Poison Fire: Gas and Oil Abuse in Nigeria

The Niger Delta is an environmental disaster zone after fifty years of oil exploitation. One and a half million tons of crude oil has been spilled into the creeks, farms and forests, the equivalent to 50 Exxon Valdez disasters, one per year. Natural gas contained in the crude oil is not being collected, but burnt off in gas flares, burning day and night for decades. The flaring produces as much greenhouse gases as 18 million cars and emits toxic and carcinogenic substances in the midst of densely populated areas. Corruption is rampant, and people are dying, but the oil keeps flowing.

A team of local activists gather “video testimonies” from communities on the impact of oils spills and gas flaring. We see creeks full of crude oil, devastated mangrove forests and wellheads that have been leaking gas and oil for months. We meet people whose survival is acutely threatened by the loss of farmland, fishing and drinking water and the health hazards of gas flaring.

In a surprise victory, the Nigerian court ordered Shell to cease gas flaring. But Shell ignored the ruling. The oil companies continue the illegal gas flaring. Shell’s CEO gives lip service about social development, cleanup and compensation, as he passes the buck to the Nigerian government. Meanwhile, the oil keeps flowing, and the gas is still flaring.
For more info go to Poisonfire.org. 29 min.