Comments on: ROYAL DUTCH SHELL FORCED TO SETTLE HUMAN RIGHTS CASE OUT OF COURT http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/ remembering the past, shaping the future Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:24:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: tatum http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-27 tatum Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:21:16 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-27 Ben, I appreciate your response and wish you luck. Regards. Ben, I appreciate your response and wish you luck.
Regards.

]]> By: Ben Amunwa http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Ben Amunwa Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:04:59 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-26 Hello, I understand your point that the settlement is very little to a company that makes so much money every minute of every day. We are celebrating the settlement as a victory in favor of the plaintiffs- that is, the 10 individuals who made the claims. The amount is arbitrary- but attorneys have said that this is far in excess of payouts for similar cases. We are not calling the settlement 'justice'. In fact, our press releases, and all of our campaign messaging has been about showing the world that Shell is committing human rights violations on a daily basis, and real justice needs to address the fundamental grievances of Deltan communities. I have spent the day giving as many interviews as possible in which I have refuted Shell's denial of liability, and tonight we have successfully exposed court documents on UK Channel 4 News that implicate Shell in abuses in the 1990s. We will continue doing so, and need all the support we can to put Shell on trial in the public eye, but I understand that a settlement provokes strong reactions. Regards, Ben A Hello,
I understand your point that the settlement is very little to a company that makes so much money every minute of every day.
We are celebrating the settlement as a victory in favor of the plaintiffs- that is, the 10 individuals who made the claims. The amount is arbitrary- but attorneys have said that this is far in excess of payouts for similar cases.
We are not calling the settlement ‘justice’. In fact, our press releases, and all of our campaign messaging has been about showing the world that Shell is committing human rights violations on a daily basis, and real justice needs to address the fundamental grievances of Deltan communities.
I have spent the day giving as many interviews as possible in which I have refuted Shell’s denial of liability, and tonight we have successfully exposed court documents on UK Channel 4 News that implicate Shell in abuses in the 1990s. We will continue doing so, and need all the support we can to put Shell on trial in the public eye, but I understand that a settlement provokes strong reactions.
Regards,
Ben A

]]> By: tatum http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-25 tatum Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:35:59 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-25 i should really update my last thread to say I WAS a supporter of your cause, that is until a piddly $15MM was accepted in a settlement where the plaintiff remains INNOCENT and in no way admitting wrongdoing of any kind. I thought this was about getting the heart of a genuinely urgent human rights issue. Disappointingly, it appears that its really about little more than $7.5MM split 8 ways. Actually, it will probably be closer to $3.5MM split 8 ways. the US will tax about $6MM, then $5mm of that will go to the Sarowiwa fund, then the lawyers have to be paid, what are you left with? very, very little. and you have now indemnified Shell in perpetuity. I hope that the last 14 years of fighting for this "victory" was worth it. i should really update my last thread to say I WAS a supporter of your cause, that is until a piddly $15MM was accepted in a settlement where the plaintiff remains INNOCENT and in no way admitting wrongdoing of any kind.

I thought this was about getting the heart of a genuinely urgent human rights issue. Disappointingly, it appears that its really about little more than $7.5MM split 8 ways.

Actually, it will probably be closer to $3.5MM split 8 ways. the US will tax about $6MM, then $5mm of that will go to the Sarowiwa fund, then the lawyers have to be paid, what are you left with? very, very little. and you have now indemnified Shell in perpetuity.

I hope that the last 14 years of fighting for this “victory” was worth it.

]]> By: J http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-24 J Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:35:38 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-24 Delighted with this breakthrough!! Lead story too on Channel 4 news Keep up the good work! Delighted with this breakthrough!! Lead story too on Channel 4 news
Keep up the good work!

]]> By: tatum http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-23 tatum Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:26:15 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-23 Ok...so let me recap my understanding... the Nigerian government murders 9 activists and the family of the only one who was famous decides sue the closest entity that has any money. then, a liberal panel 5,000 miles away from anything relevant to the case decides the previous ruling in favor of Shell (and in favor of legal sanity, for that matter) should be overturned. Shell grows tired of the 14 year inconvenience and decides to settle for a pittance, and you people call it justice. if this is your brand of justice, then i wonder what it is you are really fighting for. do you know what $15MM means to a $170B market cap company? Its a rounding error, if even that. I support your cause and I appreciate that there are people like Saro-Wiwa and his kin to say the things that most are afraid to say, but this "victory" rings so hollow in light of the fact that the real murderers will remain unpunished and at large. Ok…so let me recap my understanding…
the Nigerian government murders 9 activists and the family of the only one who was famous decides sue the closest entity that has any money. then, a liberal panel 5,000 miles away from anything relevant to the case decides the previous ruling in favor of Shell (and in favor of legal sanity, for that matter) should be overturned. Shell grows tired of the 14 year inconvenience and decides to settle for a pittance, and you people call it justice.
if this is your brand of justice, then i wonder what it is you are really fighting for. do you know what $15MM means to a $170B market cap company? Its a rounding error, if even that.
I support your cause and I appreciate that there are people like Saro-Wiwa and his kin to say the things that most are afraid to say, but this “victory” rings so hollow in light of the fact that the real murderers will remain unpunished and at large.

]]> By: Ariela Alves http://remembersarowiwa.com/royal-dutch-shell-forced-to-settle-human-rights-case-out-of-court/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Ariela Alves Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:44:00 +0000 http://remembersarowiwa.com/?p=363#comment-22 This is an historic event indeed!it tells this multinational companies that enough is enough! i´m glad i´m here to witness this day! congratulations! greetings from Mozambique! This is an historic event indeed!it tells this multinational companies that enough is enough!
i´m glad i´m here to witness this day!
congratulations!
greetings from Mozambique!

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