News
Court date set for Milieudefensie and Nigerians versus Shell: 11 October 2012
2 April 2012 – The court in The Hague decided today that an open sitting in Milieudefensie’s Nigeria case will be held on 11 October 2012 at 9.30 am. Milieudefensie and four affected farmers and fishers from Nigeria are demanding that Shell clean up oil pollution in the Niger Delta, compensate those affected and prevent new leaks in its pipelines. This is the first time in history that a Dutch company has been brought before a Dutch court to account for environmental damage caused abroad.
KLM promises Milieudefensie not to do business with Waterland International
KLM/Air France has stated in writing that it will not do business with the Dutch investment company Waterland International now nor in the future. Last month Milieudefensie demanded that the company immediately stops investing in jatropha, the plant used for the production of biokerosene for European aviation. Our report 'Biokerosene: Take-off in the wrong direction' showed that the cultivation of jatropha in Java leads to serious exploitation of farmers and has a negative impact on food cultivation for local people. This is a high price to pay for the production of a "green" fuel which, as it turns out, is not even environmentally friendly. Milieudefensie is pleased that KLM has disassociated itself from any form of involvement with Waterland International’s injurious practices. KLM’s statement can be found here.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands demands cessation of jatropha investments
16 February 2012 – Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) is demanding that the Dutch company PT Waterland International immediately cease investing in jatropha. This plant is used to produce bio-kerosene for the European airlines. Published today, Milieudefensie’s report 'Bio-kerosene: take-off in the wrong direction' reveals that jatropha cultivation on Java leads to the exploitation of farmers and comes at the cost of food production for the local population, all in order to produce a ‘green' fuel that is not actually environmentally friendly.
