512 Oil, Illness, and Human Rights
Flaring can be stopped!
The worst routine gas f laring in the world occurred for many years in the
Niger Delta of Nigeria. Gas f laring by international oil companies in Nigeria
has cost many lives. And the poisons released by Nigerian gas f lares have
contributed more to climate change and global warming than all other
sources in sub-Saharan Africa combined.
Comrade Che Ibegwura, a man from Rivers State, Nigeria, said: “For
years, we have lived with continuous flaring of gas. Our farmlands have been
polluted. We labor hard to plant, but little comes out. Our roofs are corroded.
Our air is polluted. Our children are sick. Even the rainwater we drink is
contaminated with black soot from the gas flares. We cannot continue with
this suffering.”
In 2005, after many years of protest and struggle, routine gas flaring
was outlawed in the Niger Delta. A judge ruled that all the oil companies in
Nigeria must stop gas flaring right away because of the health problems it
causes, and because it violates the human right to a healthy environment.
If there is routine flaring near you:
• Discuss the dangers of gas flaring
and form a committee to complain
to the company and government
officials. Also speak with health
workers, journalists, and NGOs.
• Keep a record of your
campaign. Encourage
people to mark the days
and times of flares and the
problems they caused.
The company refuses
to talk to us about the
flaring. Who can we try
to talk to next?
• Organize meetings to share
these records with other
communities, journalists,
and government officials.
Keep records of your
talks with them. Writing
down or filming what the
officials say will also show
that you are serious. Most importantly, do not give up!
These actions may not stop flaring right away. But the common goal of
stopping the flaring can unite the community and build strength to protect
everyone’s health in the long term.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012