BloodDiamondAssignment
OIL CONFLICT: NIGERIA
1. How does the extraction and exportation of oil affect conflict in Nigeria? How does the demand for oil in America and other industrialized nations affect the conflict in
Nigeria?
The conflict surrounding the extraction and exportation of oil in Nigeria exists between the oil companies, the Nigerian citizens, and the Nigerian government. Despite being one the largest producers of oil in the world, over 60% of Nigeria’s citizens continue to live below the poverty line. Many citizens, especially those who live in the oil rich delta area, regularly protest (both violently and non-violently) against foreign oil companies and the Nigerian government to illustrate their frustration with a lack of fair wealth distribution. The violence in Nigeria has caused a one quarter loss in daily production.
United States hold control on oil exportation in Arab Countries and as such the export of the oil to Nigeria is in conflicting policies of the Nigerian government. The demand for oil in other countries motivates the oil companies to occupy more land of the people. It then results to the people protesting against large oil companies and other conflict in Nigeria/
2. What can the Nigerian government, oil companies, the international community, and civil society do to ensure more transparency of oil revenues and more wealth distribution of oil profits?
To me, the Nigerian government is the one that has the most responsibility. It is only with their consent that anyone else can do anything to ensure that Nigerian oil helps everyone in that country. The oil companies have to make contracts with the Nigerian government to be allowed access to the oil. Thus, they must do what the government says. The international community and civil society could try to put pressure on Nigeria, but as long as we need their oil, their government can pretty much do what it wants.
3. What can consumers do to encourage both oil companies and governments to respect human
1. How does the extraction and exportation of oil affect conflict in Nigeria? How does the demand for oil in America and other industrialized nations affect the conflict in
Nigeria?
The conflict surrounding the extraction and exportation of oil in Nigeria exists between the oil companies, the Nigerian citizens, and the Nigerian government. Despite being one the largest producers of oil in the world, over 60% of Nigeria’s citizens continue to live below the poverty line. Many citizens, especially those who live in the oil rich delta area, regularly protest (both violently and non-violently) against foreign oil companies and the Nigerian government to illustrate their frustration with a lack of fair wealth distribution. The violence in Nigeria has caused a one quarter loss in daily production.
United States hold control on oil exportation in Arab Countries and as such the export of the oil to Nigeria is in conflicting policies of the Nigerian government. The demand for oil in other countries motivates the oil companies to occupy more land of the people. It then results to the people protesting against large oil companies and other conflict in Nigeria/
2. What can the Nigerian government, oil companies, the international community, and civil society do to ensure more transparency of oil revenues and more wealth distribution of oil profits?
To me, the Nigerian government is the one that has the most responsibility. It is only with their consent that anyone else can do anything to ensure that Nigerian oil helps everyone in that country. The oil companies have to make contracts with the Nigerian government to be allowed access to the oil. Thus, they must do what the government says. The international community and civil society could try to put pressure on Nigeria, but as long as we need their oil, their government can pretty much do what it wants.
3. What can consumers do to encourage both oil companies and governments to respect human