ASSIGNMENT # 1

SUBMITTED TO: AHSAN A SHAH

SUBMITTED BY: KHUSHBOO SALIM 5595
KUMAIL MIA BHOY 5126
UMER MAHMOOD 5246
ALI MALIK 5114

DATE SUBMITTED: 26.FEBRUARY.2009


ROYAL DUTCH/SHELL: HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

(CASE STUDY)

ANSWER # 1:
Yes, Shell is responsible Ior the problems Iaced by the Ogoni region oI Nigeria. It is one oI the
most powerIul companies located in that region and so is inIluential and could have taken the
necessary steps in rescue oI the people being aIIected.

ANSWER # 2:
Shell should have taken an initiative when the issue was building up. This would have stopped
the devastation it Iurther caused to the people and to Shell itselI. Initially they should have
worked on the pipelines and repaired the leaks, second they should have inIluenced the
government to stop sentencing people who were protesting Ior their rights, and third it should
have taken pro-active measures by launching compensation plans Ior the people being aIIected.
Revenues earned should also have been distributed.

ANSWER # 3:
Yes, the company was in a position to do a lot Ior Ken Saro-Wiwa. Shell could have
compromised and negotiated with the protestors and taken responsibility Ior the violation oI
Human rights. The execution could have been stopped also as shell could have used its powers to
pressurize the government to not to give such severe punishments to the protestors.

ANSWER # 4:
In my opinion, the response oI the Western governments was too mild. No country halted
purchases oI Nigerian Oil and did not boycott Shell as they should have, all the other countries
could have made an impact on this whole situation to support the Ogoni people.

ANSWER # 5:
No, Shell should not have pushed the Natural Gas project right aIter the execution oI Ken Saro-
Wiwa. It gave the people a hint that Shell is not concerned by the injustice happening with the
Ogoni people or the execution oI Ken Saro-Wiwa, but is only interested in its business.

ANSWER #6:
Yes, it is possible Ior a company like Shell to reIorm itselI Irom within. It can reIorm its mission
statement and embody it with values regarding human rights. Environmental policies and human
rights could also be added to the norms oI the organization so teach the employees to take care oI
the human rights issue in everyday business decisions also. The company can also establish an
external body to monitor its human rights and environmental policies; this external body can be
very helpIul to the company and can help it in being a responsible corporate citizen. It would
also help the company to stay out oI such problems like with the Ogoni people in the Iuture.
In my opinion, Shell should transIorm itselI Irom both ways, Irom within and also through
establishing an external body to monitor its human rights and environmental policies.