Nigeria
The Battle Raging In Nigeria Over Oil | Vice on HBO
VICE News correspondent Gianna Toboni investigates the conflicts surrounding Nigeria’s oil reserves. For years, the Nigerian government and large international companies, such as Shell have been largely exploiting and benefiting off of Nigeria’s oil reserves. While these actors benefit, they leave local communities in poverty and polluted conditions.
Nigerian locals engage in illegal oil production as a means to meet financial needs and survive. However, the Nigerian military often raids these illegal operations and release oil into Niger Delta waterways. As a result, the main source for fishing, agriculture and drinking water for locals has been heavily contaminated.
In retaliation, local militias (e.g the Niger Delta Avengers) have been destroying the pipelines and infrastructures owned by large oil companies. These attacks have further contaminated Nigeria’s environment.
Nowhere to Run: Nigeria’s Climate and Environmental Crisis
This Core Production documentary covers various challenges Nigerian communities encounter at the face of climate change and other environmental issues. These challenges include: desertification of land, increasing social tension/conflict, toxic pollutants from oil refineries, rising sea levels, and deforestation.
Ghana
The Most Toxic Place on Earth : Agbogbloshie
This documentary reports on Agbogbloshie, Ghana, where illegal imports of electronic waste arrive from Europe and the United States. In Agbogbloshie, the electronic wastes are set on fire by scrap workers seeking to earn money. By igniting electronics, workers are able to obtain raw materials, such as copper, to later sell. However, flumes and toxic wastes that are released by these fires negatively affect the quality of life for locals.
South Africa
South Africa: Industrial Pollution Blamed for Rise in Diseases
Al Jazeera reporter Mohamed Vall investigates the industrial city of Durban, South Africa. Durban’s population is prominently of color and low-income due to South Africas regime of racial segregation known as Apartheid. Durban’s communities are highly exposed to the pollutants emitted from the nearby factories. These pollutants cause cancer and other illnesses.
Tarzania
Water Contamination in Tanzania | DW Documentary
This DW documentary covers the water crisis in the slums of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Lack of sanitation infrastructures in these areas have significantly impacted the availability of clean water. Locals often suffer from typhoid and cholera, as well as skin inflections.
