Wiwa v. Shell case victory

The following is from a press release from the Center for Constitutional Rights case against Shell:

New York, June 8, 2009 — Today [on the eve of the trial], the parties in Wiwa v. Shell agreed to settle human rights claims charging the Royal Dutch/Shell company, its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC or Shell Nigeria), and the former head of its Nigerian operation, Brian Anderson, with complicity in the torture, killing, and other abuses of Ogoni leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and other non-violent Nigerian activists in the mid-1990s in the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta.

The settlement, whose terms are public, provides a total of $15.5 million. These funds will compensate the 10 plaintiffs, who include family members of the deceased victims; establish a Trust intended to benefit the Ogoni people; and cover a portion of plaintiffs’ legal fees and costs. The settlement is only on behalf of the individual plaintiffs for their individual claims. It does not resolve outstanding issues between Shell and the Ogoni people, and the plaintiffs did not negotiate on behalf of the Ogoni people.

SHELL TRIAL RALLIES WILL GO ON AS SCHEDULED

If you haven't already heard, the Wiwa v. Shell trial was postponed today. In the brief announcement from plaintiffs' attorneys, no new opening date was given and rumors are swirling that Shell must be scrambling at the 11th hour for an out-of-court settlement. It's hard not to speculate but the plaintiffs, defendants, and court haven't said anything else about it.

Solidarity RALLIES WILL GO ON AS SCHEDULED in New York and London!

12 noon at Foley Square near the courthouse.

May 27: Rally to turn the heat up on Shell

From OilChange International:

Dear Dan,

This coming Wednesday, the landmark Wiwa v. Shell trial will open in U.S. federal court. Multinational oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will finally answer to charges for its role in atrocities committed against the Ogoni people of Nigeria, including conspiring with the Nigerian military government to bring about the execution of human rights and environmental justice leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his colleagues.

Please join our May 27, noon courthouse rally to mark the historic opening of this trial and to turn up the heat on Shell.

Because Shell doesn't want you there

Rally to mark opening of Wiwa v. Shell trial
Noon, Wednesday, May 27th
Foley Square, Manhattan, across from the U.S. Courthouse (near City Hall)

Please spread the word. Join OilChange on Facebook

This trial could send a shockwave - of the very best kind - through corporate boardrooms around the world. Together, we can send a message that corporations will be held accountable for human rights abuses, no matter where they occur.