My latest piece on the case #Kiobel vs #Shell is available online today and in print tomorrow at @M_Star_Online @AudreyGaughran @seemabhr @MarkDummett @meghnaabraham @Makmid @andy_rowell @saltaluca73 @atricarico72 @BorromeoBea morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/kiob… Tomorrow a Dutch court will examine the merits of a landmark case brought by @realkiobel and three other women with regard to what they claim was Shell’s involvement in the unlawful arrest, torture and execution of their husbands by the Nigerian military @channasamkalden @tmdboer

Afternoon session happening now with pioneering experts of #sexworkinindia: Rohit De (Yale University), Anuja Agrawal (Delhi School of Economics), Navaneetha Mokkil (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and Durba Mitra (Harvard University). @LawsOfSocialRep @pkotiswaran @NatarajShakthi How much do you know about the intersections of caste identity & sex work in India? Check these incredible resources to learn about that: "Indian Sex Life: Sexuality and the Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought" by Durba Mitra @LawsOfSocialRep #sexworkinindia

Inspiring speech by Indian best-selling author, activist & former sex worker Nalini Jameela, discussing her "Autobiography of a Sex-worker" & work with the Kerala Sex Workers’ Forum @LawsOfSocialRep @NatarajShakthi @pkotiswaran #sexworkinindia bit.ly/2E3afRL She is joined by Kiran Deshmukh, President of @NNSWIndia, discussing her activism & dedication to empower women in sex work to articulate & assert their full range of rights as well as protect themselves from HIV. Happening now during virtual workshop by @LawsOfSocialRep

1/ @FriendsOfNablus @AmosTrust @abcd_bethlehem @christian_aid, @Caabu @eappiukirelan @LPHR_Lawyers @MedicalAidPal @BritishQuakers @SabeelKairos @WarOnWant @WelfareAssociation are calling on the UK govt to outline how it will oppose the Israeli de jure annexation of the West Bank 2/ This means that the UK must state, clearly and publicly, the consequences that will result if Israel proceeds with its illegal annexation plans.

I say #NoToAnnexation of settlements in Palestine because as a former Ecumenical Accompanier with @EAPPI I’ve witnessed the devastating impact of military occupation in Palestine that will be made permanent through annexation. Settlements are illegal and should not be normalized. I say NO to the Israeli government’s plans to annex large parts of occupied Palestine because it violates international law and would make permanent 53 years of occupation that has perpetuated devastating human rights violations like the ones I witnessed in Hebron.

1/ Happening now: the UK Supreme Court is hearing the case of the Ogale and Bille Communities in the Niger Delta against @Shell. The communities argue that they have been severely affected by years of oil spills from #Shell's pipelines bit.ly/2Cy3Q0m @dleader3 2/ #Shell’s operations have devasted the environment of the Niger Delta and the life of its citizens. The effects of its operations have been widely documented, including by UNEP in 2011, which recommended an urgent clean-up, and by @amnesty. @leighdayintl bit.ly/3hRPt7a

A new investigation by @amnesty @ERAFoEN1 @foeeurope and @milieudefensie shows how #Shell's oil pollution in the Niger Delta keeps devastating the environment and the life of too many people. @livingtruely @MarkDummett @KiobelEsther amnesty.org/en/latest/news… For over 50 years oil and gas extraction have caused large-scale, continued contamination of the water and devastation of soil in Ogoni communities.

Today’s anti-racism protest in Parliament Square was such a beautiful, peaceful gathering of people remembering the names of #GeorgeFlyod, #BreonnaTayor, #BellyMujinga, #markduggan and too many other who have been brutally killed by sistemic racism. People kneeled, chanted, sung. They called on the Uk to stop exporting arms to the USA, to decolonize British curricula, to end the disproportionate use of stop and search on BAME communities

To white people who say that in the UK there is no racism- please read this piece by @garyyounge. The high number of Covid-19 related deaths and infections among BAME communities is the result of institutional racism- not lack of vitamin D! newstatesman.com/politics/uk/20… Denying that is exactly like saying that #GeorgeFloyd died because of pre-existing health conditions rather than because he had a man kneeing on his neck and preventing him from breathing for nearly 9 minutes

Feeling very sad after repeatedly watching the videos of the brutal killing of #GeorgeFloyd and of #Amy Cooper’s intentionally-manipulative-racist accusations against a peaceful African American birdwatcher. THIS IS RACISM- WHITE SUPREMACY and must be called for what is it. White folks are used to uphold the power structure and benefit from it. We need to recognize our white privilege, break away and join movements for justice to help tip the balance of power.

