October 29, 2008

On Bowoto v. Chevron

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chevron-protest-1-300x200.jpgThe long-awaited Bowoto v. Chevron trial opened this week in San Francisco federal court. The international human rights case—over what happened in 1998 to Nigerian villagers protesting the energy behemoth’s environmental impact—is rare for its use of the Alien Tort Claims Statute against a multinational corporation. To keep up with the trial, (expected to last into December), read this account of the first day, then keep an eye here for more good reporting on the case.

In these photos, Nigerians and “corporate accountability” activists protest in front of a Chevron station in San Francisco.

chevron-protest-3-300x200.jpg

Photos by Jin Zhu.

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This is how change happens.

One story at a time.

This investigative reporting takes time too. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices.

We can afford to take our time because we don’t report to oligarchs or corporations. We report to you, and for you.

And the stakes are high. Democracy is on the defense. We’ve been exposing corruption and scandal for five decades, and this is a pivotal moment in our country’s history. Will democracy prevail? We won’t wait for time to tell—independent journalism is essential for democracy, and we’ll keep doing our part to amplify the free press.

So, we’re asking: Will you join the fight? Mother Jones has been here for 50 years, and we need your support to fuel the future of investigative journalism. Mark our 50th anniversary with a gift of any amount.

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