Product Description

On 10th November 1995, the Nigerian government executed activist and author Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni. Their deaths brought the plight of their people and the role of British oil companies in Nigeria to the world's attention. This book explores what has happened since Saro-Wiwa's death. It includes previously never used interview material with the executed writer and recently released Foreign Office documents. The book tracks the scandals that the oil companies have been embroiled in, including collusion with the military, corruption and tax evasion. It argues that oil exploitation is just the latest example of colonial exploitation that dates back to the days of slavery. A decade later, the region could ignite once more. The Gulf of Guinea is seen as strategically important to the US and its allies. Washington wants the region?s oil and gas to be protected by US military might. Pitted against them are the people of the Delta who continue to suffer from dire environmental pollution and human rights abuses. A timely and essential book that analyses how oil, military power and politics play out. 'If you want to know why Africa remains poor, buy this book.' Ken Wiwa ?This book clearly reveals the callousness of corporate behaviour when profit competes with human rights. ? Gordon Roddick ?If you want to find out about Bush and Blair?s real plans for Africa, read this book.? John Sauven, Campaign Director, Greenpeace UK

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75743 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Red Pepper
A good introductory history of the struggle by Niger Delta communities for economic and social justice against international oil companies

About the Author
Andrew Rowell is a journalist and author. His previous books include Don't Worry (It's Safe to Eat) and Green Backlash. James Marriott is co-director of the environmental charity, Platform (www.platformlondon.org). Lorne Stockman is the coordinator of the Remember Saro-Wiwa campaign.

Customer Reviews

Strong stuff !!!!!
This book unravels the murky world of Nigerian oil, tracing an interesting trajectory from the first well at Oloibiri, through the rise of Nigeria's petro foreign policy, indigenisation, the rising US interest in the Gulf of Guinea and it's gradual militarisation,the ecological disaster in the Niger Delta, deeply embedded international corruption and of course the tragic death of Ken Saro Wiwa. It is short , gripping and full of good facts. Most interesting is the analogy drawn between the oil trade and the atlantic slave trade. Overall I found the Next Gulf a well written, well researched and very concerned book. It sounds the alarm bells for a region that may go the way of it's neighbours in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Journalism at it's best
A lot of journalism presents either one side or the other. This is true as much of the Likes of Pilger and Chomsky as it is of the mass media. The authors of The Next Gulf are clearly against big business and the general western designs in the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea but what they manage to do better than most is to present some viewpoints from Shell and the West whilst presenting compelling arguments why these viewpoints are either just window dressing or will simply not lead to the conclusions and benefits that their instigators are proposing.
This book is also outstanding in that it exposes the faults of all sides; from the indigenous slave traders that sold slaves to the Europeans to the current members indigenous groups calling from a greater allocation of Oil Wealth with no intention of filtering it to the people who are actually adversely affected by the extraction of oil. Yes the oil companies are a major problem but this book gives you a picture of complicity by oil companies, western governments, local governments, international financial institutions etc. It's not just a case of the evil Shell corporation or corrupt local governments. I now feel that I am armed with more than just impotent rage.

Censored in the U.S.?
Why is this brilliant book unavailable at Amazon.com? Is it being censored?

The Next Gulf, about the oil situation in Nigeria is one of the best and most powerful writings on the subject. It took me over and I simply had to finish it in one night, staying awake until 6am. It's a must read for anyone looking to understand Africa's myriad problems. Substitute diamonds, rubber, coffee and any number of other natural resources for oil and the picture gets even clearer.
PLEASE someone make a documentary based on this important book. Huge kudos to the authors!