Nigeria's agony dwarfs the Gulf oil spill. The US and Europe ignore it

Originally posted by SheaWolf


Africa is a beautiful country filled with many natural resources that should see it's people through almost any natural crisis. But companies who care nothing for the country or it's people are destroying it for their own profit.

The problem is, these same types of people are doing the same thing here, only more slowly, because they dont want to run the risk of an American rebel army turning on them, at this stage of the game.

Via advertising dollars, corporations own the media. Our schools teach curriculums that serve them. Voices that would like to tell you the truth are silenced or made to seem to be a threat to you and your way of life. The movie the Matrix was a wonderful analogy for how we in the industrialized nations actually live. Our energy, (productivity) is being tapped off to serve the machines, (corporations) and there are small groups of rebels out there, who arent immersed in the (American) dream who are trying to fight it. But unlike the Matrix, there is no Neo. No one person is going to save us. We need to wake up, and save ourselves. We are powering the machine that is destroying us.

"Efficiency" is a terrible thing. But it is the mantra of corporations. It is more efficient to dump pollutants in countries whose laws and whose governments dont prevent it, than it is to clean it up. Unless of course it were to become known and then cause a boycott, but when you control the media, who will know? Who will boycott you?

For those who say, "who cares about Nigeria" you need to realize you arent exempt. You're in line.

reply to post by RedGolem


Precisely. Follow the money trail. It is all in the banker's interests which nation of the world gets development and investments poured into it.

Industry and banking are brothers so entrenched in each other that nobody can tell them apart at times it appears.

I could not get the UKGuardian link to deliver the story but the blacklisted link worked. I could and did read the story about the delta region of Nigeria.

There seem to be two sides to this story, the corporations and the people who live there. Shell claims that pipes are being destroyed by people who live there and the people tell about rusty pipes over 40 years old.
Shell believes that the people destroy the pipes to get compensation for themselves, and the people believe that Shell neglects repairing the pipes.

This is all a pass the buck situation, and it also appears from the moderating shown here that racism seems to be used as an argument as well.

Since the oil in Nigeria is seeping into the land instead of the Mediterranean, it is escaping attention from the press. There is probably some truth in the fact that the people of Nigeria are not as well equipped to get publicity as the region of New Orleans and Louisiana.

Again, banker interests and corporation interests are greater than those of personal and private interests of simple native folk. It takes a lot of power and might for the little guy to strike a blow at a huge corporation or banking group.

Money talks! The media lives for ratings which is again money...

But something must be done to clean up this debacle of a mess in Nigeria...yesterday was too late.

Originally posted by Dinamo

Not sure if you were referring to me or not but for the record, while i have not given actual $$$ to Nigeria or Sudan, i have been actively involved in local action groups trying to raise awareness over some of the horrendous situations occurring on the continent in recent times.

Thats great!
According to this website Africa Is choking on aid money

Whats happening all across Africa is why Stephen Hawkins postulates that we should hide from Aliens.

OMG how horrible.
I watched a video of it on youtube. OMG it is horrid what that has done to the land!

I'd be so embarrassed to work for a company that did such as that.

reply to post by onequestion

I believe the idea behind the OP was to show that the oil spill in the Gulf isn't as bad as it seems, and to show how subjective our view on reality is.

The oil spill in the Gulf isn't as bad as it seems?

One gallon of oil makes One Million Gallons of water too toxic for wildlife to live.

Tell me how one gallon of oil spilled isn't a disaster, and then I'll let you explain how you think the Gulf spill isn't as bad as it seems.

This has nothing to do with the gulf

We can compare all we want . The truth is this gulf spill is big . And its not a leak its a under water goosing gusher .

And o yes the gulf spill is as bad as people say . Try the biggest in united states history and maybe number 10 in world history, the gulf oil problem is only 1 month old . ??? Give it 40 years and lets see what spill is bigger .

Also , the gulf is home to more oil than there is in Nigeria and there government needs to ask the united nations for help


[edit on 31-5-2010 by AndersonLee]

Also how much of that land over there is desert that is not home to fish products . And or life in water. Africa is a huge desert , oil would do less damage than it would in an ocean. I would like to also point out this gulf spill is new, And the amounts of oil is unknown at this time


[edit on 31-5-2010 by AndersonLee]

Honestly, we really shouldnt be playing "my oil spill is bigger/worse than your oil spill." Thats really kind of childish.

The point I took away from the OP was not that the Gulf spill wasnt bad, it was more that Nigeria has been suffering at the hands of big oil for a long time, and Americans and Europeans are largely unaware or uncaring about it.

If all we want to do is fight over who is suffering worse, there really is no hope for humanity. What would be nice to see was the worlds citizens standing up and demanding, all over the world, some standards below which corporations are not allowed to operate. Anywhere. At the very least.

Originally posted by onequestion
reply to post by Freedom or Death

 

On topic - Yes oil spills are a big issue right now for the ATS populace, weather you think so or not. I believe the idea behind the OP was to show that the oil spill in the Gulf isn't as bad as it seems, and to show how subjective our view on reality is.
[edit on 31-5-2010 by onequestion]

Not as bad as it seems? It is still bad.. doesn't mean that there isn't something worst.

Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander


The point I took away from the OP was not that the Gulf spill wasnt bad, it was more that Nigeria has been suffering at the hands of big oil for a long time, and Americans and Europeans are largely unaware or uncaring about it.

Illusion
Defently hit the mark, Thanks for making that point.
Also thanks to everyone who is posting and commenting.

It isn't just nigeria effected,the somalian pirates are doing what they do because their fishing areas and land have been polluted by careless polluting corporations also,both envoronmental and economic destruction are widespred in africa,and other places...

