Designing for Justice in the Niger Delta by Emmanuel Nwogbo

III

DESIGNING FOR

JUSTICE IN THE

NIGER DELTA A thesis project presented to

The School of Graduate Studies

Nova Scotia College of Art & Design NSCAD University

Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada

April 2016 by Emmanuel Nwogbo in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Design

In memory of my beloved auntie, Chibotu Okoye

ÂŠ2016 Emmanuel Nwogbo All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews or articles. The stock images within this document were taken from a variety of sources noted beside the images. Book Design and Illustrations by Emmanuel Nwogbo

Acknowledgments Over the past year, a great many people have contributed to the development of this research. I owe my gratitude to Almighty God who has made this research possible, and because of whom my graduate adventure has been glorious; I smiled in the face of adversity, and came out a conqueror. I would also like to thank Christopher Kaltenbach for pushing me to the limits last summer. His intensity and dedication was a driving force for this research in its early stages. I am also grateful to Marlene Ivey for her total commitment to this research and for asking those crucial questions that helped take my ideas and concepts to the next level. She was also really helpful during those last minute freak-out moments. Thanks to Rudi Meyer for MDES 6600 and 6800. These courses were were really important, as they helped enhance my critical thinking and visual communication skills, both of which were essential in this thesis. And Charlotte, I am grateful to you for making this thesis academic and readable. Big thanks to my classmates Dong2, Colin, Ivy, Jason, Alicia, Rob, Dhuha, Minmin, Elena, Frida, Naomi and Mona. We had a fun year, or at least I think we did. All those critiques and presentations were long but helpful in the long run. Finally, I must express my heart-felt gratitude to my family for backing my dream, for providing me with non-stop encouragement, and for supporting me emotionally and financially. I hope this research makes you guys proud.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

XII

LIST OF FIGURES

XIII

ABSTRACT

XVII

INFOGRAPHICS

XVIII

1 INTRODUCTION

2 BACKGROUND

3 METHODS AND METHODOLOGY

4 PRACTICING DESIGN ACTIVISM

5 PASSIVE CAMPAIGNING

6 DESIGNING FOR JUSTICE

7 CONCLUSION AND REFERENCES

117

Acronyms and Abbreviations AAPW AGIP

Azienda Generale Italiana Petroli

BOPD

Barrels of Oil Per Day

ECCR

Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility

ERA/FoEN

Friends of the Earth Nigeria / Environmental Rights Action

FIFA

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GFI

Global Financial Initiative

GOST

Gas and Oil Pipeline Standards

IDMC

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre

JTF

Joint Task Force

MEND

Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta

MOSOP

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People

NDAP NDBDA

XII

Academic Associates PeaceWorks

Niger Delta Amnesty Programme Niger Delta Basin Development Authority

NDDB

Niger Delta Development Board

NDDC

Niger Delta Development Commission

NDHD

Niger Delta Human Development

NDPSS

Niger Delta Peace and Security Strategy

NGO NLNG OMPADEC SIF SNEPCO SNG

Non-Governmental Organizations Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission Sequential Interactive Forum Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Shell Nigeria Gas

