KR#15: How journalism fights dirty batteriesNew investigations and analysis from ZAM and our network.
In this edition of the Kleptocracy Report:
Editorial: Solidarity seasonIt doesn’t often happen that we celebrate wins in the anti-kleptocracy sphere. The systems that enable theft, exploitation and looting by the powerful sometimes seem so strong that all the exposure and analysis in the world can’t shake them. But sometimes, little holes are poked through which some light starts to shine. One of these was the work of a collaboration between Nigerian and US-based journalists who together tackled the dirty batteries that were poisoning a manufacturing community in Ogijo, Ogun State. On the US-side, the journalists exposed car companies who advertised their use of recycled batteries as a ‘green solution’, without a thought for those in Ogijo whose blood had absorbed so much lead that doctors asked how some there “could still be alive”. In Nigeria, their colleagues interrogated the authorities and regulators who had allowed battery refurbishing companies to flaunt safety regulations. The colleagues told ZAM they are not letting up. “They say they are now monitoring, but we know we cannot believe everything they tell us.” Another speck of light comes from investigative journalists and researchers joining forces to interrogate exploitative carbon credits systems. These, our colleagues from Africa Uncensored in Kenya and Follow the Money and the multinational research centre SOMO in the Netherlands highlight, appropriate land in the global south for multinationals to “conserve”, as a “payment” for their otherwise polluting practices. Our colleagues came together to compare notes and discuss follow ups. Change may not be immediate, but it’s heartening to know that so many are working at it. As Easter approaches, we happily dedicate this issue of the Kleptocracy Report to international solidarity. We produce the Kleptocracy Report with a small team of African investigative journalists. Your support can help us to keep publishing in freedom and open gateways for democratic change. Read more about our work and funding here. Journalism impacts on lead poisoning
Photo by Grace Ekpu for The Examination Battery recycling, often portrayed as a ‘green’ process that protects the environment, provides employment for many in the Ogijo community in Nigeria. Refurbished batteries from the town are sold to car manufacturers around the world. Yet, while Western companies centre this recycled “green” solution in their marketing, a thick layer of lead dust blankets much of the town where the batteries are manufactured. Journalists from north and south came together to expose the poisoning, -and the authorities who did nothing to protect their citizens.
Screenshots from the documentary CARBON COLONY: Inside The War For Maasai Community Land by Africa Uncensored Unmasking the carbon credit systemIn a deep-digging dialogue, ZAM colleagues and partners compared notes on the reinforcement of neo-colonial structures through carbon credit projects. Research in Kenya, Uganda and elsewhere shows that farming communities suffer because land is grabbed from them in the name of climate protection. Some highlights from the conversation: “If forests are still standing, it is mostly because of the communities that have cared for them.” “Carbon offset projects could be focused on stopping deforestation from mining sites. But that’s not profitable. So they go to community lands.” “If people knew how their carbon storage enables the exploitation of others, they would be against it.” Read the Carbon Credit Dialogue Money for votes -and power to steal moreIf you have stolen a lot of money, then you can part with some of it to buy votes. That way, you can stay in power and steal more. It is a system that has been perfected in Malawi, our colleagues at the Platform for Investigative Journalism found when they checked the brown envelopes dished out at a political party convention in that country recently. Read Malawi’s Vote Buying story Kleptocrat under fireSometimes they can run, but they can’t hide. Under pressure from corruption whistleblowers, including -once again- our NAIRE partners at Premium Times in Nigeria, Nigerian authorities have seized assets belonging to a former education ministry official and his family members, who are currently on trial for alleged corruption. However, real estate records show the family still controls two properties in the US that have not yet been seized. The property records, obtained by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), PREMIUM TIMES and the OCCRP show two houses, valued at around US$1.2 million, that were not listed among the assets Nigerian authorities are seeking to confiscate in the case. They may now well be. Read Kleptocrat’s Florida Properties More news from the network
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