It looks as if we are happy to hear stories of people in Africa killing each other or dying from 'natural causes' such as famine, but that we don't want to know about any suffering, illness and death that we cause ourselves.
The video is from Amnesty International and there's also a short TV news report (from a channel not usually seen in Europe).
It seems that Shell has been extacting oil in Nigeria for years... at extreme environmental and human cost: entire ecosystems emptied of life; fishermen reluctantly turning to mopping up spilt crude oil; and Shell even paying armed men to allegedly'silence' any voice of protest.
The thing is - when is the last time you heard about any of this?
Last year Shell faced a compensation settlement of 100 million dollars.
This year a UN report stated that it will cost up to 1 billion US dollars to clean up.
Why don't we hear anything? Who carefully choses what we information we consume? And what does our news say about our society's values and priorities?
I was surprised after reading this post because I had no idea about the situation that was going on in Nigeria. Despite how the news is being told, with a bit of irony and humour, the images struck you immediately and it really frustrates me what is being done. Its outrageous the fact that we aren’t being told the truth and what we are receiving are little hints or the truth which have been covered up. Its not fair that the information we are consuming isn’t 100% the same one as the original one from the source. In this case, however, governments might have felt that it would damage their image, as probably they are consumers or have contracts with the company. But we have to stop this because if this is happening in Nigeria, how can we trust the information that’s coming from our own country is going to be right? Maybe there have been business problems or a similar case here in Spain but because the government has been involved we have never noticed it. I personally think the information we consume is chosen both by the government ruling at the time and the businesses. Firstly the businesses might hide facts, consequences or effects to the reporters and secondly, if the information these have given is a threat to the government they probably never transmit it to the public. Whats more, if at the time the politic view of the government is left wing or right wing; the information will be seen by ONE of the point of views instead of looking at it globally. The fact that, we don’t care so much about what information we are receiving and if its true, reflects our society of comfortless and laziness. We don’t worry about checking if what we are being told is correct and we just like to have the things given to us like children. This has to change because if not they can cheat without us noticing.
It is impacting how little consideration some companies and some people have towards the Niger Delta, toward its environment and towards the people who are living there. I’m aware that this also happens in many more places all around the world, but the fact that we are causing this, as we are the ones who are buying and using this oil, really frustrates me and upsets me. As Maria said, not all of the information is revealed to us in a clear way, as we would really like to, and this is maybe unfair for us, but I think that we should also try to find things out for ourselves as companies obviously do not want people to know which things they are up to, and they are not the ones who are going to tell us what brutalities they are doing at the Niger Delta just to win more money. I suppose that Shell could extract oil in a human way, but then the benefits and the money won would be much lower and this doesn’t interest the company, so they just prefer to continue destructing the environment, etc. I presume that the information that we consume is both chosen by the companies; who only show what interests them, and by us; if we want to search for this real information and if we want to know what is happening. So in fact, we could actually change this and be aware of everything which goes on around the world, if we really wanted to. There are two things which I can’t really understand. Firstly, I assume that the government permits this because they win money for this, but aren’t they aware of what they are causing? They are making the environment and people suffer, and this is something negative for their country. Is it worth to kill a whole habitat for money? I don’t think so. And also the Niger Delta could be used as a tourist attraction if it wasn’t being destroyed. Also, I can’t understand the people working at the Shell Company. Are they in a desperate position to have the necessity to do this or is it just because the want huge amounts of money for themselves? Are they selfish people who don’t care about others? It is quite disappointing and unacceptable that this information is being kept away from us, but what’s more poor, in fact, is that this is happening. We use oil on our daily life, but I don’t think that people while using it think about how they extract this oil and keep using it as if everything was normal. What I mean for this is that, if people knew more information, then maybe they would act against this kind of things either by changing of Oil Company or by doing another thing, but as people are not aware because the information is being ‘hidden’, everyone keeps consuming. Laura Adán
It’s shocking to hear that nowadays, situations such as these are still occurring in our world, nonetheless, how this happens is pretty clear to me now, events just like these do continue to take place and we are all, simply oblivious to them.
It’s disgusting but true, injustices, inequalities, freedom violations, crimes towards essential rights and more are simply swept under the rug. How?, media is manipulated and people are silenced, take this as an example, both shell and the Nigerian government have reached the extremes in order to keep their dirty business secret, they will silence, no matter what it takes, anyone who will protest.
Therefore I don’t really believe this is our societies fault, it’s, as I mentioned before, that we are simply unaware of some things which happen in our world, especially if they happen in undeveloped countries, such as Nigeria, where not only are the communication systems poorly developed but is inhabited by an unequally divided society, separating the few rich and powerful amongst whom we find the government, and the weak, powerless majority who, no matter how hard they try and fight for their rights, will have no chance against their leaders.
