mixed feelings on this.
shell have settled out of court in for $15.5m with the families of human rights activists killed over a decade ago by the military government at the time, but were accused of being complicit. the settlement happened in new york, thanks to a 1789 federal law that allows non-us citizens to bring forward human rights cases abroad, the bbc states.
when shell started investing in nigeria, they built pipes that locals claimed leaked oil or, and spoiled the area surrounding the delta. however, they have also been accused of working with the nigerian government to capture and execute activists such as the journalist ken saro-wiwa who protested against environmental damage caused by shell.
but, shell's refusal to formally admit to they did anything wrong is hardly a step forward. they call the case part of the 'process of reconciliation', which is absolute bull. until shell face up to their environmental responsibilities, and adopt a policy of transparency, nigerians will always be suspicious of them, particularly of corrorborating with the nigerian government.
it is disappointing that the case did not continue, but the main result to come from this is accountability. as long as multinational corporations keep exploiting vulnerable areas and people to make a profit, human rights groups will persist in exposing their tactics. the process to expose such exploitations is always an uphill struggle, but with the first major court case against a multinational going this way, there is hope. it sends a clear message out - shell (and other corporations) cannot keep exploiting people.
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