Justice In Nigeria Now

Council Urges U.S. to Pass Transparency Law To Force Chevron and Other Oil Companies to Report Payments to Nigeria and Other Foreign Governments

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin

Richmond, CA – On Tuesday December 15, 2009, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to pass a bill that would require oil companies to disclose payments to foreign governments as part of a larger movement to increase corporate accountability across borders. Councilmember Nathaniel Bates was absent.  A similar resolution was unanimously approved by the Oakland City Council and with one abstention in the Berkeley City Council in October.

The Energy Security Through Transparency Act (ESTT) Act was introduced by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) in September and if passed would effect oil companies in Nigeria as well as the rest of the world.

“Here in Richmond, we see the links between human rights and corporate accountability issues in our city as the same struggle as those that are demanding a right to their livelihood in Nigeria.  Oil companies need to take responsibility where ever oil in produced and refined,” stated Richmond resident Jovanka Beckles who spoke at the meeting.

The Richmond resolution also calls on the State Department to support diplomatic peace talks in the Delta to negotiate a way forward to address the root causes of the current crisis—environmental destruction – particularly gas flaring – and lack of investment in the oil producing region. The city’s call contrasts with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s pledge in August to explore further U.S. military assistance to the government of Nigeria. The resolution along with the passage of the resolution in Oakland and Berkeley marks a new level of support to pressure the United States to adopt a foreign policy that promotes constructive change through dialog in alignment with the American values of democratic civic engagement, and freedom of speech and the press.

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EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION-Residents & Allies throughout Richmond and the Greater Bay Area! Come support the Richmond Community this Tuesday and Wednesday July 15 and 16.

TWO NIGHTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Stop Chevron’s Secret Plan to Refine Heavier Crude in Richmond!

The Chevron Refinery expansion project in Richmond will build the capacity to refine much dirtier crude oil, which means more pollution, increased risk of explosions, fires, spills and releases of poisons into our air, our bay and our land. It’s a matter of life and death for refinery workers & residents in Richmond and the Greater Bay Area. Click here for more information

The City of Richmond has a choice. Will Richmond continue to be a global hub for pollution? Or will it define a new path with solutions that protect our health and the environment?

Join the Richmond Alliance for Environmental Justice to demand bold leadership by the Richmond City Council.

JULY 15 at Kennedy High School, 4300 Cutting Blvd, Richmond View Map

(just walking distance from El Cerrito del Norte BART)

6:15 pm - Vigil honoring lives lost and all who suffer from environmental disease

*please bring photos of loved ones lost to cancer & environmental disease

7:00 pm – City Council public hearing on the Chevron expansion. Public Comment will be taken. It may be very late in the evening, so make arrangements if possible!

JULY 16 at the City Council Chambers, 1401 Marina Way South, Richmond View Map

7:00 pm - City Council to question staff/consultants, deliberate and vote. We need to be there with signs!

WHATS AT STAKE:

• A vote to certify the flawed Environmental Impact Report
• A vote for complicity in Chevron’s cover up.
• A vote for secretly negotiated community benefits in exchange for a comprehensive crude cap
• A vote for selling our health down the river.

OUR DEMANDS:

• Recirculation of the Environmental Impact Report
• Comprehensive oil quality conditions (crude cap) as a pollution prevention measure to limit the type of oil entering the refinery
• Funds for the city to be community controlled in an open process
• A vote for the well being of the community and future generations

Buses to and from the hearing will be departing from locations within Richmond:
3rd & Chesley in North Richmond
Atchison & Liberty Village
St. Mark’s Church
To reserve seats on the bus and/childcare inquiries please contact:
Jessica Tovar 510-302-0430 ext 24 or 415-596-3517 jessica@cbecal.org
www.cbecal.org

*Needs: Childcare & Peacekeeping volunteers contact Jessica Tovar or for more information:
510-236-4616 or e-mail apen@apen4ej.org
www.apen4ej.org

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Write a Sample letter to City Council Members

DRAFT:

The health of our children and grandchildren is more important than a few million dollars for special projects selected without open public input.

Chevron told its investors on its 10K SEC filing that it intends to refine heavier crude oil in Richmond. Since the EIR failed to disclose this, it must be re-circulated. The conditional use permit must contain explicit restrictions on the quality of crude oil and gas oil that Chevron can refine, or else a heavy price will be paid by future generations.

Environmental justice principles require that strong preventive measures, including a comprehensive crude cap, are taken to protect our health, and that any funds generated for the city be community controlled in a fully open and transparent process.

If you have the courage to do the right thing, you will make history and you will be supported.

send to:

mayor@officeofthemayor.net City Council members
natbates@comcast.net c/o Trina Jackson
tom.butt@intres.com 1401 Marina Way South
lopez.ludmyrna@comcast.net Richmond, CA 94804
johnemarquez@aol.com
elirapty@aol.com
harpreet_sandhu@ci.richmond.ca.us
tonythurm@aol.com
maria_viramontes@ci.richmond.ca.us
Learn More at: http://www.justiceinnigerianow.org

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