SNOP

Shell Nigeria Oil Products

SPDC

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria

TOGY

The Oil and Gas Year

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme

WWF

World Wrestling Federation

Figure 1.0

Maintenance failure

Figure 1.1

Features of a wicked problem

Figure 1.2

Timeline showing MEND’s major activities in the Niger Delta

Figure 2.0

Map of the Niger Delta

Figure 2.1

Oil spills in Bodo

Figure 2.2

Major causes of oil spills

Figure 2.3

Gas flaring

Figure 2.4

Displaced inhabitants of the Niger Delta village of Ayakoromo

Figure 2.5

Impact of gas flaring on agricultural outputs in the Niger Delta

Figure 2.6

Burning forest in Ibada-Elume

Figure 2.7

Background poster/8 sided zine

Figure 2.8

First research concept mapping

Figure 2.9

Rosa Parks sits on a bus with a white man in 1955

10x10 low cost housing project

Figure 3.0

Cal Swann’s action research and the practice of design

Figure 3.1

Cal Swann’s design process diagram

Figure 3.2

Early sketch of the research design process diagram

Figure 3.3

Final iteration of the research process as methodology diagram

Figure 3.4

Research methods diagram

Figure 3.5

Various research related documentaries viewed during research

Figure 3.6

Studying for design activism

Figure 3.7

Early research mind map

Figure 3.8

Early research storyboard

Figure 3.9

Various presentations during the research process

Figure 3.10

Early research flow chart

Figure 3.11

Concepts map

Figure 4.0

Design activism concepts map

Figure 4.1

Live broadcast of cycling tour

Figure 4.2

London Marathon

Figure 4.3

Velomobile concept sketches

Figure 4.4

Velomobile flags and sensors

Figure 4.5

Virtual reality game (The Void)

Figure 4.6

Tourist park in the Niger Delta

Figure 4.7

International Niger Delta exhibition

Figure 5.0

‘Paths of least surveillance’

Figure 2.10

XIII

List of Figures

XIV

List of Figures Cont. Figure 5.1

Afghan War Rugs

Figure 5.2

Chilean arpilleras patterns

Figure 5.3

Adire (Yoruba Tie Dye)

Figure 5.4

Patterns of Justice (oil spills related)

Figure 5.5

Patterns of Justice (contamination)

Figure 5.6

Oil destroyed our traditional source of livelihood

Figure 5.7

Research reflection maps

Figure 6.1

Folgers coffee

Figure 6.2

Superman returns

Figure 6.3

Axe the chick magnet scent

Figure 6.4

OBEY Giant Campaign

Figure 6.5

Justice symbol

Figure 6.6

First sightings of the symbol

100

Figure 6.7

Justice propaganda posters

103

Figure 6.8

Disrupting election campaigns

104

Figure 6.9

Dropping off Justice flyers

105

Figure 6.10

Justice App

106

Figure 6.11

Reveal Posters

108

Winds of Change

116

Figure 7.0

*All figures without specified copyrights are ÂŠ 2016 Emmanuel Nwogbo

ABSTRACT

The Niger Delta has been substantially impacted by oil exploration and extraction. The region currently sits atop 35 billion barrels of oil, but the oil-producing communities generally suffer from oil-related health issues, abject poverty, administrative neglect, environmental degradation, and denial of fundamental human rights. As a result of this perceived mistreatment and exploitation, various conflicts have broken out between minority ethnic groups and multinational oil companies. The region is often portrayed in mass media as an area brimming with self-inflicted violence, while the real issues are for the most part swept under the rug. This thesis employs design research methodology as a systematic approach for defining various methods employed during the research. Methods such as storyboarding, drawing, and mind-mapping reveal spaces for possible design interventions. The thesis also engages with the theory of design activexisting system in the Niger Delta. Furthermore, it proposes inviting the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inhabitants to participate in ways that might contribute to positive change. Design activism in this case is a passive activity that invents innovative ways for people to bring local and international awareness to the oil-related problems of the Niger Delta, without engaging in protests and demonstrations. The end result is a series of awareness campaign artifacts that could enlighten the international community and other parts of Nigeria on the struggles of the Niger Delta.

