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Stand with the Jogbahn Clan: Tell EPO NO means NO!

By jfay | Tue, 05/06/2014 - 23:49

3 women dance in celebration at the news that the Government will support them in protecting their land from being grabbed by the palm oil company Equatorial Palm Oil.

On March 5th the Jogbahn Clan, from Grand Bassa County in Liberia, celebrated a major step forward in the struggle to save their land from encroachment by British palm oil company Equatorial Palm Oil PLC (EPO). But, they are now in imminent danger unless we act now to help protect their land.

After months of negotiations and advocacy by community members in Liberia, backed by Friends of the Earth Liberia and international partners, the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, promised that the Jogbahn land – just over 20,000 hectares – should be recognised as the community’s land. She said no company should operate there without the community’s consent.

But the company is not listening.

Despite the Presidential statement, EPO is continuing to conduct studies of the Clan's land in preparation for clearance. Land clearance and other preparatory activities would be unlawful, as they do not respect communities’ right to give or withhold their Free Prior and Informed Consent, which is a requirement provided for under both national law and international law.


Silas Kpanan'Ayoung Siakor, campaigner for the Sustainable Development Institute/Friends of the Earth Liberia said: “Equatorial Palm Oil must listen to the Jogbahn Clan and accept that their 'no' means 'no'. The continuing determination of these communities is a cautionary tale for corporations who think they can ignore communities' rights and ownership of land".

 

Tell the company to listen the community and the government.

[video:http://youtu.be/ufMXhc-h9Tg]

Add your voice to the PETITION to tell EPO and its major shareholders KLK that the world is watching. NO means NO!

Watch and share the video

Join the conversation on Twitter #stopEPO

Sample Tweets:


     

Join the Jogbahn Clan in standing up to #landgrab by British #palmoil company #stopEPO. Watch our video + take ACTION  bit.ly/1myNa5n

Help stop #landgrabbing for #palmoil in #Liberia, tell #EPO NO means NO! Watch our video and take ACTION bit.ly/1myNa5n #stopEPO
ACT NOW to stop communities land from being grabbed in Liberia by British #palmoil company–sign the petition bit.ly/1myNa5n #stopEPO

To learn more about the Jogbahn Clan's story read our blog and view our photo essay

To hear first hand from the community listen to our radio show

Get more information on this story here

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PRESS RELEASES

Resistance to Liberia landgrabs a warning to Africa investment conference - May 6th 2014

SDI welcomes President Sirleaf's commitment to protecting Joghban clan’s land from further encroachment by British palm oil company Equatorial Palm Oil - March 6th 2014

UK’s Equatorial Palm Oil accused of human rights abuses in Liberia - December 20th 2013

SDI calls on the Government of Liberia and Equatorial Palm Oil to immediately cease land survey in Grand Bassa, District no.4 - September 25th, 2013

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PRESS COVERAGE

Small community in Liberia stands strong against land grabbing - Real World Radio, May 6th, 2014

Grand Bassa County celebrate halting of EPO expansion drive - FrontPage Africa, March 6th, 2014

Palm oil producer accused of supporting attacks on Liberian civilians - The Times, December 20th, 2013

The Bitter Taste of Liberia's Palm Oil Plantations - Inter Press Service, May 29th, 2013

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LANDGRABBING IN LIBERIA

Uncertain Futures: The Impact of Sime Darby on Communities in Liberia - Sustainable Development Institute

Landgrabs in Liberia - Friends of the Earth International

Africa's Vanishing Forests - On Earth Magazine, December 4th, 2013

African farms need help, but the G8’s plan is for landowners, not the poor - The Globe and Mail, July 9th, 2013

European Investments Assist Land Grabs for Palm Oil in Liberia - Sustainable Development Institute/Friends of the Earth Europe, June 24th, 2013

Powering the Transition - D + C Magazine, June 6th, 2013

Landgrabbing in Liberia - Ejolt, May 2013

Liberia's landless people have a lesson for visiting world leaders - The Guardian, February 1st, 2013

The Real Price of Europe Going Green - AfricAvenir, February 5th, 2013

Liberian Communities Affected by Oil Palm Land Deals Gather, Release Statement on Expansion of Sime Darby and Golden Veroleum Plantations - Sustainable Development Institute, Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development and Save My Future Foundation, December 3rd, 2012

Large-scale land grant to Sime Darby to grow oil palm in Liberia threatens the rights of local communities, their food security, and puts their wellbeing at risk - Sustainable Development Institute, September 21st, 2012

Sustainable Developement Institute P.O. Box 5678, Duarzon Village 1000 Monrovia 10, Liberia | e-mail | p: +231 (0)330 641355 ©2013-2021

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