(Photo: LRT at the Unnatural History Museum, 23.9.06)

Having joined the unveiling of the first of two creative commemorations of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight murdered Nigerian compatriots, (see www.remembersarowiwa.com), London Rising Tiders headed across town to mark the day in slightly more confrontational fashion at the Natural History Museum's 'Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year' exhibition.

I slipped inside and announced the significance of the date to the visitors, and having implored them to make their opposition to Shell be known, since the climate-trashing company had absolutely no right to have its brand connected to such beautiful photographs, I was escorted around, ranting all the way, by neutral security and oily, patronising staff.

Reaction from punters was initially depressing, as one hissed an insult as he passed me, but then a few came up and said they agreed with me, which was a massive relief since Museum employees kept whispering in my ear that the people had no interest in my views. There was even a brief round of applause as I reached the exhibition exit.

Others leafletted and chatted to Museum visitors before also being led out.

Outside, we set up the Shell's Wild Lie counter-exhibition (www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell) and gave out leaflets. An artist and her partner made a point of coming over and thanking us for making them aware of
these issues, leaving us with a heartwarming 'Thank you for caring.'

This was a day of action called partly by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, and partly by activists in Rossport. Further actions took place in Nottingham
(https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/355651.html) and later in London (see below).

See also www.shelloiledwildife.org.uk
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Shell garage closed twice by protest in london

https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/355720.html?c=on#c160842

the old street shell petrol garage in london was closed down twice yesterday
evening by protestors highlighting shell's repression of local people in county
mayo, ireland, and linking it to the 11th anniversary of the murder of the ogoni
9 in nigeria, where shell is proven to have been involved in the killing of ken
saro-wiwa.

at about 6.40 last night, rhythms of resistance samba band closed one entrance
to the garage, while protestors from 'london rising tide' held a banner across
the other. more helpers hung a huge 'keep out' banner between lamp-posts at the
front of the garage as others handed out leaflets to passers-by, traffic, and to
passengers at the bus-stop opposite.

the garage was successfully blockaded for nearly half an hour. the first police
turned up after about twenty minutes, but despite much bravado and threats,
including physically stopping an nuj journalist from photographing them and
trying to snatch beaters away from samba players, they didn't get very far and
had to wait for back-up. several more police cars arrived with blazing sirens,
and the protestors split up and left the premises. these particular police
seemed to have bizarre views of the law, threatening one reporter with arrest
'for filming members of the public'.

some police remained at the petrol station for about half an hour, while the
activists took a refreshment break. once the coast was clear, they all returned
and set up once more, closing the garage for a further quarter of an hour. once

again, police cars came down the road in a hissy-fit of blue lights and noise,
whizzed past the garage, stopped and turned a couple of hundred yards down the
road and finally found it. as more cars and a van turned up, the protestors
dissappeared into the night. one small group was followed by some police and
threatened, but they were helped by a man who identified himself as a locally
resident city lawyer who corrected the police on some finer points of the law
and helped deflate the inappropriate machismo.

before and after the protest, the garage was clearly enjoying a very busy friday
evening trade, and so this small but effective protest must have cost shell a
pretty penny and once again re-inforced the point that supporters of the
rossport struggle in county mayo are everywhere.

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for more information on shell and related issues:

UK Shell in County Mayo Solidarity Campaign: stops_hell@yahoo.com
London Rising Tide: 07708 794665; london@risingtide.org.uk
www.londonrisingtide.org.uk
www.artnotoil.org.uk
See also: www.rhythmsofresistance.co.uk
Rossport Solidarity Camp 2006: www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72740
www.freedomtoprotest.org.uk
And for more on Shell and the rest of them:
www.groundwork.org.za
www.gcmonitor.org
www.bucketbrigade.net
www.eraction.org
www.shellfacts.com
www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?id=246
www.carbonweb.org

Story etc.: https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/355752.html