Keywords: Awareness Campaign, Design Activism, Design Research,

Niger Delta, Oil Exploitation, Oil Exploration, Social Change

XVII

ism as a design approach, with the potential to expose the shortcomings of the

XVIII

XIX *See page 57 for a detailed description of this infographics

INTRODUCTION

The Niger Delta presents as a classic case of poverty, untold hardship, and underdevelopment in the center of immense resource wealth. Since the discovery of commercial quantities of crude oil in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in 1956, the Niger Delta has been the hub of crude oil production in Nigeria. Crude oil has brought untold wealth and prosperity to the nation, so much so that the country’s economy has been built on the success of oil exploration and exportation since the 1970s. The Niger Delta accounts for 80% of total government revenue, 95% of foreign exchange, and over 80% of national wealth (Tell, 2008). This suggests an over-reliance on crude oil that has come at a huge cost and has given oil companies operating in the region tremendous leverage and bargaining power. Due in large part to the Nigerian government’s unwillingness to diversify the economy because oil is so lucrative, the oil companies now hold the bargaining

majority of the costs of oil extraction projects, but the companies determine what the costs are, values the Nigerian Government does not have the technical expertise to verify” (p. 27). This system has made it almost impossible for the Nigerian government to enforce environmental laws on these oil companies. The ultimate victims of this scheme are the inhabitants and environment of the Niger Delta. The impact of crude oil extraction on the region has been nothing short of catastrophic. In gauging the impact of the country’s oil industry on a local Niger Delta community, Pyagbara (2007) categorized the effects into three interrelated themes: biodiversity impacts (i.e., the destruction of the ecosystem); socio-economic impacts (i.e., the destruction of traditional local economic support systems of fishing and farming); and physico-health impacts (diseases and illnesses caused by oil pollution).

Figure 1.0 Maintenance failure

(Left) Blazing fire caused by a leaking Shell oil wellhead in Kpean Village. The locals await the company’s arrival to extinguish the flames. © http://viiphoto.com/articles/nigeria/

In response to the near total annihilation of their natural resources and traditional way of life, the people have begun to fight back through violence. Their main aim is to restore the Niger Delta to a healthy ecological state so that it can provide a means of livelihood to present and future generations. They are also fighting for the right to control their own resources (Akinola & Adesopo, 2011). The area is now a warzone, with nonstop combat between militants and military

Introduction

oil companies. According to Pitkin (2013), “[t]he Nigerian Government pays the

chip (Pitkin, 2013). This has left the government at the mercy of multinational

operatives stationed in the region to provide safety to the oil workers and local residents. Ikelegbe (2005) identified September 1999 as the dawn of the emergence of militancy in the region: There began a regime of violent and armed resistance by youth militias and militant groups principally in response to state repression and corporate violence and as part of actions to compel concessions in respect of self-determination, regional autonomy, resource control and greater oil based benefits. The region has since become the scene of the most extensive military operations since the Nigerian civil war. (p. 215) Since then, numerous militant organisations have emerged, but the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the most powerful and vociferous one due to its large membership and sophisticated approach to belligerent operations. Some of these tactics include Swarm-based manoeuvres, radically improved firepower and combat training, and effective

Introduction

use of system disruption (Robb, 2006).

Would the Niger Delta be better off if militant activism was approached in a more positive light?

MEND was founded in 2006 and has since brought a lot of attention to the condition of the Niger Delta through numerous acts of resistance, such as abducting foreign oil workers, vandalizing oil facilities, and effectively using mass media (Junger, 2007). However, these acts of extreme militant activism have done more harm than good, as they portray the region in a negative light, overshadow the plight of the masses, and give the government and oil companies more excuses for neglecting the region. On the surface, MEND portrays itself as a militant body fighting for the rights of the poverty-stricken Niger Delta people to gain a greater portion of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil revenues. The truth is, however, that MEND is an umbrella organisation for several armed groups, which it sometimes pays in cash or guns to launch attacks (The Economist, 2008). The antagonistic activities of MEND and other militant groups have so far made the crisis even worse for the locals and environment of the region. They have created a hostile atmosphere that has thus far prevented outside parties from intervening in the situation. This, then, begs the question: Would the Niger Delta be better off if militant activism was approached in a more positive light?

