Nov 10th: direct action in Britain
Several anti-$hell actions taken to commemorate the executions of the Ogoni Nine happened around Britain on November 10th along with a number of talks and video showings and the MOSOP protests outside $hell and the Nigerian High Commission.
In Stockport, activists from Manchester Earth First! hung banners from the canopy of a $hell petrol station while others blockaded the entrances. Customers were persuaded to go elsewhere and the police even began advising them on how to blockade more effectively. Senior officers then arrived, reminding the protesters that they'd "made their point now move on please". Police cars had effectively blocked the station anyway and the activists were told to move on or be arrested. They didn't move on and one was arrested, though de-arrested after the other nine Musketeers ordered the police to release him or arrest them all.
In Sunderland activists blockaded the Grindon Mill $hell garage, shutting down the pumps and talking to motorists about the company's pollution and links to human rights abuses. Twenty people all but shut down a $hell station in Norwich as they had done on November 10th for the last three years, with only 10 cars using it all morning.
Several different $hell stations in Leicester were hit by a roving team of three energised protesters switching off the main fuel cut-off switch, locking pumps, ranting about the issues and running around with a banner saying 'Get the $hell out of Nigeria'. They also re-named Gallowtree Gate as 'Ken Saro-Wiwa Street' for the day. Local radio covered the action all morning.
In London a roving team of two shut down a $hell station, two Texaco's and an Esso with great ease using the same master switch. These rather effective 10-second actions left forecourt staff completely confused and blocking the entrances themselves, calling head office for advice and the police for a shoulder to cry on.
Aluta continua! The struggle continues!
Please note new tel/fax number!!! ******************************************************
DELTA: News and background on Ogoni, Shell and Nigeria
Box Z, 13 Biddulph Street, Leicester LE2 1BH, UK
tel/fax: +44 116 2109652 e-mail: lynx@gn.apc.org
web: www.oneworld.org/delta
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This page last updated November 24, 1999
Comments, questions? Send them to dennyhenke@tao.ca