The Implications

Here’s a great article by Anthony Sebok, Professor at Cardozo School of Law, on the significance of the verdict: Chevron Wins an Alien Tort Statute Case – But the Victory May Be Less Important than It Might Seem

Michael Watts: Ethnography Engagé

Since we heard from Berkeley Professor Michael Watts’ expert testimony earlier in the trial, I thought it might be nice to link to some of his work on the Niger Delta.

Mr. Watts has a new book on the Delta published by Powerhouse Books:  Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta. Here Watts edits a collection of essays–and artful photographs by Ed Kashi–to craft a beautiful but devastating study of life in the paradoxical Niger Delta.

Curse of the Black Gold

Check out the book’s snazzily designed website too: http://www.curseoftheblackgoldbook.com/

As well as a blog with news and events: http://curseoftheblackgold.blogspot.com/

And here’s his research website: http://geography.berkeley.edu/PeopleHistory/faculty/M_Watts.html

For those in the Bay Area, the Rayko Gallery in SF is holding an exhibition on oil and the Delta.

THE ARTISTS
Curse of the Black Gold: 50 years of Oil in the Niger Delta
Photography by Ed Kashi

Crude Reflections/Cruda Realidad: Oil, Ruin, & Resistance in the
Amazon Rainforest
Photography by Lou Dematteis and Kayana Szymczak

Interior Relations: Portraits of Female Domestic Workers in South Africa
Photography by Ian van Coller

RECEPTION
Opening: Friday, November 7th, 6-8p
Exhibition: November 5 – December 6

LOCATION & MORE SHOW INFO
RayKo Photo Center
428 Third Street (between Bryant & Harrison)  |  415.495.3773
San Francisco, CA  |  www.raykophoto.com |  gallery@raykophoto.com

And in the D.C. area:

Panel Discussion: The Petroleum and Poverty Paradox

Panel Discussion: Senate Foreign Relations Staff Report on “The Petroleum and Poverty Paradox: Assessing U.S. and International Community Efforts to Fight the Resource Curse”

Reception and Photo Exhibit with Ed Kashi, Photographer:
Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta

Thursday, November 20, 4:30-7:00 PM

PANEL from 4:30-5:50 PM in the HERTER ROOM, Nitze Building,
Johns Hopkins – SAIS, 1740 Mass Ave., Main Floor
RECEPTION from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Student Lounge off the Nitze Cafeteria

Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Ian Gary, Senior Policy Advisor, Oxfam America
Neil Brown, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Michael Phelan, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Dr. Peter Lewis, Director, African Studies, Johns Hopkins – SAIS

Join us for a panel discussion focused on the new Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff report, “The Petroleum and Poverty Paradox: Assessing U.S. and International Community Efforts to Fight the Resource Curse.” The report is based on months of research, including field visits to oil-producing countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere, by Sen. Lugar’s committee staff. The panel will look at the key global findings and recommendations, as well as examine the progress and challenges in addressing the resource curse in Nigeria.

The panel discussion is being organized in conjunction with an exhibit of photos from the Niger Delta. The photos, by Ed Kashi, are drawn from a new book, Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta, edited by Prof. Michael Watts of UC Berkeley. The photos will be on display in the lobby of the Nitze Building at SAIS from Nov. 17-30. Ed Kashi has photographed in 60-plus countries. His images have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic and other publications. His work on West Bank settlers received a World Press Photo award. His eight-year project, “Aging in America: The Years Ahead,” won prizes from Pictures of the Year and World Press Photo. Kashi and his wife, writer/filmmaker Julie Winokur, founded Talking Eyes Media, a multimedia nonprofit. Visit http://www.curseoftheblackgoldbook.com

Please RSVP for the panel discussion and reception to igary@oxfamamerica.org

At SAIS, contact itolber1@jhu.edu or sjacks17@jhu.edu African Studies: 202-663-5676

California Civil Trial Procedure: A Guide for the Perplexed

Having trouble figuring out what’s going on? Curious what all these motions are about? Wanna know why Dan Stormer cries out: “Compound!” whenever Bob Mittelstaedt speaks. Well, here’s a very helpful website that explains all the stages of a civil trial in the golden state of California.

Kinsey Law’s California Civil Trial Procedures

Note: I’m not trying to advertise; it’s just that the site is so darned helpful.

More Bowoto v. Chevron Coverage

I’ve started blogging about the trial on Huffington Post.

Check out my first piece: The Oil Men and the Juju Man

I will write commentary and analysis on Huff Po and keep the nuts & bolts trial synopses on this site.

Thank you,

SG

A Good Article

On law.com.

This piece does a nice job laying out some of the pertinent legal issues in the case. Check it out here.

Chimène Keitner on Bowoto v. Chevron

A great post on IntLawGrrrls by UC Hastings professor Chimène Keitner here.  And a link to the abstract for her paper Conceptualizing Complicity in Alien Tort Cases in the Hastings Law Journal. 

Alright, off to downtown now…