Wicked Problem The Niger Delta crisis is an issue that is immense in scope. With so many complex layers and factors, it is best described as a wicked problem, which is defined as a social or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve for as many as four reasons: incomplete or contradictory knowledge, the number of people and opinions involved, the large economic burden, and the interconnected nature of these problems with other problems. (Kolko, 2012, para.1) Oil exploration is associated with environmental degradation, poverty with oil exploration, the economy with poverty, unemployment with the economy, etc. All of these problems associated with the Niger Delta bleed into one another to form a broad and cumbersome issue that could prove impossible to untangle. Horst Rittel, a pioneer of early theories on wicked problems, has noted numerous typical characteristics of complex social issues such as this one. Most of those characteristics are quite prominent in this issue, a fact which further

problem as outlined by (Rittel, 1973). Every wicked problem is a manifestation of another issue, such as how the sudden availability of better education will increase the country’s already alarming unemployment rate (Rittel, 1973). Multiple Explanations for the Same Problem

One-shot ‘Solutions’

No Immediate or Ultimate Test

Problems are Interconnected

No Definitive Formulation

Figure 1.1 Features of a wicked problem

A visual representation of Rittel’s ten characteristics of wicked problems (Rittel, 1973)

Characteristics of Wicked Problems

No ‘Solution’ Template

Every Problem is Unique

Difficult to Measure Level of Success

Problem Solver Must Bare Full Responsibility

No True or False

Introduction

a wicked one in this research. Figure 1.1 shows ten characteristics of wicked

stresses the point as to why the Niger Delta problem will be approached as

Inadequate understanding of the wicked problem theory has led to many failed attempts to ‘fix’ the Niger Delta problem. In the past, the Nigerian government set up agencies such as Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), but they have all fallen short of ameliorating the problem. Perhaps the most notable attempt is the ongoing Niger Delta Amnesty Programme (NDAP). The NDAP was a direct result of persistent outbreaks of violence by militant insurgents. These activities included the abduction of foreign oil workers, approximately 12,000 vandalized pipelines, and over 3,000 oil spills between 2005 and 2009. By the summer of 2009, over a million barrels of output were shut in, and 71% of all oilfields in the region were shut down (Joab-Peterside, Porter, & Watts, 2012 as cited in Nnorom & Odigbo, 2015).

Figure 1.2 Timeline showing MEND’s major activities in the Niger Delta

Introduction

Source: All Data and information was retrieved from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia For more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Emancipation_of_the_Niger_Delta. Retrieved February 28, 2016

• Nine officials for the Italian petrol company Eni SpA were killed when armed members of MEND attacked Eni SpA's security forces in Port Harcourt. MEND militants briefly occupied and robbed a bank near the Eni SpA base, leaving at about 3:30 p.m, about an hour after they showed up. • On October 3, a militant group abducted four Scots, a Malaysian, an Indonesian and a Romanian from a bar in Akwa Ibom state.

2006

• MEND released a statement proclaiming that their militants had launched an "oil war" throughout the Niger Delta against both pipelines and oil production facilities, and the Nigerian soldiers that protect them. In the statement MEND claimed to have killed 22 Nigerian soldiers in one attack against a Chevron-owned oil platform. The government confirmed that their troops were attacked in numerous locations, but said that all assaults were repelled with the infliction of heavy casualties on the militants.

2008 2007 • On May 1, at 4:15 a.m., MEND attacked Chevron's Oloibiri floating production, storage, and offloading vessel off the coast of the southern Bayelsa state. After one hour of fighting with security boats, resulting in the death of 10 people, MEND seized six expatriate workers, consisting of four Italians, an American, and a Croat. On the same day, MEND published photos of the captives seated on white plastic chairs in a wooden shelter around the remains of a campfire.

2009 • On May 15, a military operation undertaken by a Joint Task Force (JTF) began against MEND. It came in response to the kidnapping of Nigerian soldiers and foreign sailors in the Delta region. Thousands of Nigerians have fled their villages and hundreds of people may be dead because of the offensive. • October 25 MEND announces indefinite ceasefire, unilateral truce and accepts the government's proposal for reintegration.

