how many of you know who Ken Saro-Wiwa was? Just curious.
I have no clue who he/she is/was.
He was the Nigerian writer and activist. A person with a real social concious (a bit like you Gogirl) He fought for ecological and social justice.
Didn't he pitch a no-hitter for the Tokyo Giants?
Is he that dude that made those bad@ss samurai movies?
I only had a vague recollection of his name and pictured him as some kind of social activist.
What I've read about him online this morning sounds interesting. Any reason you're bringing him up Go? Besides sparking people's interest?
What I've read about him online this morning sounds interesting. Any reason you're bringing him up Go? Besides sparking people's interest?
Phar Lap is right. And he was killed by his government under pressure from Shell Oil, executed on some trumped-up charges. He was a member of the Oganti people, whose land was being "resourced" by Shell and who were getting nothing out of the deal.
To me, Mr. Saro-Wiwa is an example of what happens when gov and Big Corp are too close to each other. His case was taken up here under the Alien Tort Claims Act, and was fought by the Center for Constitutional Rights. I met one of the lawyers who worked on this case a few years ago.
This is the sort of work I would like to do, although I'd rather try to effect change in policy before it would get to litigation.
I asked the question because I wonder if the general American population has a sense of this sort of situation outside of its country, and this board is a good source to get that kind of sense.
To me, Mr. Saro-Wiwa is an example of what happens when gov and Big Corp are too close to each other. His case was taken up here under the Alien Tort Claims Act, and was fought by the Center for Constitutional Rights. I met one of the lawyers who worked on this case a few years ago.
This is the sort of work I would like to do, although I'd rather try to effect change in policy before it would get to litigation.
I asked the question because I wonder if the general American population has a sense of this sort of situation outside of its country, and this board is a good source to get that kind of sense.
A few weeks ago I read an interview with Professor Chomsky where they were talking about the emergence of state & corp and their relationship. Nothing terribly new, but a decent foundation read for anyone who hasn't thought much about the two social constructs. FWIW here's the link:
Interesting you should mention it--it's his sister in law who is the lawyer I met who worked on the case.