On Tuesday 18 May, shareholders meet for oil giant Royal Dutch Shell’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), relayed live to London’s Barbican Centre. While they toast £9.8 billion profits, there will be less talk of how Shell’s activities are making life hell for people in the Niger Delta.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our hugely successful fundraising campaign we’ve been able to place adverts telling the shameful truth about Shell in Tuesday’s Metro and Evening Standard, and on a van driving round the streets of London throughout the day. Shareholders will be confronted by the reality of what they’ve invested in on their way to the AGM, outside the event and on their way home too.
LATEST NEWS: How the Financial Times pulled our ad at 4.58pm yesterday evening
Over the past week or so, this initiative has raised awareness and generated lively debate about Shell’s activities. Here are a couple of ways you can help keep that momentum going:
1. Ensure our AGM ad campaign makes its mark
Help ensure the flipside of Shell’s successes are talked about on the day of their AGM. Look out for our advert and take a picture of yourself perusing it in the Metro or Evening Standard. Share it on Twitter with the tag #shellagm, or send it directly to @shelldotcom. You can also email your photos to amnesty.amnesty@gmail.com or text it to +44 7733 134670 and we’ll put it in our gallery.
If you live or work in central London, keep an eye for our ad van which will be on the streets all day. Tweet or send us a picture if it passes your house, office or uni.
2. Spread the word about Shell’s embarrassing gas problem
We also want as many people as possible to see this video about the impact Shell’s illegal practice of gas flaring is having on communities in the Niger Delta. We were really interested to hear your thoughts on our ‘Welcome to Shell’ film so please let us know what you think – and spread the word!
Gas flaring happens when oil is pumped out of the ground, producing gas. The gas is separated out and, in Nigeria, is usually burnt as waste. This practice, combined with numerous oil spills, has left communities in the Niger Delta with little option but to drink polluted water, eat contaminated fish, farm on spoiled land and breathe in air that smells of oil and gas. It also makes a mockery of Shell’s much-flaunted “business principles”.
For more information on why we’re targeting Shell with this campaign, download a copy of our report: Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta.
My husband and I, (83 and 76) both psychoanalytic psychotherapists who have subscribed to Amnesty for many years, are deeply troubled by this situation. What could possibly shame Shell management and shareholders into seriously tackling, with research, the problem of how else they could dispose of the gas, without continuing the racist abuse which comes from the powerful and wealthy having control over the indigenous impoverished population who have no weapons of their own to counteract it?
What a poor video – shame on you Amnesty ……
Great campaign. Am about to contribute. Good luck tomorrow. Was, though, a little concerned to see a background to your film clip that didn’t look like anything I remember of the Delta. hope I’m wrong.
I deeply support this campaign, and the focus on alerting shareholders.
However, I dislike this new video. I find it infantilizing and sensationalist. We need to work of spreading information and knowledge, not electric-guitar-hiding-content videos. I preferred”welcome to Shell”, which had the merit to get attention with its original ironic tone, but avoiding the “little-girl-before-I-was-happy-now-I-cry” simplistic concept.
Shame I won’t see the ad as I live in Wales! Will there be a copy available online? Cheers.
I support the campaign but don’t like the video. I feel people don’t need a movie-style trailer but straight facts and images which clearly portray the damage being done by Shell. Facts that Shell can’t easily refute and images that are an honest presentation of the effects of Shells arrogance. Personally I am turned off by anything that is too theatrical. These are real problems in the Niger Delta, let people see that.
I support the campaign. Well done to all involved in bringing this to people’s attention. I tend to think that those who are interested will follow up with further research and reading. The video is there to start a discussion. The starting point for most activism is compassion, and we shouldn’t forget that.
This is a disgraceful situation, and I think the video is powerful.
On another note, I’m slightly concerned by the speed of the van around London…!
Altitude: 0 ft
Speed: 14658 mph
Heading: 0°
I saw a documentary on television which showed the appalling conditions the people of the Niger Delta are living in and how their water is polluted during the production of oil. There is no real effort to help the people living close to the oil drilling sites. It begs belief that such selfishness and neglect exists today.