In July 2009, the federal government initiated the NDAP. This program required militants to turn in their weapons in exchange for a rehabilitation plan that consisted of a stipend, job training, and a micro-credit loan (IRIN, 2010). Although the program has brought reduced violence and momentary peace, the government’s unwillingness to ameliorate the major problems (e.g., poverty, environmental degradation, unemployment, oil theft, oil spills, and administrative negligence) could see the region return to the intractable violence levels of 2006 or even worse, as all of the problems listed above have directly instigated and sustained the violence during that time period. According to Nnorom and Odigbo (2015), the programme was aimed at “demobilizing youths to ensure a conducive atmosphere for development.… [The] plan … necessitated the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry at the Federal level as part of frantic efforts to transform dilapidated infrastructures and ensure general development” (p. 208). It also allows the militants to act as civilians and agents of

2010

• February 4, MEND militants sabotage an oil pipeline belonging to Agip in Bayelsa State. • MEND gunmen shot dead the captain and chief engineer of a cargo ship 110 miles off the coast. • August 4, 1 Iranian, 1 Malaysian, and 1 Thai sailors were kidnapped off an oil carrier 35 miles off the Nigerian coast. During a gun battle with the Nigerian Navy 2 Nigerian soldiers were killed by the militants. • December 13, MEND gunmenattacked the oil carrier PM Salem, killing 1 and injuring 2.

2012 2011 • May 19, MEND leader John Togo was killed during an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force. • September 14, 14 Filipino and 9 Spanish sailors were kidnapped off the oil tanker MT Mattheos I by MEND gunmen. All 23 men were later released on September 26. • October 19, MEND gunmen hijacked theExxonMobil tanker AHST Wilbert Tide near Opobo. The gunmen kidnapped the captain before stealing large amounts of oil. The captain was later released.

2013 • January 9, MEND militants and the Nigerian soldiers got into a gun battle in Ogun State after they were seen stealing oil out of a pipeline. The gun battle resulted in the explosion of the pipeline killing 7 militants and 3 soldiers as well as 40 people in a nearby village. ¶ March 26, MEND leader Henry Okah is sentenced to 24 years in prison by a South African court for the October 2010 Abuja attacks. MEND threatens violence and has said "The gates of hell have just been let loose."

Introduction

• MEND called off its unilateral truce and threatened an "all-out onslaught" against the oil industry. • October 1, Two bombs exploded at Abuja during a parade. 12 killed 17 injured. Bomb was 1 km away from president Goodluck Jonathan. MEND claimed responsibility and also claim to have sent warning in the form of an email to a journalist half-an-hour before the bombs detonated. • October 2, MEND leader Henry Okah is arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa.

positive change in their oil-producing communities (Akinola & Adesopo, 2011).

The NDAP is far from a failure, but neither is it a beacon of success. The programme has suffered because the Nigerian government was forced into offering an amnesty package after their failed efforts to match violence with violence through the use of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the drastic decline in oil revenues due to a surge in militant activities. This begs the questions: Why did the government offer amnesty to people who did not ask for it? And why did the government allow things to get out of hand before listening to the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cries (Akinola & Adesopo, 2011)? The NDAP shows why wicked problems should be approached with utmost caution; with wicked problems, the problem-solver runs the risk of creating a whole new set of wicked problems in the bid to alleviate the old ones. If the major causes and drivers of the Niger Delta crisis remain unaddressed, all the money and resources that have gone into ameliorating the problem could be for nothing. The Niger Delta crisis is an issue that is immense in scope and has numerous complex factors and layers. Its stakeholders include the Nigerian government,

Introduction

the inhabitants of the Niger Delta, the multinational oil corporations, and international benefactors. Each one of these parties presents a distinctive and dynamic perspective on the issues associated with the Niger Delta. This multiplicity of factors must be considered when exploring design outcomes, with the main goal of drawing local and international attention to the ills that have befallen the region. In addressing this crisis, this research focuses on distinct areas that best embody the struggles of the Niger Delta: (1) environmental degradation, (2) history of natural resource exploration, (3) awareness Levels, (4) perception of the Niger Delta in mass media (5) and intractable violence. These areas encompass all of the characteristics of a wicked problem as delineated by Rittel (1973).

