Multinational oil, the US and Nigeria: A crude contrast

Thanks for this analysis linking this recent oil spill in the gulf of Mexico to the regular spills in the Niger Delta that have destroyed lives, livelihoods and ecosystems and continue to do so while no one is held responsible as BP is being held responsible for the gulf of Mexico oil spill.

I think we will continue to suffer such injustices as we suffer in the Niger Delta as long as we (Africans, Nigerians) place more value on money than we place on life. The US, Multinational oil companies, our governments will keep doing what they do - exploit and destroy the poor and voiceless as long as we don't give a hoot what happens to our brothers and sisters or to our natural environment so long as we are comfortable.

While I am not an expert in Yoruba proverbs, there is one that means "The way you treat yourself is the way you will be treated by others". The US government will treat us and our environment differently than they treat their citizens. How can we expect outsiders to place value on life when we don't?

Sadly, oil exploration will continue and there will be more focus on the African continent as you mentioned and exploitation will continue until we have more voices speaking for the voiceless and increased and stronger resistance to exploitation. Hopefully, with voices like yours and platforms like Pambazuka the negative tide will be stemmed.

TOLULOPE ILESANMI, RESURGEAFRIQUE