Ever since I saw the BBC4 film “Blood and Oil” shortly before the General Election campaign got underway, I’ve been very concerned about this issue. I made sure it was raised at our local hustings and used the opportunity to make available the Amnesty Shell action cards at the meeting.
A few days ago, in response to an Amnesty email action directed at the Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell, Peter Voser, I received an email from Alice Ajeh, their International Relations Manager for Nigeria. She said she was from a Niger Delta community and had lived there most of her life. Although she was now working for Shell in the Netherlands, most of her time with the company had been spent in Port Harcourt in Nigeria.
She went on to say “My job was liaising with communities and the government, looking to find better ways of working together to benefit Nigeria as a whole, and the communities who live close to the oil and gas operations of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) joint venture. I am proud to work for Shell.”
She added: “We were … disappointed with Amnesty International’s report, after the considerable time and effort we devoted to talking to the members of their reporting team, trying to set the context as well as answer their many specific questions.”
Ms Ajeh went on to say “Of course we are concerned about the environmental impact of oil spills and the impact on communities. The sad fact is that the overwhelming majority of oil pollution in the Niger Delta is caused by sabotage” before stating that “Whatever the cause, SPDC is committed to stopping all leaks as fast as possible and cleaning up all spill sites … SPDC takes the social impacts of its operations into account and looks for ways for communities to benefit, in support of the government which, as in any country, carries the main responsibility for the development of its people.”
The email ended “The problems of the Niger Delta are many and complex and we will work alongside anyone who can help us contribute to solving them. I hope we can – it’s my homeland.”
It is interesting that Ms Ajeh made no mention of gas flaring as a cause of environmental pollution. However, let us hope that the debate that is being generated around the Shell AGM tomorrow will help us to discern who is telling the truth here, whether it is Shell’s International Relations Manager for Nigeria, or the young woman featured in your video…
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[Please note that although my website (URL above) may be of interest, particularly the section on my sponsored walk for the Iraqi Marsh Arabs, some of it is out-of-date, and in particular some of the web and email links are no longer functioning.]
This campaign is very important. Shells totally abusive behavour is clearly unacceptable. (Problem with the video is we dont know if her voice is a real testimony or a ’scripted’ one, designed to tug at the emotions – the points are then obscured… To get the strongest reaction use the truth not a version of it. Its an art to get the max reaction from the viewer and often the mistake is the to do too much which creates less affect).
Apologies for the note at the end of my previous (long) post. The URL, which didn’t make it on to the comment page, is http://freespace.virgin.net/andrew.smith2020.
I’m concerned too – that I emailed Shell’s Peter Voser re Amnesty’s claims and received a response very similar to the one quoted here from Ms Ajeh. This gave an utterly different picture from Amnesty’s of both the main cause of the oil spills (thieves and saboteurs) and the efforts being made by Shell to mend the leaks and support the locals.
My particular concern now is that I forwarded Shell’s response to Amnesty but when I tried to follow this up they claimed not to have received it and asked me to send it again. I promptly did this but have had no acknowledgement.
I have a sinking feeling that this could be much like DeBeers and diamonds in Botswana. They were targeted by a humanitarian group in a campaign against their displacing the local San people, while in fact they were mining outside their territory, actively supporting humanitarian programs and helping Botswana to be one of very few solvent African countries. But few realise this because the protests got the biggest headlines.
We all want and need to know the truth, unadorned, I have an open mind but i remain concerned that I’m still in the dark re the Niger Delta.
@ Pat Owen. There probably isn’t a cynical reason for them not replying. Amnesty UK seem to have huge issues dealing with e-mails. Staff admit it as well!
A very disappointing advert. It’s difficult to hear what is being said with the abstract noises going on in the background and the images don’t relay what is actually happening in the Niger Delta to viewers with no knowledge on the matter. I appreciate Amnesty’s work for what is a very worthwhile cause that needs addressing but this video is simply poor.