For 72 years Israel has been depriving Palestinians of freedom as form of collective punishment. My friend Laith is one of them. Grown up in the occupied West Bank, Laith knows restrictions of movement too well, and before any state-rules under #Covid_19 bit.ly/3dbQKDc Last year Israel made Laith’s prison even smaller by barring him from leaving the West Bank for unexplained “security reason” that prevented him from accompanying his mother to her chemotherapy in occupied East Jerusalem. Laith could not be by her bedside when she passed away.

The new #ImmigrationBill is runs the risk to increasing slavery and exploitation, as well explained in this article by @lulagranada and @timfarron politics.co.uk/comment-analys…

Here are some key points:

"this new system includes no general route for migration into low-paid work". "people wanting to come to the UK for jobs paying less than £25,600 a year – many of which have recently been upgraded in public rhetoric from 'low-skilled' to 'essential' – will no longer be able to do so"

@amnesty's new report on @Shell and the impact of its operations in Nigeria is finally out. I am proud I was part of the team who made this work happen @MarkDummett @Marsha81974843 @CEHRD
amnesty.org/en/documents/a… @amnesty @Shell @MarkDummett @Marsha81974843 @CEHRD This report provides essential information and analysis of various cases that Shell is facing in European courts and concludes that the Anglo-Dutch corporation has operated in a way that has harmed communities and has not effectively remediated the harm it has caused.

“Trump and Netanyahu-two corrupt, racist, power-crazed leaders coming together not in the interests of peace, not to promote a two-state solution, not to end violence in the Middle East, but to further their chances of re-election.” Thanks @EmilyThornberry theguardian.com/world/2020/jan… @EmilyThornberry she says the plan: “destroys any prospect of an independent, contiguous Palestinian state. It legitimises the illegal annexation of Palestinian land for settlers. It puts the whole of Jerusalem under Israeli control. "

Back home after the #Kiobel witness hearing and feeling very inspired by the strength and courage of @realkiobel. She is the woman who took Shell to court for what she says was Shell’s role in the execution of her husband. Read her story here amnesty.org/en/latest/camp… @realkiobel for background info on the Ogoni's struggle, Mosop and Esther's fight for justice here is a podcast recently produced by @GaryJMarshall90 theguardian.com/business/audio…

Second day of witness hearing starts. Yesterday the judges questioned three Nigerian men who said that they had been offered bribes to testify falsely against the Ogoni 9. Third and last witness enters the room. His name is Ledum Mitee. He was Ken Saro-Wiwa's deputy and one of the men accused of murder. Mitee was the only one to be acquitted. The others were hanged in 1995.

Third witness enters the courtroom now #Kiobel amnesty.org/en/latest/news… He says the Nigerian police gave him and the other prosecution witnesses a written statement, previously prepared, which accused Ken Saro Wiwa, Dr. Kiobel and the rest of the Ogoni 9 of the killings.

Hearing of second witness is about to start. His identity must also be kept confidential, the court has ordered. #Kiobel amnesty.org/en/latest/news… Like the first witness, he says he was bribed to testify in court against Ken Saro Wiwa and the rest of the Ogoni 9. He claims he was offered a house in Abuja. It is not clear, however, if those who offered the bribe were Shell or government representatives.

The hearing is happening. First witness is speaking now. The court has ordered that his identity is kept confidential for security reasons. #Kiobel amnesty.org/en/latest/news… The first witness is from Ogoniland. He says that the Nigerian police wanted him to make a statement against Ken Saro Wiwa. He said he was hit on his head, and afraid, accepted to make this statement.

With @realkiobel inside the courtroom at The Hague now: #Kiobel and @Shell's lawyers are getting ready to speak. Follow @MarkDummett & @sabrinatucci for live updates today and tomorrow 9 October amnesty.org/en/latest/news… @realkiobel @Shell @MarkDummett The court is about to hear, for the first time, accounts from individuals who accuse @Shell of offering them bribes to give fake testimonies that led to the ‘Ogoni Nine’ – who included Esther Kiobel’s husband – being sentenced to death and executed.