Design Approach To tackle this mammoth task, this thesis will utilize design research methodology as a dynamic means of characterizing numerous methods engaged throughout the research. These methods are categorized into study, visualization, and probe, and are used to analyse, synthesize and streamline the problem. In the end, they have the potential to reveal spaces for design intervention. This research also explores the theory of design activism as the predominant design approach. Design activism has the potential to unmask the failures of the existing societal structure of the Niger Delta. Although design activism in this case does not provide definitive solutions to the plethora of problems in the region, it intends to invite inhabitants of the area to engage in behaviours that might improve the situation. Design activism could manifest as a passive act and suggest creative ways for people to generate awareness for the issues in the Niger Delta without engaging in the already played-out violent protests. The outcome is a set of disruptive or disobedient artifacts that can potentially enlighten the international community and other parts of Nigeria on the struggles of the Niger Delta. This is a better approach to the problem especially in the age of social media because of the potential of these artifacts to go viral

from the actual problem. In contrast, design activism provides the people with a platform to voice their displeasure through their everyday behaviors.

Other Practitioners Working in the Niger Delta Despite the substantial number of people engaged in addressing this issue, there is a serious lack of design/designer involvement and contribution. Below are some examples of developers, planners, ‘peace strategists’, ‘conflict managers’, environmentalists and even scholars who are already addressing this issue:

‘Polycentric Planning’

In Derivation Principle Dilemma and National (Dis)Unity in Nigeria: A Polycentric Planning Perspective on the Niger Delta, Akinola and Adesopo (2011) propose polycentric planning as a possible solution to distorted federalism, the derivation principle, and resource control. The premise of this idea is to integrate the people into the socio-economic and political decision-making process at various tiers of government. The authors believe this process will economically empower the people and reduce poverty. The polycentric planning framework is a great way to approach the ongoing issues associated with the Niger Delta but it can only be feasible in a scenario where the Nigerian

Introduction

to endanger people, give the region a bad reputation, and deviate attention

on the worldwide web. Violence, as witnessed in the Niger Delta, serves only

government is ready, willing and able to address the problems in the Niger Delta. It is almost impossible to integrate this framework in a situation where administrative neglect is seen as the major cause of the problem.

Sequential Interactive Forum

The Polish-Nigerian mediator Emmy Irobi (2010) proposed Sequential Interactive Forum (SIF) as a potential conflict resolution model for the Niger Delta crisis. SIF is an interactive framework for conflict resolution that introduces a neutral third party to the dialogue table. This neutral third party engages with the disputants (federal government, Niger Delta inhabitants and oil corporations) in collective brainstorming and problem analysis to bring about positive change to the situation (Emmy Irobi, 2010). It is a process of restoration, reflection, patience and understanding. Irobi (2010) further described SIF as a ‘problem-solving’ process that promotes change and reformation of conflicts by allowing unshackled communication between parties. It represents a gradual problem-solving approach that could potentially loosen the tension and allow all parties involved to see one another in a different light. Although

Introduction

SIF has enormous potential, it still requires that all parties be committed and willing to make amends, which might be very difficult for the present situation.

