Counter Movement To Defend The Earth

Counter Movement To Defend The Earth

Dr. Goodluck Diigbo calls for Nonviolent Earth Spring-Time Resistance

More Ogoni people in Nigeria took part in this year's Earth Day than in the past. The holding of discussion at different locations was inspired by the Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment (PIPE) collaborating with the Ogoni Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA).

In a statement, John Larwisa, OGEPA Administrator announced that the Ogoni Agency plans a May-Ogoniwide-Tree Planting and Sanitation in all villages of Ogoni.

In his message, the President of Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment (PIPE), an international organization operating in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, said: "The Earth Day should no longer be a day for mere rhetoric, but an Annual Nonviolent Spring-Time Resistance by environmental activists throughout the world. This should be carried out with a view to enlisting more foot-soldiers for the Earth and raising awareness that the Earth is our First Right. We need accountability by those who reap economic profits through activities that directly impact the Earth."

Diigbo who is also MOSOP President/Spokesman regretted that irresponsible institutions and corporations around the world, including governments have demonstrated the willingness to murder individuals standing up to protect the Earth.

Diigbo recalled that between 1960-1985, there were four National Development Plans in Nigeria that recognized the need for "the promotion of a new national orientation conducive to greater discipline, better attitude to work and cleaner environment", but despite total dependence on the Earth through petroleum revenue, the Nigerian government never saw to it that the four separate National Development Plans amounted to outcome in connection with protecting the Earth.

Diigbo said it is very shameful, because instead of exhibiting discipline, looting by public officials had since quadruple.

Worse still, he said on the Earth Day, instead to show proof of specific actions with measurable outcome, it has often been used to promote gimmick occasions for empty speech making and the claiming of more allowances by public officials through wasteful spending on irrelevant and symbolic Earth Day events.

Diigbo called for training of indigenous rights activists that are involved in environmental movement, especially in areas of providing knowledge and proper understanding of the need for environmental impact assessment study, with attention paid to Due Process such as stipulated by the UNEP, World Bank, U.S, Canadian and European Community.

Diigbo assured that PIPE will continue to monitor actions surrounding the UNEP Assessment of Ogoniland and to work with grassroots activists to ensure that nothing was forced down the throats of the Ogoni people who are the victims of the worst petroleum related ecological war in human history.

PIPE had worked with MOSOP on the UNEP Assessment of Ogoni by training locals on how to monitor compliance with Due Process and Best International Practices, particularly with implications for the enforcement of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007.

PIPE upholds MOSOP position:

http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2011/08/05/mosop-challenges-intergrity-of-unep-report

Tambari Deekor
Associate Editor
MOSOP Media

ENDS

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