Answering the question, really in truly it’s the company behind the dirty business that can “carefully select” the news which reaches us, but of course, I do also think news companies will rather spend their money and send their journalists to gather information somewhere where profit is sure to be made, such as interviewing famous people or discuss global issues instead of going off to a undeveloped country and spread the word of an injustice that affects only local people and some wild animals.
Disappointingly, I’d be surprised if any major action would be taken against both shell and the Nigerian government for their actions, because considering the world’s economic situation, I wouldn’t expect people running around protesting and claiming for change and reparation of such issues which don’t really physically involve them. All individuals and as a consequence, organizations and governments, will be primarily concerned about their own situation rather than other countries ones.
Completely in shock… this is how I was left after seeing this video. Not even the irony and humor with which the video is told managed to slightly ease my disgust. It’s absolutely infuriating to see what they are doing to both Nigeria’s ecosystem and population. However, the thing that really drives me up the wall is not only what Shell is doing but also the fact that it is the first time I have ever heard about this. Believe me, I am a daily newsreader and never has the media mentioned this. It seems that Cristiano’s sadness is much more news-worthy than the decimation of a whole country.
The video made me ask myself: Why on earth have I never heard about such a “trivial” situation? The answer is crystal clear: media manipulation. The information that is revealed is carefully selected by someone. But the question lies on who is that someone? Well, such is the obviousness of the answer I doubt it is worth writing it: both the government and the companies. Newspapers, such as La Vanguardia rely on the subventions that governments concede. Their survival depends on the government. Were they to spread the word of this injustice and within 30 days they would declare bankruptcy. So it comes as no surprise that the government exerts pressure on what type of information must be revealed. At the same time, it is the companies who finance parties, so in reality it is them who decide what information we should consume.
Until now, I have been referring to third people, but the truth is that we are also to blame. By turning a blind eye to the injustice that affects not only the local people but the flora and fauna of one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world, we are certainly not improving the awful situation. The resigned and oblivious position that the vast majority of society takes, by saying “Well, there’s nothing I can do” is as repulsive to me as what governments and Shell are currently doing. I just can’t understand how people can ignore so easily such atrocious acts just for the fact they are alien to them. This proves the selfishness of our society.
The “awful truth” however, is that this situations are still occurring in our world. What’s more, the worst thing about it is that no action will ever be taken against these companies. If it were up to me, I would simply boycott Shell’s oil, that is, stop consuming it. But disappointingly we live in a world of brainwashed people who doesn’t have the courage to protest and claim for a change. How can we simply accept that some information is being swept under the rug?
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I was surprised after reading this post because I had no idea about the situation that was going on in Nigeria. Despite how the news is being told, with a bit of irony and humour, the images struck you immediately and it really frustrates me what is being done.
ReplyDeleteIts outrageous the fact that we aren’t being told the truth and what we are receiving are little hints or the truth which have been covered up. Its not fair that the information we are consuming isn’t 100% the same one as the original one from the source.
In this case, however, governments might have felt that it would damage their image, as probably they are consumers or have contracts with the company. But we have to stop this because if this is happening in Nigeria, how can we trust the information that’s coming from our own country is going to be right? Maybe there have been business problems or a similar case here in Spain but because the government has been involved we have never noticed it.
I personally think the information we consume is chosen both by the government ruling at the time and the businesses. Firstly the businesses might hide facts, consequences or effects to the reporters and secondly, if the information these have given is a threat to the government they probably never transmit it to the public. Whats more, if at the time the politic view of the government is left wing or right wing; the information will be seen by ONE of the point of views instead of looking at it globally.
The fact that, we don’t care so much about what information we are receiving and if its true, reflects our society of comfortless and laziness. We don’t worry about checking if what we are being told is correct and we just like to have the things given to us like children. This has to change because if not they can cheat without us noticing.
It is impacting how little consideration some companies and some people have towards the Niger Delta, toward its environment and towards the people who are living there. I’m aware that this also happens in many more places all around the world, but the fact that we are causing this, as we are the ones who are buying and using this oil, really frustrates me and upsets me.
ReplyDeleteAs Maria said, not all of the information is revealed to us in a clear way, as we would really like to, and this is maybe unfair for us, but I think that we should also try to find things out for ourselves as companies obviously do not want people to know which things they are up to, and they are not the ones who are going to tell us what brutalities they are doing at the Niger Delta just to win more money. I suppose that Shell could extract oil in a human way, but then the benefits and the money won would be much lower and this doesn’t interest the company, so they just prefer to continue destructing the environment, etc.
I presume that the information that we consume is both chosen by the companies; who only show what interests them, and by us; if we want to search for this real information and if we want to know what is happening. So in fact, we could actually change this and be aware of everything which goes on around the world, if we really wanted to.
There are two things which I can’t really understand.
Firstly, I assume that the government permits this because they win money for this, but aren’t they aware of what they are causing? They are making the environment and people suffer, and this is something negative for their country. Is it worth to kill a whole habitat for money? I don’t think so. And also the Niger Delta could be used as a tourist attraction if it wasn’t being destroyed.
Also, I can’t understand the people working at the Shell Company. Are they in a desperate position to have the necessity to do this or is it just because the want huge amounts of money for themselves? Are they selfish people who don’t care about others?
It is quite disappointing and unacceptable that this information is being kept away from us, but what’s more poor, in fact, is that this is happening. We use oil on our daily life, but I don’t think that people while using it think about how they extract this oil and keep using it as if everything was normal. What I mean for this is that, if people knew more information, then maybe they would act against this kind of things either by changing of Oil Company or by doing another thing, but as people are not aware because the information is being ‘hidden’, everyone keeps consuming.
Laura Adán
It’s shocking to hear that nowadays, situations such as these are still occurring in our world, nonetheless, how this happens is pretty clear to me now, events just like these do continue to take place and we are all, simply oblivious to them.
ReplyDeleteIt’s disgusting but true, injustices, inequalities, freedom violations, crimes towards essential rights and more are simply swept under the rug. How?, media is manipulated and people are silenced, take this as an example, both shell and the Nigerian government have reached the extremes in order to keep their dirty business secret, they will silence, no matter what it takes, anyone who will protest.
Therefore I don’t really believe this is our societies fault, it’s, as I mentioned before, that we are simply unaware of some things which happen in our world, especially if they happen in undeveloped countries, such as Nigeria, where not only are the communication systems poorly developed but is inhabited by an unequally divided society, separating the few rich and powerful amongst whom we find the government, and the weak, powerless majority who, no matter how hard they try and fight for their rights, will have no chance against their leaders.
Answering the question, really in truly it’s the company behind the dirty business that can “carefully select” the news which reaches us, but of course, I do also think news companies will rather spend their money and send their journalists to gather information somewhere where profit is sure to be made, such as interviewing famous people or discuss global issues instead of going off to a undeveloped country and spread the word of an injustice that affects only local people and some wild animals.
Disappointingly, I’d be surprised if any major action would be taken against both shell and the Nigerian government for their actions, because considering the world’s economic situation, I wouldn’t expect people running around protesting and claiming for change and reparation of such issues which don’t really physically involve them. All individuals and as a consequence, organizations and governments, will be primarily concerned about their own situation rather than other countries ones.
Lucas Drobnitzky
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCompletely in shock… this is how I was left after seeing this video. Not even the irony and humor with which the video is told managed to slightly ease my disgust. It’s absolutely infuriating to see what they are doing to both Nigeria’s ecosystem and population. However, the thing that really drives me up the wall is not only what Shell is doing but also the fact that it is the first time I have ever heard about this. Believe me, I am a daily newsreader and never has the media mentioned this. It seems that Cristiano’s sadness is much more news-worthy than the decimation of a whole country.
ReplyDeleteThe video made me ask myself: Why on earth have I never heard about such a “trivial” situation? The answer is crystal clear: media manipulation. The information that is revealed is carefully selected by someone. But the question lies on who is that someone? Well, such is the obviousness of the answer I doubt it is worth writing it: both the government and the companies. Newspapers, such as La Vanguardia rely on the subventions that governments concede. Their survival depends on the government. Were they to spread the word of this injustice and within 30 days they would declare bankruptcy. So it comes as no surprise that the government exerts pressure on what type of information must be revealed. At the same time, it is the companies who finance parties, so in reality it is them who decide what information we should consume.
Until now, I have been referring to third people, but the truth is that we are also to blame. By turning a blind eye to the injustice that affects not only the local people but the flora and fauna of one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world, we are certainly not improving the awful situation. The resigned and oblivious position that the vast majority of society takes, by saying “Well, there’s nothing I can do” is as repulsive to me as what governments and Shell are currently doing. I just can’t understand how people can ignore so easily such atrocious acts just for the fact they are alien to them. This proves the selfishness of our society.
The “awful truth” however, is that this situations are still occurring in our world. What’s more, the worst thing about it is that no action will ever be taken against these companies. If it were up to me, I would simply boycott Shell’s oil, that is, stop consuming it. But disappointingly we live in a world of brainwashed people who doesn’t have the courage to protest and claim for a change. How can we simply accept that some information is being swept under the rug?