REPORT
Shell broke the law by not repairing leaks that destroyed the lands of Niger Delta farmers, a Dutch court heard in a case that could set a precedent for global environmental responsibility. The four Nigerian farmers, backed by lobby group Friends of the Earth, have brought the Anglo-Dutch oil giant into court thousands of miles away from their homes with a civil suit that could open the door for hundreds of similar cases.
“Shell knew for a long time that the pipeline was damaged but didn’t do anything. They could have stopped the leaks,” lawyer Channa Samkalden told the court yesterday, accusing Shell of having “violated its legal obligations”.
The case relates to damage caused in 2005 and was initially filed in 2008, demanding that Royal Dutch Shell should clean up the mess, repair and maintain defective pipelines to prevent further damage and pay out compensation. In a landmark ruling, the Dutch judiciary in 2009 declared itself competent to try the case despite protests from Shell that its Nigerian subsidiary was solely legally responsible for any damage.
“I’m here because of the oil leakage that happened in my community in the Shell facilities and destroyed my 47 fish ponds”, Friday Alfred Akpan, from the village of Ikot Ada Udo, told the AFP news agency before heading into court.
“The destruction of the fish ponds caused serious damage to me and my family because I make use of that fish to take care of myself and my children.”
“We believe that the claims are unsubstantiated,” Allard Castelein, Shell’s Vice President Environment, said at the court. “The spills that happened in the years between 2004 and 2007 all happened as the consequence of illegal theft and sabotage.” “We agreed there was a spill, it wasn’t our fault, we cleaned up nevertheless and that’s what happened,” Castelein said.
Environmental groups accuse Shell of double standards and treating spills in Nigeria differently from pollution in Europe or North America. But Castelein fended off the accusations, saying: “We do have the same standards in Europe and Nigeria.” He added: “I am not afraid of (the court’s) judgment as it will just confirm the way we operate.”
Source:Vanguard
Comments
of most up-to-date and preceding technologies, it's awesome article.
Also see my web page - stevesadviceformen.com
page and thought I may as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward
to finding out about your web page again.
My site :: Target Coupons
Chеers.
my webpage > Jewellery info
I've been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
My web site :: Cyber Monday Mitsubishi TV
In my opinion, if аll web oωners аnd bloggеrs
made just right сontent aѕ you probably did, thе intеrnet will
be much mοгe helpful than eѵer bеfore.
Feel free to surf my homepage ... Rabatt
that kind of information in such an ideal way of writing?
I've a presentation subsequent week, and I'm at the look for such info.
My blog :: Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys
of latest and earlier technologies, it's awesome article.
Have a look at my web site :: Tom Brady Jersey
blog. Where еlse may I am getting that kind οf іnformation written in such
an ideal way? I have a projeсt that I'm simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such information.
My site: Eis Code Februar 12
I can contаct you I mіght, yοu aѕsisted сhangе my gaming being.
Ӏ now dont' think I am going to spend that much doing what I used to do, I may be a bit more fashion aware or maybe speak to more girls but nevertheless try to balance existence a bit.
Here is my webpage :: deBarbie Gratis