David.
the video is good i think to the point.pun at the end.i dont think its supposed to be an entire documentary on the issue.there seems to be a lot of minging over the video though maybe some sort of consultation or vote or online debate could take place to establish the most effective way of spreading the word and applying pressure. Although i think its naive to think Amnesty have not done this to a degree already. The ad maybe a bit glossy although this is commonplace in modern charity ads. Does anyone have any constructive criticism ? as opposed to saying the video ‘is simply poor’
I’m sorry, but once again I see a very serious matter delivered to me by (yet another) child’s voice over. I have complained to Amnesty about using children in docu-adverts before- thanks for (not!) listening!
Women and children are always the first to suffer, but does using a child get the message across more effectively?
I’m so used to just about every charity using a child’s voice (and image) to tell me how terrible the conditions are in their village/Country/State that I now how a “Poor-kid-with-sob-story” off-button.
Lets hope Shell has more patience than me!
Grow-up, Amnesty!
It amazes me that Shell can extract so much wealth from the Niger Delta and apparently do so little for the indigenous people in return. Allowing the effects of their operations to devastate the lives of the very people who live in the Delta is cruel and inhumane. Whst does Shell think?
I deeply support this campaign, and the focus on alerting shareholders.
How very sad… So many things are wrong on our planet…
I happily put my hand in my pocket to support the great idea of placing an ad in a ‘financial newspaper, which would be read today by shareholders’. I would not have done so if I had realised that the ads would appear in the Evening Standard and Metro! I feel rather let down, and that money has been wasted, but will continue to support Amnesty in their fight for the people of the Niger Delta.
What a great video clip. im sure thousands of people will see it and awareness as a result will be raised and financial support. Im not an expert so i dont know if it could be improved a great deal but hey it’s doing a good job so why are people saying it’s a bad thing? reminds me of the saying
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for the good men to do nothing”.
Shell had fostered a responsible image when I was a schoolchild back in the 30’s& 40’s. Information in those days was not as quickly and effectively disseminatedas it is today. We now discover that ALL extractive companies that have provided handsome returns to Shareholders over the years do not care about the mess they leave behind unless strict regulations are placed on their activities by responsible Governments…Sadly we do not see the Government’s of developed countries like the USA and their friends doing anything about this state of affairs other than militarily propping up the dictators who allow the degradation take place.
This is a vital campaign that needs to be successful. It should provide the inspiration and insights that enable other ‘Corporate Responsibility’ campaigns to be effective. We will therefore continue to support these efforts. But a pity about the video. Concept is poor – no useful content & reduces the argument to simply tacky sentiment. We know that many children are suffering and certainly will not look as healthy and as clean as the girl in the video. So why not show something of the lives of the real victims. Also the ‘background music’ was simply overpowering and distracted completely from the voice. Bin it please! It’s an embarrassment.
Thanks, Andrew and Pat for posting your replies from Shell. I know this is designed to be a hard-hitting, impact campaign, but I would like to see some more facts about the situation and a balanced argument. Surely Amnesty must have received replies from Shell when confronting them about this situation and launching a campaign.
It is my sentiment that Shell’s environmental standards should be universal – the same in Nigeria as they are in the UK/Holland and in other western countries in which they operate.
Sorry but this just fails to get any message across. Pity
Shell is a for-profit organisation. What would work is them having lower profits and a poor image. Some years ago many Germans boycotted Shell at Greenpeace’s request to do with the disposal by sinking of an old oilrig. Shell backpedalled that time and will again as long as the media can be convinced there is ‘mileage’ in it for them.
No wonder people’s lives are being blighted or destroyed when even Amnesty, the only hope for some of them, is supported by so many self-obsessed whingers.
One person says she would not have supported the ad campaign if she’d known it was going to be in the Metro and the Evening Standard. Someone else thinks Amnesty might be lying about Shell’s work in Niger because Shell disagrees with them.
What sort of world do these people live in?
The people of Niger have never heard of the Metro or the Evening Standard and our “terribly, terribly” attitudes towards them. They only know the overwhelming power of an organisation which can pollute their atmosphere and tell the world how wonderful it is.
You only have to work for big business in this country to know how destructive and mendacious it is, but because it does not threaten our lives, it does not matter very much to us.
In countries where being poor doesn’t mean having only two televisions but means having nothing at all then you might care more about the news of your plight being told to the world rather than the aesthetic or politically correct manner of its telling.
Good campaign but unfortunately the video really lets it down. It is difficult to hear what is being said and the message is completely lost about what is really happening there. The film doesn’t seem to credit it’s audience with any intellect and leaves one feeling that something over there isn’t right, but we’re none the wiser about what that might be.
@liz busch
We just put out this press release, explaining how the Financial Times decided not to print the ad at the very last minute. Hurrah for the Metro and Evening Standard who had no problem with running it! http://amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18768
This is not the right video for such a serious issue. It isn’t real enough and what the people are going through there is impossible to imagine. We need to SEE it. Shame on Shell.
I think this video (despite the inappropriate background landscape) does produce a suitable knee-jerk reaction, but the reality is much more complex. For one thing, the Nigerian government is deeply involved, and there needs to be mention of its implication with Shell. I have seen the flares in the Niger delta and from the airport at Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – horrific, despicable and wasteful. But we are all implicated if we use petrol or diesel for our travel. How can we ever travel without a sense of guilt?
We enjoyed helping to make the campaign banner when we visited the HQ about a month ago. We fully support the protest and activities today and wish we could have been there. Well done Amnesty!!
While I realise the AGM is in London, it’s a shame that the ad was not taken out in ‘a prominent national newspaper’, as was promised, and as I paid for! Are all AGM shareholders London-based? If not, I don’t understand the logic of putting the ad in a local paper which only local people read. Is there any way we can see the finished product if we don’t live in England’s capital?
I would be interested to know the reasons the Financial Times gave (if any) for not running the ad, but particularly in the light of this reaction, it does credit to the Evening Standard and the Metro. Regarding the new video, I regret I have to agree with many others who object to it. It is over-dramatised, which might cause some to question its credibility. What we need are simple facts; the plain truth. As noted by an earlier contributor this video really leaves the viewer unenlightened as to the actual problems in the Delta, and on top of that much of what the girl has to say is rendered difficult to understand by a poorly balanced soundtrack.
What a powerful – hard-hitting message; well done Amnesty!! What raw emotion! A child portrays innocence. Countless INNOCENT men, women and children have died and continue to die at the hands’ of Shell’s illegal activity in the Niger Delta.
Like the Video, very important campaign. Hope it goes well today
What a powerful message! I like the video it clearly portray’s an innocent girl crying out for help. Shell’s abusive behaviour in the Niger Delta is totally unacceptable. Well done Amnesty!!!
To everyone who is disappointed in the ad placement: We had planned to place the ad in the Financial Times today, but as mentioned in our update, this was unfortunately pulled by them at the last minute despite our best efforts to ensure the advert was printed.
We had already booked ad space in the Evening Standard, and were able to book an extra Metro placement at short notice. As you can see, we have also used some of the money raised to fund the ad van outside the AGM. We plan to use all the money raised to help us to continue campaigning against Shell’s damaging practices in the Niger Delta and hope our supporters understand that their money will be put to good use, even if we didn’t manage to place the ad in a national paper.
However, if you donated to fund the ad and are upset that we were unable to run the ad in a national paper as we intended, then we are happy to return your donation, just send us an email to sct@amnesty.org.uk
Otherwise, keep all the feedback coming and remember that we’ve still not won this campaign and have lots still to do!
Fiona
Online Communities Editor, Amnesty UK
I agree with some others – the video is not very informative. The pollution problem surely is mainly that of oil spillages rather than gas flaring – or have I misunderstood this? Gas (methane) flaring is a waste of energy in a country that is desperately short of electricity. It also adds to the world’s carbon dioxide emissions; 1.5% of the world’s emissions are due to gas flaring alone. In Nigeria, the gas should be used to generate electricity for rapidly expanding cities, which suffer widespread and lengthy power cuts. The Government of Nigeria was supposed to have banned flaring by 2008 and this has reduced since 1995 but Nigeria remains the world’s second largest gas flarer (Russia is by far the largest). A determined effort by Shell and the Government of Nigeria is needed if routine, large volume gas flaring is to be stopped. It’s time some international pressure was applied to both the company and the host government.
the film does not address the main cause of this problem. Shell are obliged to place large contracts with local firms for maintenance of pipe infrastructure and enviromental clean up etc. Unfortunately in a corrupt country ,where the politicans care little for there own citizens most of these hundreds of millions of dollars end up in switzerland .It is far more the Nigerian governments responsibility to care for its country and people than it is Shells. Get real and go and protest outside the Nigerian Embassy. !!
