memory, truth and justice for heroes in the resistance against mining oil and gas

This report by Friends of the Earth International highlights the 'ecological war' waged by extractive industries, detailing the deaths and repression of activists in countries such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and Colombia. It argues that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a myth used to mask systemic abuses and calls for an end to fossil fuel addiction and the protection of indigenous territories.

• The report identifies a pattern of 'ecological war' where extractive industries cause severe environmental degradation and human rights abuses, often with the collusion of state security forces.
• In Nigeria, Shell's operations in Ogoniland led to massive oil spills and gas flares, contributing to a drop in life expectancy to 41 years in the Niger Delta.
• The report documents the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders in 1995, noting that Shell later agreed to a US$15.5 million out-of-court settlement with the victims' families in 2009.
• In Papua New Guinea, the Porgera gold mine operated by Barrick Gold has been linked to systemic human rights abuses, including gang rapes by security guards and the burning of villages during 'Operation Ipili '09'.
• The report describes the impact of oil sands extraction in Northern Alberta, Canada, as a 'form of genocide' due to the destruction of boreal forests and high rates of rare cancers in the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations community.
• In the Philippines, anti-mining activists have faced extrajudicial killings, including the 2010 shooting of Gensun Agustin and the 2007 killing of Provincial Councilor Armin Marin.
• The report argues that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a 'myth' and a 'propaganda' tool used by corporations to distract from ethical failures and avoid binding international regulation.
• In Tanzania, a toxic spill from Barrick Gold's North Mara mine in May 2009 allegedly killed up to 20 people and between 700 and 1,000 livestock.
• The report highlights the criminalization of resistance in Indonesia, where 17 community members of Talaga Raya were detained for protesting a nickel mine under a law that penalizes those who 'hinder or disturb mining activity'.
• In Colombia, the report notes that trade unionists in the extractives industry have been killed at a rate of one every three days over a 23-year period.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2011). memory, truth and justice for heroes in the resistance against mining oil and gas. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/memory-truth-justice-for-heroes-eng.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. memory, truth and justice for heroes in the resistance against mining oil and gas. 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/memory-truth-justice-for-heroes-eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=memory, truth and justice for heroes in the resistance against mining oil and gas |date=November 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/memory-truth-justice-for-heroes-eng.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2011memory, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{memory, truth and justice for heroes in the resistance against mining oil and gas}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/memory-truth-justice-for-heroes-eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }