Michelle in Escravos
 
One of our volunteers Michelle Cullen, went to the Niger delta for a "see for yourself mission" in February 2003. she left her job and the comfort of her home and country to give some hope to the suffering people of Escravos. she was shocked by the diverse and remotely connected things that she saw. From the massive pot holes on the dual carriage ways to the appalling living conditions of the Escravos people.
Coincidentally, she arrived Warri, the so-called oil city on the day that a senseless intertribal violence between the Itsekiris and urhobos broke out. she heard the sounds of gunshots of the violence and ran for cover along with her guide. She stayed in the city where a curfew had been imposed before finally setting off by boat along with the local people to the land of the slaves (Escravos) known to the local people as Ugborodo.
 
Michelle and some secondary school students
Michelle and the brave women of Escravos who in July 2002 confronted the multinational oil companies operating in their lands over the violation of some of their fundamental human rights.
Michelle and her minders
Michelle and some primary school pupils
 
In March 2003, less than a month after Michelle's departure from Escravos, another round of ethnic violence broke out in the Niger Delta and this time it was between the Ijaws (the largest ethnic group in the Niger Delta) and the Itsekiris. Again it was senseless, but bloody enough to have disabled people burnt alive in their houses and disrupt the services of oil companies. Escravos was about the worst-hit Itsekiri town, with it's virtually non-existent infrastructures reduced to ashes. The family home of the Metseagharun family like most other homes was raised and Atiewo Mama was killed.
WHAT IS ACTAULLY GOING ON OUT THERE ? !. . . . .

. . . . .over there, is another example of the global oil war, not fought conventionally with heavy armour nor by two clear sides. Nevertheless, the direct (and indirect) human casualties, sufferings and environmental pollution is enormous, continuing and unaccounted for! THE WHOLE WORLD! WHERE ARE YOU ? WILL YOU DO SOMETHING ? Michelle could, and she did! perhaps so could you in your own way.