Puzzled as to why the sound quality on the film is so poor. Shell sabotage?
I don’t think this is a good video. Pretty dull and unpleasant to watch. And badly written. It’s a good cause, please don’t mess it up with bad marketing.
If you want intelligent people to support causes you need to do much better than this. It lacked any evidence, or visual images to support the ‘information’ being given. It was just a lioad oif emotive twaddle. Sorry! but somebody has to tell you!
I also think the video is too sensationalist, and would prefer to see what’s actually happening there. People ’switch off’ to this kind of advert I think.
I’m outraged that the FT took the ad out at the last minute! The FT was the most relevant paper for it!
Shame on you SHELL! Stop polluting the Niger Delta and destroying the farms and fisheries of the people who live there. I will not buy gas at Shell until you come up with a compensation package, and a new and responsible corporate strategy that involves consultation with the people of the Niger Delta.
IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY
KEEP TRYING.
Watching Amnesty comment on the Sri Lanka situation (Channel 4, 18/05) I thought I’d check out your site. Great work but this advert is poor. Technically it is hard to hear and, like many other have said, it’s emotive, simplistic and factless, but most importantly, quite off-putting. Both this and the planned printed advert only suggest a correlation between Shell’s involvement in Niger Delta and pollution. Surely there are some facts or evidence that show a causal link between the two? As a passer-by, that would hook me in more than a guilt trip…
It’s not a good video. It’s long and dull, and neither gives people clear information because of the (stupid) background noise, or a way to act on this insane situation. You can do better. Leave artsy and emotional, get a clear message through. We need it!
Please contact members of parliament like my own MP, Sir Robert Hill Smith, Liberal Democrat MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine who owns, as he calls them “family shares”, in Royal Dutch Shell plc.
I think our MPs, as a matter of conscience and frankly political good judgment, should look carefully and urgently at their investment portfolio.
What a hullabaloo about a poor video, admittedly horseshit and ill-judged – The real problem is knowledge of what is actually happening in and to the Niger Delta and its inhabitants, both human and animal, ecology, the lot. Let’s focus on that and get the truths out!
this video shows how is the situation of women are suffering in this life thanks
Very good video clip with a powerful message. We have to stop this pollution! Shame on shell.
Well understood video clip. Shame on shell for giving Niger a hard time and look how bad they are suffering with all the pollution. SHAME SHELL!!!
I hope you sue the FT for breach of contract, and/or submit a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission
Just like many others i do feel that its a great cause to fight but the video is too theatrical and instead should of been about facts and real pictures, the message got watered down by the dramatic hollywoodish content, very disappointed with the video, expected better from amnesty.
Please give a clean environment to all the Earth’s children.
However, I agree with those people who are concerned about using children is ads.
i have been in the Niger Delta 3 months visiting husbands family and the situation here is appalling, Contamination is rife here,I have an appartment here in Warri and everyday we are breathing in gas and oil fumes from the refinery.
Hi, the video is great and not sure why everyone is discussing the video and not the campaign. The video message is clear and strong and emotional. Really like it. Well done Amnesty!
The video is brilliant and engages well.
I agree that the video is really great and really works well. I’ve passed it onto loads of people and hope everyone else is to. I’d rather be discussing discussing the campaign and issues though. Shame on Shell and well done Amnesty. Pity that the FT didn’t run the ad and can’t believe that any shareholder would be reading the Metro, so that was a waste of money. But anyway, lets make the campaign loud and make Shell change their business. Its change we need to be shouting about not everyone becoming film critics!!!!!
