and vegetation. It reduces farm yields and affects human health, lives and livelihoods. Gas flaring increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma and cancer. It often causes painful breathing, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, body itching, blindness, impotency, miscarriages and premature deaths.

World Bank research conducted in 2005 showed that Nigeria loses about .5 billion yearly to gas flaring.

More recent research showed that if gas flared in Nigeria were harnessed and utilized, it would solve almost 75 % of Africa?s energy needs (excepting South Africa).

Since 1979, the multinational oil companies have simply ignored government deadlines and court orders to end gas flaring. In a lawsuit brought by the Iwerekhan community of Delta State, the judge ruled that gas flaring ?is a gross violation of their fundamental right to life, including healthy environment and dignity of the human person.?

Nnimmo Bassey, director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth said, ?Time has come for the lives of Niger Deltans to be weightier than petrodollars. Gas flaring is a monumental waste of our natural resources, an assault on the lives and health of the people of Niger Delta and a mark of unacceptable double standards by the oil companies.?

Requested Action:

Please write to the President of Nigeria, with copies to other government officials listed below.

Note: send your letter by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by fax to 1-509 752 0664 (a US number). The letters will be collected and hand-delivered to the president by Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria.


Address:

President Musa Yar'adua
The Presidency, Federal Secretariat Phase 2
Shehu Shagari Way Abuja
Nigeria

Salutation: His Excellency Sir,

Main points: Ask him to enforce the January 1, 2008 deadline for stopping gas flaring.

Model letter:

President Musa Yar'adua
The Presidency, Federal Secretariat Phase 2
Shehu Shagari Way Abuja
Nigeria

His Excellency Sir,

STOP GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA

I am very concerned that the multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria may ignore the Nigerian government?s deadline of January 1, 2008, to stop gas flaring.

Gas flaring is the burning off of gas, which sends a cocktail of poisons into the atmosphere. In the mix are carbon dioxide and methane that are major causes of global warming. Gas flaring causes acid rain which acidifies the lakes and streams and damages crops and vegetation. It reduces farm yields and affects human health, lives and livelihoods. Gas flaring increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma and cancer. It often causes painful breathing, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, body itching, blindness, impotency, miscarriages and premature deaths.

World Bank research conducted in 2005 showed that Nigeria loses about .5 billion yearly to gas flaring.

More recent research showed that if gas flared in Nigeria were harnessed and utilized, it would solve almost 75 % of Africa?s energy needs (excepting South Africa).

Since 1979, the multinational oil companies have simply ignored government deadlines and court orders to end gas flaring. In a lawsuit brought by the Iwerekhan community of Delta State, the judge ruled that gas flaring ?is a gross violation of their fundamental right to life, including healthy environment and dignity of the human person.?

Since gas flaring contributes to global warming and the climate change crisis, it is of concern to citizens around the world. As fellow human beings, we also demand the end to suffering of the Niger Delta people whose lives, health and livelihoods are harmed for the benefit of greedy multinational corporations.

These companies are now calling for a 2010 deadline, but this should be rejected outright. Calling for higher fines from defaulting oil corporations merely provides cover for the industry to continue an environmentally unacceptable activity. It may add money to your national coffers, but money cannot pay for the lives and dignity of the Niger Delta people.

I respectfully urge you to use your good offices to ensure that gas flaring is brought to an end unequivocally by the 1st day of January, 2008.

Sincerely yours,



Cc:
The Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Hon. Minister for Environment, Housing and Urban Development,
 
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