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We do not accept that Shell can perform in an environmentally responsible 

 manner in Europe and America, but not in Nigeria. We caimot understand how such a 

 well-respected company could pay millions of dollars to the most corrupt regime in 

 Africa and stand helplessly by as men, women and children were slaughtered to protect 

 Shell's installations. 



I should point out here that the Sierra Club strongly supports H.R. 2697, the 

 "Nigeria Democracy Act" sponsored by Rep. Donald Payne, and the Senate companion 

 bill, S.1419 sponsored by Sen, Nancy Kassebaum. Our members have been writing 

 letters and making phone calls to their representatives to urge cosponsorship of this 

 important legislation. I understand that Congressman Payne is eager to have hearings on 

 this bill and we encourage your committee to schedule those hearings as soon as 

 possible. 



A unique coalition of organizations, in the form of the Intemationsd Roundtable 

 on Nigeria, has come together to support the passage of these two bills. This is probably 

 the first time that organizations such as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Human Rights 

 Watch, Amnesty International, the Teamsters, TransAfrica, the Service Employees 

 International Union, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, and many 

 Nigerian democratic organizations, have all worked so closely together. We have all 

 been impressed of late with the tremendous work now being carried out by the Assistant 

 Secretary of State for Human Rights, John Shattuck. We are aware that Nigeria is now 

 a top priority of his office and we appreciate his willingness to often include members of 

 our coalition in policy discussions. 



However, I must admit a great deal of finstration and disappointment that the 

 Clinton administration has not been able to produce more in the way of real sanctions 

 against Nigeria ~ either multinational' or unilateral. Administration officials have told us 

 they are still consulting with other countries on these long-promised sanctions. The fact 

 is, America is seen as the defender of democracy, and the world is waiting for the U.S. 

 to act. Other countries will follow our lead. Another 19 Ogoni arrested with Ken Saro- 

 Wiwa remain in jail and are awaiting trial. Unless some actions are taken soon by our 

 country, they and many others are sure to suffer the same fate as Saro-Wiwa. 



In early March, President Clinton quietly returned U.S. Ambassador Walter 

 Carrington to Nigeria. The Sierra Club believes that this action sent the wrong message 

 to the military government of General Sani Abacha. Returning our ambassador sent the 

 message that the U.S. will not take decisive action against those governments that 

 persecute, and in this case, execute, environmental activists. In meetings with Nigerian 

 environmental activists I often heard that the U.S. Embassy was not a place they felt 

 they could turn to for support. That no one from the embassy had been outspoken in 

 defense of environmental protection in Nigeria. I hope this has since changed. We must 

 impress upon our country's official representatives abroad that they not only represent 

 the America's business interests but it's moral interests as weD, that of protecting the 



