Nigeria contains the 4th largest area of mangroves forests in the world, but these important wetland forests are endangered by oil development in the Niger Delta, where billions of dollars worth of oil are being extracted by mega giants in the oil industry, such as Shell and Chevron, and billions of dollars worth of natural gas, which is extracted along with the oil, is wasted by burning in mammoth gas flares that burn 24 hours a day for years at a time. Some of these gas flares have been burning for almost 40 years, polluting the air, causing acid rain and massive oil spills, ruining the waterways, killing the mangroves and coastal life, harming the health and livelihoods of millions of Niger Delta people who must live in the shadow of these awful gas flares.

The local communities of Niger Delta remain impoverished without electricity to power their homes. Many have only the light of the gas flares burning throughout the night to light their way into a near hopeless future...unless the gas flares are soon put out forever! But towards this end you can help!

***ACTION ALERT!!!***

In the past, MAP has joined other NGOs and community groups in Nigeria working to halt the terrible practice of gas flaring in Niger Delta.  Recently, the Nigerian government allowed its own set deadline of December 31, 2008, to go by without taking action to enforce its own intended ban. Now MAP joins Global Response, Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth in a worldwide campaign to finally persuade Nigerian authorities to take action on behalf of their citizens' health and economy. Please write your own letter or use the model provided below.

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What is gas flaring? Gas is often found mixed with crude oil, and must be separated. The cheapest way for oil companies to deal with the gas is also the most environmentally destructive way:  burning it. This practice costs Nigeria about US$2.5 billion annually, while more than 66% of the population is estimated to live in poverty.

"Major oil companies are flaring gas in the oil-rich Niger Delta despite the fact that a Nigerian judge stated that flaring is illegal. Led by oil giant Shell, they have been burning gas for decades when they could be using it to provide energy to the local population. The government must ensure that oil companies stop this destructive practice now," said Nnimmo Bassey, Friends of the Earth International chair and Friends of the Earth Nigeria Executive Director.

Nigeria is one of the world's biggest gas flarers. Nigerian gas flares emit as many greenhouse gases as 18 millions cars, and release toxic substances in densely populated areas, damaging both the environment and the people in the Niger Delta. Flaring can lead to leukaemia, asthma and premature death. It causes acid rain which acidifies lakes and streams and damages the environment.

To understand the ravages of gas flaring, watch Poison Fire, a stunning documentary on oil and gas abuse in Nigeria at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bq2TBOHWFRc For more information see www.poisonfire.org.

Thank you for joining in this worldwide effort by sending letters or emails to three Nigerian officials (please do send a copy of your email to stopgasflares@eraction.org.

MODEL LETTER

President Musa Yar'adua
The Presidency
Aso Rock
Three Arms Zone
Abuja, Nigeria
Fax: number: +234 9 2347546

Senator David Mark
Senate President
The Senate
National Assembly
Abuja
Nigeria
David.mark@nigeriasenatepresident.com

Honourable Dimeji Bankole
The Speaker
House of Representatives
National Assembly
Abuja
admin@speakersoffice.gov.ng

lolu.onabolu@speakersoffice.gov.ng

cc: stopgasflares@eraction.org

Dear Sirs,

I am very disappointed to see that the Nigerian government has not met your December 31, 2008 deadline to end gas flaring in all Niger Delta communities. I urge you to immediately halt this dangerous and wasteful practice.

Nigeria is the world's second largest flarer of associated gas and currently burns 23 billion standard cubic meters annually. Gas flaring contributes significantly to climate change.

Gas flaring causes acid rain which acidifies the lakes and streams and damages crops and vegetation. It reduces farm yields and harms human health, lives and livelihoods. Gas flaring increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma and cancer. It often causes painful breathing, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, body itching, blindness, impotency, miscarriages and premature deaths.

While nearly three-quarters of Nigerians live in desperate poverty, Nigeria loses $2.5 billion dollars every year through flared gas. The practice is also a major factor in the tension and conflicts raging in the Niger Delta region.

It is extremely troubling that, despite a 2005 court order, gas flaring has continued unabated in the Niger Delta, putting the local communities and the entire world at risk.

The government must put the human and environmental rights of the people of Nigeria above corporate profits. Please stop gas flaring now.

Sincerely,

Submitted by:  Paula Palmer, Global Response
paula@globalresponse.org