Moan moan moan…. come on people! Its shell we should be after not sitting in our comfortable armchairs mouthing off about the film. The film is great. That is obvious. Yeah maybe others would want to use real images, but why get all uptight about that? Children in ads? My god, that takes the biscuit. Does that mean we can’t go and see Harry Potter? Get a grip people and stop your liberal winging and see that its just an campaign film and the real issue is Shell. Great film, Amnesty. Love it and I’m going to help you change what Shell are doing.
yeah exactly, people r dying and all you think about is the quality of a video
I’ve been to the Delta and it stinks of petrol and the flares are horror. Amazing film.
This is a really important issue. I support it fully. We need the same action against Shell that America will take against BP. Really good film, by the way.
Yeah agree, film is way cool. Much better than the usual cringe making charity films.
Shell need to listen to us all. Because it is Africa, they think they can get away with it. The film is very good, it says exactly what it must be like living in the Delta. But I don’t think this blog should be about discussing the film. It should be about Shell.
Real images of the area that show the actual environmental pollution, and the contrast in local’s people’s health and poverty, compared to the fat profits and gluttony generated from raping the area. These realities are much more more compelling and shocking than the overly dramatised ‘pop-culture’ style of the above video.
I appreciate the need to capture the attention of the masses, but surely no need to dumb it down quite so excessively?
Wholeheartedly support the core campaign issues – have just had tears straming down my face reading the Guradian article regarding FT’s refusal to print…
.
Very powerful short film. The strong style makes you immediately want to find out more about the issues which I looked up straight away. Had no idea what was happening in the Delta and found the films rich simplicity a very provocative statement and deeply memorable. Why are we discussing the film?
Harley
les ofrezco el canal patrio y los demás canales dedicados que tenemos para difundir los proyectos de amnistia internacional que siempre apoyamos me gustaría a su vez solicitar su apoyo para tener un red de banda ancha mas amplia de televisa si ustedes le solicitan su apoyo ellos tienen una empresa que hace eso.
saludos
roberto villaseñor
cibernauta proactivo de amnistia
I do not understand why Amnesty have asked people to comment on the film and not on the issue. Surely if the film provokes a reaction for people to go and find out more about the issues then the film has done its job. I think the film gets the message accross and is very well done. People must note that this is NOT a documentary it has to give a message in 60 seconds which it does. I was unaware of the continuing problems that Shell are causing in the region, the film made me find out more. Good work Amnesty…
An amazing film that blitzes the key issues in just 60 secs. Shell need to get their act together.
Shell need to take a long hard look at the misery they are inflicting, I had to go and read up on this after seeing the film, which surely is it’s whole purpose. After all, it’s not a feature length documentary, but rather a short 60 seconds to set the ball rolling and invite people to open their eyes about this issue.
I’m frankly disgusted that people can watch that and have anything to say about the video or marketing instead of the issue. I don’t care what you think about the music or script – if you can get riled up enough to post on a message board, why aren’t you writing a letter to Shell right now? Enough armchair criticism and limp pseudo-activism – this video is doing more for awareness than you are. Use your anger for more than petty sniping. Visually interpreting the way this girl’s life has been burned away by corporate greed may not be the way everyone would do it, but I think it works well and makes you want to find out more. What else do you want in sixty seconds? I for one will be writing to my MP about this rather than second guessing people more creative than myself.
Very simple and effective campaign. Sums it up in a nut Shell. The fireball is definitely reminiscent of a gas explosion as I can testify from my experiments in film pyrotechnics, but that’s beside the point. There are examples of eco friendly advertisements in books by Ogilvy where Shell shows green pastures with hidden oil pipes, but nothing is less true. One of the scandals they were involved in is a few years back when they called in the Nigerian army to shoot villagers who were in the way of a pipeline, if I’m correct around 1,000 were killed.
Anyway, nicely shot ad, not overdone, subtle but clear statement, made me think of all the stuff you don’t hear about anymore.
This video is striking, powerful and effective in delivering it’s intended message. I really fail to see what anyone would rather have instead, perhaps those who are criticising it would rather see a huge CGI clam shell urinating oil in the little girls face! This message board has made me really angry, anger that I would rather direct at those destroying the planet.
Is it any wonder people get compassion fatigue if instead of discussing the facts and pressurising shell to stop all we do is play Jonathan Ross and critique videos.
Get real.
