On July 18, 2024, We the People and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) held a one-day training for activists and environmental Monitors in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The meeting with the theme ‘From Monitoring to Resistance Eco-Defending as a Resistanace Movement’ aimed to equip civil society, media, and community members with skills to critically examine environmental issues, collaborate and advocate for changes.
Oil extraction in communities of the Niger Delta has led to environmental horrors: air, land, and water pollution leading to livelihood loss, health hazards, conflicts, and inequalities. The operations of transnational oil companies have been reckless, and fueled by the lack of stringent regulatory oversight and accountability.
In his lecture, Nnimmo Bassey, Director of HOMEF, emphasised the urgency to transition from mere reporting of environmental problems to in-depth analysis and concrete actions. He emphasized the political underpinnings of environmental issues in the Niger Delta, where decades of environmental pollution have resulted in severe human and ecological costs. He also stated that pollution has political undertone, pointing out that oil companies benefit from pollution due to the lack of accountability and cleanup responsibilities.
Ken Henshaw of We the People described the Niger Delta as a “crime scene,” attributing the high mortality rate and environmental issues to oil extraction. Henshaw spoke on the ills of gas flaring, and the fact that the government keeps moving the deadline to end the practice despite the fact that it is known to cause harmful effects on the health of communities. He criticised the government for choosing profit over people and favouring oil companies over the health and well-being of its citizens. He stressed the need to move from utilizing the conventional tools of advocacy to bring about change, to building movements of solidarity and resistance against pollution and destruction of the planet
Participants developed and adopted strategies for movement building and advocacy that leverage on community know how and their skills.
