Shell Spillages in Ogoniland Flashcards
When did the Shell spillages begin?
Shell’s oil exploration activities began in the region in the 1950s, but major spills and environmental damage occurred from the 1980s onwards.
What are the environmental impacts of Shell’s oil activities in Ogoniland?
The spills caused severe soil and water contamination, killing wildlife, devastating local ecosystems, and making farming and fishing nearly impossible.
What was the Shell company’s response to the allegations?
Shell repeatedly denied that it was responsible for the spillages, blaming sabotage and theft. However, Shell faced global criticism for not adequately addressing the damage or cleaning up the spills.
How did the Nigerian government respond to the Shell spillages and the protests?
The Nigerian government supported Shell and repressed protests, sometimes violently. The government saw the oil industry as a vital economic asset, leading to a crackdown on Ogoni activists.
What international organizations were involved in the case?
Amnesty International and Greenpeace, as well as human rights organizations, have condemned Shell’s actions. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conducted an assessment of Ogoniland’s environmental damage in 2011, calling it one of the most severe pollution disasters in the world.
What was the UNEP’s 2011 report on Ogoniland’s environmental situation?
UNEP report found that the oil pollution in Ogoniland was extensive, and it recommended a decade-long, multi-billion-dollar cleanup of the region. It also criticized both Shell and the Nigerian government for failing to address the environmental crisis.
What legal consequences did Shell face for the spillages?
settlement in 2009, agreeing to pay $15.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the families of the Ogoni Nine. Denied wrongdoing
How much benzene, a carcinogen in pollution, was in the spillages in relation to recommended levels?
900
How does Realism explain Shell’s activities in Ogoniland?
Shell’s exploitation of oil resources as a rational pursuit of national interest (economic profit and energy security) for both Shell and the Nigerian government.
How does Liberalism interpret the Shell spillages?
emphasize the failure of international institutions and the inability of international law to protect the environment and human rights. Environmental and human rights norms are often not strong enough to prevent corporate exploitation in countries with weak institutions.
How does Constructivism explain the Shell spillages in Ogoniland?
Nigerian government’s identity as a state prioritizing oil revenues and national sovereignty led to its complicity in Shell’s activities. The Ogoni people’s identity as an oppressed group shaped their resistance and global solidarity efforts.
How much does petroleum contribute to the Nigerian economy?
92% of total value of exports
How does Postcolonialism apply to the Shell spillages case?
neocolonial dynamics: Shell, a Western multinational, continues to exploit resources in a former colony, with little regard for the local population’s rights or the environment. It reflects ongoing economic dominance and environmental degradation faced by countries in the Global South.
What is the Environmental Security perspective in this case?
focuses on how environmental degradation, such as oil spills, leads to insecurity for local communities, affecting livelihoods and causing social unrest. The Ogoni people’s struggles are framed as a human security issue, where local populations face environmental destruction, health crises, and displacement.
