SAVE VIRUNGA
Stop Oil Exploration in Africa's Oldest National Park
“Where environment and natural resource factors generate conflict, post-conflict peacebuilding efforts must tackle them directly in order to achieve durable peace. At the same time, the recognition that environmental and natural resources can contribute to violent conflict only underscores their potential significance as a pathway for cooperation and confidence-building in war-torn societies.” United Nations Environment Program… Read More
The exploitation of natural resources has proven to be a major driver of conflict in DRC and the Great Lakes region. Oil exploration in Virunga has followed the same track with a poor local engagement, the total exclusion of communities from decision making and the criminalization of local protests against oil. In light of the… Read More
“Where environment and natural resource factors generate conflict, post-conflict peacebuilding efforts must tackle them directly in order to achieve durable peace. At the same time, the recognition that environmental and natural resources can contribute to violent conflict only underscores their potential significance as a pathway for cooperation and confidence-building in war-torn societies.” United Nations Environment Program… Read More
No more words needed. Many local defenders have been alerting the world of the dangers community members and themselves are facing when fighting for Virunga and the sustainable development option. They are often putting their lives, their staff and their organizations at risk. Virunga cannot survive without them, without their voice and courage. We wish… Read More
14 February 2014 The UK Government is set to examine the activities of Soco, a London-based oil company, over alleged violations of environmental protections and human rights abuses in a protected African World Heritage Site. It was announced today that a complaint filed by WWF has been accepted, and issues related to respect for human… Read More
PREFACE Our intention in producing this volume was to create an easily accessible, practical, yet scholarly source of information about a topic of increasing importance to the United States: our relationship with the oil producing nations of West and Central Africa. By examining in depth the lessons learned from our relationship with the oil producing nations… Read More
Response of Georges Dallemagne, Belgian member of the parliament, to the letter he received from Mr Cagle _ vice-president of the UK oil company SOCO International plc_ following his Parliamentary Resolution to protect Virunga national park. Mr Cagle’s Letter: Téléchargement 2012 1129 SOCO International plc – Georges Dallemagne Mr Dallemagne’s Response (unofficial translation): Dear Mr… Read More
“It takes more than courage to engage in this, because when you suffer, it’s not only you. You put all of your family through that who do not have somebody else to rely on.” Tanzanian Human Rights Defender “Who is ready to die? Who is ready to risk his life? Sometimes if you don’t have… Read More
Apart from its colossal scale, what is striking about Shell’s security spending in Nigeria is its ineffectiveness. Shell spent many millions of dollars each year on government forces who failed to provide the company with adequate security. It is no surprise the US government observed that Shell’s over-reliance on military forces created “serious internal friction”… Read More
By Felix Njini Windhoek – While discoveries of crude oil are supposed to be a precursor to greater economic prosperity, this is not likely to be the case for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Risk analysts warn that recent oil strikes could fuel further internal strife. If not well-managed, oil discoveries in the vast and… Read More
READ The Letter to the DRC Government Despite an outcry from the international community and bodies like UNESCO, IUCN, the EU, and many others including Greenpeace, the DRC government and SOCO are continuing to develop oil exploration plans. An international collection of NGOs recently wrote this open letter to the Congolese government to encourage them… Read More
Lire La lettre au Président de la RDC 19 organisations internationales regroupant des organisations de développement, de droits humains, de l’environnement et de la conservation, telles que Greenpeace, 11.11.11, IUCN NL se sont unies pour exprimer leurs craintes face au plan d’exploration de pétrole à l’intérieur du Parc National des Virunga, site du Patrimoine Mondiale.… Read More
SAVE VIRUNGA 