Kinda scary,if you consider those who want the whole world to be one big economy,with one big government (corporation),just think if they get the idea they can do this everywhere in the world...

After they destroy all of the fisheries,you would only be able to buy their genetically modified,diseased farmed fish.

After they destroy all of the native heirloom crops through cross pollination with their GM seeds,GM is all there will be available for most people,wanna buy some?....

After they destroy,or claim ownership to all of the water,you can buy a bottle from them,you may have to.

After they pollute all of the air,they would be happy to sell you a filter mask...

After they destroy,or claim ownership of all of the land in the world,you can enjoy being a serf,as most already are,without realizing it.

The oceans,land and air were once considered the commons,which means they belong to everyone,and are owned by no one.

Anyone was free to use them within reasonable guidelines,and people were responsible enough not to leave a giant mess after they were done.

The whole mess is just becoming worse,because some people are just too unreasonable in their pursuit of profit.

The world did work a bit better once,and it wasn't because of less people in it,people were just more reasonable than they are now.

At the end of the day... no one cares about Brown people , That's why it's not in the news. Africa has been raped and pillaged for centuries , people are starving to death while others get rich off of her natural resources.

Not only oil but natural gas as well...

Nigeria flares more natural gas associated with oil extraction than any other country on the planet, with estimates suggesting that of the 3.5 billion cubic feet (99,000,000 m3) of associated gas (AG) produced annually, 2.5 billion cubic feet (71,000,000 m3), or about 70% is wasted via flaring. This equals about 25% of the UK's total natural gas consumption, and is the equivalent to 40% of the entire African continent's gas consumption in 2001. All statistical data associated with gas flaring is notoriously unreliable, but AG wasted during flaring is estimated to cost Nigeria US $2.5 billion on a yearly basis.[15]

The reason for this practice, which is generally agreed worldwide to be wasteful both economically and environmentally, is that in order to maximize production of crude oil, the associated gas accompanying it is often burned off.

Source: en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by For Truth


Truth
a good post about wastefulness, thanks, star

We are lucky enough if we get something done about a spill in our own backyard, Africa is out of our jurisdiction.

It would be so nice if the people of the U.S. could simply speak out and take action against International Corporations and make all the problems these evil entities create go away, but we can't. We don't have that kind of power. See my opening statement.

A good place to start would be to stop blaming the people of the U.S. or the U.S. government for the actions of IC's, who have no loyalty to the U.S. people or the U.S. government. The IC's do everything in their power to undermine our ability to prevent the abuses of the ICs.

The people who control the IC's are located around the globe.

reply to post by EyesWideShut


I think non brown people do care about brown people. Just not all non brown people. But those non brown people who dont care for brown people really dont care for people in general. They only care about profit. There are parts of Europe that were pretty well screwed too.

While it would be very, very nice if we could have all interference from other countries cease, IMHO, Africa would still have problems. It is the oldest occupied continent. It has had more time than any other landmass for its people to get their stuff together. It still hasnt. You cant blame all of that on whites.

Originally posted by Freedom or Death
Resources for the greater good yes. We are on board with that. We want thier oil. Homestly though no one gives a crap about them as human beings or about keeping thier land clean of contaminents.

Am I lieing here or what?

Deniers come forth and dispute me.

Sometimes it's hard to be polite...

I care about them as human beings... because they're human beings, like me.

I also care about their land. They live on planet Earth, just like me.

If the human race doesn't make it, it's going to be your fault. Well, you and everyone else as short-sighted, narrow-minded and self-serving as you.

On the other hand, if we do make it, as a civilization and a species, rest assured, you (and those like you), had nothing to do with it.

look, I know you probably got banned a few days ago and all, but isn't it time to let mommy have her 'puter back?

reply to post by SheaWolf


LOL, for some reason i really believe you.
But still although I haven't looked too hard i hadn't seen any pics.
Guess I'll read on and see if i can find anything.
(Edit)
Thanks for the link topdog you rock.


[edit on 31-5-2010 by g146541]

reply to post by RedGolem


Nigeria is a mess. What's happening there is a true disgrace of our species and us ignoring it is astonishing...and repulsive.

I'm at a total loss to see what the Gulf Spill and Nigeria have to do with each other?

Nigeria has 150 million citizens. It is a Federal Republic patterned after the US with full sovereignty.

Knowing that, anything going wrong there is the fault of the Nigerians and their Government. So, what are people doing to address the Nigerian Government? They control what companies can or can not do there themselves. They regulate them. Nobody else does or can.

This is not a racial thing by any stretch or lie. This is a Nigerian issue that must be addressed by Nigerians. What we could do beyond trying to educate is nothing unless occupation or force is what is being proposed.

I see this has devolved into a weird you don't care about Africa bunch of nonsense. Is this about Nigeria and the oil companies or the African Continent?

Africa is not a country, its a large continent made up of many countries. Each country is different from the other. Some parts of Africa are barren wastelands. Others parts are rich in resources. Some countries there have lots of resources while other have no resources to develop.

The world has flooded Africa with aid money and any manner of help imaginable for many decades now. Russia is spending like drunken Russians Sailors there right now. For some reason we can't be expected to comprehend, many countries there have chosen, yes chosen, to not progress with the rest of the world. To blame the world at large for that is another lie.

Those who want us to do something, what? Go in with guns blazing and take the place over? Threaten them with nuclear destruction if they don't grow the hell up and enter the Industrialized World? What exactly? Keep throwing money at them that just gets stolen by their leaders?

By all means, those who wish too, head over to the Congo and give it a try. Make sure your life insurance is paid up.

The conflicts there are internal Civil Wars. The outcomes are up to the people who live there, not us.

[edit on 5/31/2010 by Blaine91555]