OFF BACK TO NIGERIA
This weekend I’m going back to the Niger Delta to document the 30th anniversary of the execution of the Ogoni Nine, who were framed and murdered by Shell and the Abacha regime on the 10th November 1995.
While there I’ll be working with Ogoni activists and I’m hoping to film enough footage to put together a new documentary for Amnesty UK about the history of Shell’s crimes in the region, the struggle of the Ogoni people for justice, and how, despite publicly announcing its divestment from the country, Shell intends to obfuscate its continued presence in Nigeria and extend its impunity into the future.
Amnesty were able to cover my flights & accommodation so I can film the documentary, but I haven’t been able to get funding for any other activities, such as putting up billboard posters (+ similar mischief), fixing up the Niger Delta Hell Bus (above) and printing/giving away more Hell t-shirts to local activists.
Since Xmas is coming up I figured I usually make enough in shop sales to cover things like this, but a few people asked online if they could chip in towards my trip, so I’ve just got around to setting up a crowdfunding page on my website. I don’t expect to raise anything close to that goal but everything donated there will be spent on anti-Shell activities in Nigeria.
Below is the short documentary I made during my first visit in 2023:
BUMPER STICKERS
If there’s one thing that’s become apparent to me while driving around in Nigeria is that car stickers are very popular in Nigeria, and sometimes they look like the last thing holding some vehicles together. So I’ve made 2000 of these hard-wearing bumper stickers which I’ll be distributing for free in the Niger Delta next week. I made some available in my shop to try and cover the print cost.
BLOODY SUNDAY
Last week, the only soldier (Soldier F) to have ever faced charges for Bloody Sunday was acquitted by a British judge.
Bloody Sunday was a massacre on 30th January 1972 in Derry, in the north of Ireland, when British soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot 26 unarmed civilians during a civil rights protest march. 14 people were killed, 7 of them teenagers.
Many of the victims were shot while fleeing from the soldiers, and some were shot while trying to help the wounded. Other protesters were injured by shrapnel, rubber bullets or batons, and two were run down by army vehicles.
The initial tribunal into the killings was a whitewash and exonerated the soldiers of any wrongdoing, falsely claiming the protesters had been armed. Decades later the Saville Inquiry found the killings had been unjustified and unjustifiable.Prince (now King) Charles was the Colonel-in-Chief of the Paras at the time.
We can see every day the horrific violence and cruelty required to maintain occupation over people who want to be free. All these struggles against colonialism and oppression are connected, which is why Irish people, both at home and in the diaspora, will always stand with Palestine.
I’m incredibly honoured that my Bloody Sunday Bayeux Tapestry print above is now in the @museumfreederry‘s collection.
If you’d like a copy of it they are still available in my shop.
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“la derecha oprime y la izquierda libera” I got more than I needed so have listed them in my shop: |
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Got some stickers printed for my drills, drivers, cameras, drum kit, (basically anything with a screw), translated from the Spanish version of “righty tighty, lefty loosey”
NEW IN THE SHOP
I got my paper delivery bags back from the printer! And aside from the fact that the print is only fully visible when you don’t use the cover flap, (which I don’t use anyway) I’m really happy with them. I also, fittingly, put my back out on my first outing with it, although that was more to do with the fact that I ill-advisedly launched my 42 year-old skeleton into a bouncy castle designed for 2-year-olds.
The bags are also actually really useful. It’s replaced the Ikea bag as my go-to for a ‘big, sturdy bag for carrying a bunch of shit’, and it’ll be a useful camera equipment bag while I’m in Nigeria.
I also finally got round to photographing some of the hoodies and jumpers I recently got in stock. And as a little treat I’m giving my mailing list & patreon subscribers 10% off clothing in my shop until I get back from Nigeria on the 12th Nov, just use the code HIDE_YR_SKELETON
(Orders will still be sent out twice a week while I’m away)
2025 + 2024 + 2023 PATREON ZINES
As a thanks to my Patreon backers I send them all an exclusive annual zine documenting all the work this support has helped me make through the year.
If you’d like a copy, just sign up for £3.50+ a month on my Patreon, and I’ll send you a copy of my 2024 AND 2023 zine (while stocks last!)
Patreon is the only way to get these zines. But there’s no minimum subscription, you can cancel anytime!
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