Emergency Protest against ChevronTexaco in solidarity w/ Nigerians

A protest led by hundreds of women at the Escravos oil facility of Chevron-Texaco in Nigeria entered its sixth day on July 13. The protestors have been demanding negotiations with company managers working in the nation. Military and police boats patrol the shores off of the export terminal, but the situation inside the plants remains unchanged. Blockades of the terminal's air strip, helicopter pad and dock are continuing. Increasing numbers of women have been joining the dramatic protest that began on Monday bringing the total involved now to about 2,000.


The people in the Niger Delta are among the poorest in Nigeria. The land they live on, however, is the source of Nigeria's $20 billion in annual oil exports. The people in the region are demanding that the multinationals pumping out the oil give them the roads, water service and electricity that the government has not provided. Anunu Uwawah, a spokeswoman for the protesters said that the women were tired of living in poverty in the shadow of the oil terminal.

The company said it would give in to most demands on Monday but nogotiators are still refusing to visit the impoverished villages of the protestors.

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