Nigerian Oil: Bullets, Poverty and Corruption

Oil! Oil! Oil! If not for the l's it would be a suitable chant for a punk rock song, but unfortunately it is something that is the only thing on some people's minds. With gas prices beginning to rise, yet again, and winter making a comeback when spring should be walking through the seasonal door, daily commute can become a pricy and dangerous expense. However, while us Americans are complaining about the rising gas prices and blaming George Bush for all our problems there are people around the world who have legitimate reasons to voice their concerns.

Unfortunately the only voice these people have is the blast of a gun. Nigerians, mainly the group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), are fighting back against the wretched oil corporations that have tainted their country for too long. Nigeria is one of the biggest oil producing countries in Africa and the world, but the native Nigerians have not seen a single drop of the profits from the oil that is pumped out of the African country's ground each day. In fact, the only kickbacks received from the oil companies is a country in turmoil and polluted drinking water.

With their Nigerian brothers and sisters starving and drinking oil-polluted water, MEND is taking an active stand against the corrupt Nigerian government who is in bed with the profiteering oil company swine. Recently MEND made headlines with their kidnapping of oil workers on the Royal Dutch Shell's offshore oil rig. The hostages were eventually released unharmed and were treated humanely according to the hostages, but the consensus of the Nigerian government among other nations is that MEND is a dangerous terrorist group.