Join Justice In Nigeria Now in asking Chevron to stop paying, housing and transporting the Nigerian military and police forces and to call for a third party audited environmental impact assessment that includes community involvement among other requests.
As U.S. residents and consumers of Chevron gas we don't accept this way of doing business. Instead we ask Chevron to respect human rights, protect and clean up the environment where the work and support community livelihoods.
September 25, 2008
David J. O' Reilly
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583
Dear David O' Reilly:
We, the undersigned, are writing to ask Chevron Corporation to stop its inhumane energy extraction in Nigeria. With a record $18.7 billion in profits last year, and a projected profit to exceed that in 2008, Chevron has the ability to improve the way it conducts business in Nigeria and genuinely earn its "social license" to operate.
As U.S residents we request that Chevron work in conjunction with legitimate in-country community-based groups in Nigeria to formulate a plan that mitigates the negative impacts and enhances the livelihood of communities who live where oil is extracted. To this end, Chevron should:
- Stop paying, housing, and transporting the Nigerian military and police forces that violently respond to villagers who seek to communicate with Chevron. Train and provide your own security personnel with direct accountability to Chevron and a mandate to protect the human rights of local communities as well as Chevron employees when responding to unarmed villagers.
- Disclose all payments, agreements and any other form of support to any individual member or branch of the Nigerian military and police forces. This includes any per diem payments, weapons, housing, medical care and transportation.
- Grant an honest audience with local communities living where Chevron operates to hear and meet the needs of local communities that arise as a result of oil extraction. This includes environmental concerns and issues related to the loss of traditional means of income as a result of oil extraction.
- Hire an independent third party auditor agreed upon by the company and reputable civil society groups in Nigeria to assess the state of the environment in communities where Chevron operates. Publish the results of the audit and undertake mitigation measures recommended by the independent auditor and allow independent inspection and confirmation regarding implementation.
We, as consumers of Chevron gas in the United States, do not find it acceptable for a U.S.-based company to act overseas in a manner that is any different than it would at home.
Become a leader among oil companies and gain renown and credibility for operating as a truly humane energy company.