Kai Clear
This video is right to the point it brings it home exactly what is happening to these people by a power hungry company that dont care about the enviroment about people around them or what they are doing as long as the money keeps coming in.
It angers me greatly that these arm chair critics on this forum who are more worried about this advert than they are about helping Amnesty stop this attrocity GET A LIFE.
Maybe we should all boycott using Shell fuels until they stop now wouldnt that be RADICAL.
Well, if I was relying on this campaign to get me out of jail in some forgotten corner of the world looks like I would be stuffed for life. Yeah, the film could have been yet another documentary filled with the same old images saying the same old things. At least this spot (and I do like it, a lot) avoids the cliche’s and gives us something fresh on well worn territory. Great work Amnesty. And lets stop winging and debate the real issues. Like, Shell is hell for a start. Great film. Love it.
I’ve boycotted Shell proucts on a personal basis for years, because of what they are doing in the Niger Delta, and trying to cover it up! I’m very disapionted to see coments about the video, the important thing is the campaign, get real guys and get behind the campaign.
Shell are not blameless but the biggest criticism should go to the Nigerian government. A large amount of the profit from the oil and gas goes to them. They don’t invest in schools, hospitals, etc. for delta people. The delta people get desperate and steal oil by breaking pipelines – this also allows compensation claims to be made for oil spills. Because of the lack of security Shell can’t clean up easily and stealing oil becomes big business. The new illegal oil field operators don’t care about the environment so the whole thing gets worse.
Good work Amnesty – a powerful and emotive ad that will hopefully bring the issue to a wider audience. What Shell are doing in the Niger Delta is shameful and we should be doing everything we can to shine a light on it. I’m not sure why you want to know my thoughts on the film, though? Sounds like some politiking to me…? Stay focussed on the message folks – the video is great, get it out there and spread the word!
I think it is a punchy and powerful film, that should help raise awareness of this issue which is being shamefully ignored by the media (while the oil disaster off the coast of Louisiana gets acres of coverage). The campaign should be short and punchy to reach an audience unaware of the issue.
Oh the share holders do read the evening standard, remember this ad isnt the whole campaign, Shell and teh otehr oil compnies will get tit eventually even of it takes 10 more years
It does strike me that all the critics of the video are uninformed and completely missing the point. The advert has to quickly and effectively communicate the ‘Shell’ problem to those unaware of it (and they are in the majority), thus encourage them to look into the issue further. I seriously doubt a long ‘documentary’ style piece would do anything other than preach to the converted. There is also the practical issue of how Amnesty would go about paying for such a documentary to be broadcast or shown in cinemas?
It’s an eye catching and thought provoking film that if shown to the public on TV or Cinema would very effectively encourage them to find out more about Shell’s Hell.
Seems to me the purpose of a video like this is to provoke a reaction and that it most certainly has. More so than some seen it all before facts and figures mini documentary which I don’t think was the purpose for this video. For a one minute clip this really hits the mark. If it can provoke this kind of reaction hidden away on a blog then I would say get it out there and let it’s do it’s work promoting, as so many others have said above, the real issues behind the campaign.
This raises issues, starts discussions, and illuminates suffering. That is a really powerful campaign video and deserves to be seen far and wide. I love the sound, it is hard to hear but so easy to understand.
please, why cant this video be shown on facebook, this is much better than the one you can share on there.
Th truth hurts doesn’t it.
I can’t believe there are people critizing the merits of this video… The fact is, people’s lives are being damaged, not to mention the destruction to the planet.
Yes, it’s dramatic and why shouldn’t it be — it’s a serious subject! For thousands of years people have been using art, satire, theatrics and symbolism to comment on social issues and to make a point hard-hitting! I’ll definitely be forwarding it to my friends…
Powerful video. The music, images and story-line all go ’sour’ in sync.
Haunting and thought provoking.
Keep on keeping on!
This all sounds like the BP fiasco, but with an added human rights issue. Intersting that we hear and see so much relating to the BP (mainly environmental) event……….perhaps Shell thinks these people have less worth than the US coastline!
Hello,
I saw the video and i don,t like that because it,s very sad. Many things are wrong with the poor.