NAIJAFEED

Friday, June 5, 2009

Video documentary - Wiwa vs Shell

Watch Ken v Shell in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Yesterday I posted the story about the trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa vs Shell being cancelled by U.S. Judge Kimba Wood. This video documentary serves as an insightful prelude to the case against Shell.

It makes you wonder. If the atrocities in the 90's commited by Shell and the Nigerian Government did not happen, will we have this current conflict between MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta). In fact, MEND probably wouldn't even exist at all! But that's just going in circles with what ifs. Maybe there's a parallel universe out there where everything is all well and good with the world. But lets hope in this one we live in, due justice eventually comes.

CNN's Walter Rogers writes women are the future of Nigeria

I just read a pretty awesome article by former senior international correspondent for CNN Walter Rogers. He gives some mad props to Nigerian women, and I totally agree with him. With ladies like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo out there. I believe the time for Nigerian women to bring back Nigeria to the glory days is nigh!

Here's an excerpt from Walter Rogers Article:

"Such strong trust in women's leadership abilities may already be at play inside Nigeria's political arena. A woman now heads Nigeria's stock exchange. Another is minister of information and communications. Others hold prominent positions in the health and economic sectors.

Political observers point out that most men running for state governor now seek to have a woman on the ticket with them. It is a similar story in neighboring Ghana. And in South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has appointed 14 women as ministers, bringing the gender balance of his cabinet to nearly 50-50."

Check out the full article here , pretty good read!

Related story: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo for President

Nigerian authorities shut down Afro Beat Mecca

Femi Kuti’s club “The New Africa Shine” has been shut down by Nigerian Authorities. The club was accused by authorities of “noise nuisance, illegal street trading, indiscriminate parking, blocking of access roads and obstruction of traffic.” This unfortunate incident has come on the eve of Femi Kuti’s tour that’s supposed to start in New York next week.

Femi Kuti (son of African music legend Fela Kuti) and the rest of the Kuti family recently started a campaign that involved plastering posters all over Lagos that carried messages demanding the return of electricity in his impoverished neighbourhood. The Kuti family believe this particular campaign that incited other Lagos denizens to revolt against the government is the reason the authorities have shut down his club.

Fela Kuti’s oldest child Yeni Kuti co-manages the club with Femi Kuti said the Government gave them 48 hours to shut down the club, but closed the club less than 24 hours after the delivery of the letter. She had this to add on the apparent abuse of power by the Nigerian Government:

“I’m shocked, indignant. They dropped the note on Monday evening and the next day at 9:00 a.m. they had closed the place.”

The folks over at The Independent have written a great article on the constant battle and harrowing experiences the Kuti family have gone through for their fight for a better Nigeria. Please check it out here.

The New Africa Shrine back in business

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Ken Saro-Wiwa vs Shell trial Cancelled

The case brought forward to U.S. District Court in Manhattan by the family of late Ken Saro-Wiwa about Shell's exploitation of Nigeria that caused the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other activists in 1995 has been cancelled by presiding judge Kimba Wood.

The Saro-Wiwa family decided to seek Justice in America because under the 1789 U.S. statute, the Alien Tort claims Act, Allows non citizens to file cases in U.S. courts for human rights abuses occurring overseas.

Judge Kimba Wood canceled the hearing on Wednesday in the civil trial of Royal Dutch Shell over the alleged involvement of Shell in the executions of protesters in Nigeria in 1995. Shell has denied these allegations.

Judge Kimba Wood has yet to give a reason for the cancellation of the trial.

Carson Daly talks with Ida Ljungqvist

Carson Daly and the crew from his show Last Call were fortunate to be graced with the presence of Africa's first playmate of the year Ida Ljungvist. She's all things beautiful and it's refreshing to see that she's also the down to earth sort of lady with a sweet sense of humour. Hit play up top and take it all in gentlemen...even ladies will admire I hope.

Related Stories: First African playmate of the year