Peace and Security Strategy

In November 2005, when militant operation in the Niger Delta was at its peak, the “United States Institute of Peace [USIP] held a public event on the peacemaking strategies being pursued in the Niger Delta with Dr. Judy Asuni, director of the Nigeria-based AAPW (Academic Associates PeaceWorks)” (Bekoe, 2005, para. 4). The Niger Delta Peace and Security Strategy (NDPSS) had a strategic plan to bring together all major stakeholders (federal, state and local governments, multinational oil companies, international benefactors, federal ministries like NNPC and NDDC and the local communities) in the Niger Delta to tackle the security problems and other issues that have been hindering the social and economic growth of the region. The NDPSS addressed the oil companies’ responsibility to the Niger Delta by targeting corporate entities, media, government, international agencies, and NGOs. Dr. Judy Asuni stated: It will also focus on mechanisms to reduce oil theft; media practices in reporting violence; reconciliation between groups; illegal arms importation; disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militia groups; human capital development and employment/urban youth policies; early warning systems; money laundering; and good governance. (Bekoe, 2005, para.12) Much like the SIF, this approach requires all parties involved to come together under one umbrella to tackle the problems. It is a great approach that can only be useful if the government and oil corporations ever regain the trust of the Niger Delta.

Conclusion The Niger Delta can be likened to a potato, potatoes are very rich and nutritious; they maintain blood pressure, control sugar levels, rev up enzymes, etc. They are usually very cheap, too, and so are considered to be food for the poor. In some regards, the low price of the potato has cheapened its real value. This means potatoes are both rich and poor at the same time. The Niger Delta is a land of vast natural wealth, and is rich in resources such as crude oil, cocoa, fresh water swarms, precious stones, etc. The land is also home to major offices of large multinational companies like Shell and ENI, but its people continue to live in abject poverty. Much like the nutrient-rich yet lowpriced potato, the Niger Delta is rich in resources but still very poor. The Niger Delta problem presents a tremendous opportunity for this research to intervene in the ongoing issues. By bringing to the table a unique perspective of practice-led research, we can examine ways that design can potentially

Introduction

help bring justice to the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta.

Chapter Key Points • Lack of technical expertise and Nigeria’s overreliance on oil as its major source of income has left the country at the mercy of oil companies. As a result, the Nigerian government is unable to monitor and properly regulate these companies. • The disastrous effects of reckless oil exploration have been catastrophic on the inhabitants and environment of the region. • The oil companies’ treatment of the people and environment sparked a genesis of terror and violence in the region as the people decided to fight for control of their natural resources and the restoration of their ecosystem to its natural healthy state. • The inimical actions of MEND and other militant groups have

Introduction

overshadowed the real problems in the region and given the oil companies a reason for not fulfilling their obligations to the oil-producing communities. • According to Horst Rittel’s definitions and characteristics, the Niger Delta problem is a wicked problem and must be approached with caution to avoid creating new problems in a bid to ameliorate existing ones. • The Nigerian government’s attempt to ‘fix’ the violence and security issues in the region is doomed to failure if the major factors that led to the surge in violence and terror are not dealt with first. • Issues that have surged to the fore include: (1) environmental issues, (2) history of natural resource exploration, (3) awareness levels, (4) perceptions of the Niger Delta, and (5) intractable violence as an area of research focus. • There is a need to harness the potentials of design activism as a voice of the disenfranchised masses and as a tool that incites the people to contribute to behaviours that could potentially bring about positive social change.

Introduction

BACKGROUND

Over the past 50 years, Nigeria has earned an estimated $600 billion in crude oil revenue (Wurthmann, 2006). However, the area of the country that sits atop this massive oil wealth suffers from â&#x20AC;&#x153;administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructure and services, high unemployment, social deprivation, abject poverty, filth and squalor, and endemic conflictâ&#x20AC;? (UNDP, 2006). This is the latest chapter in the saga of a region that has endured exploitation dating back to slavery in the 19th century and oil palm exploitation in the early 20th century. According to the Nigerian constitution of 1999 and The Petroleum Act of 1969, all oil and gas resources situated in Nigeria are under the control of the federal government (Amnesty International, 2009). This means that oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta have no statutory claims to resources in their vicinity. Years of frustration, anguish and resentment from the inhabitants of the

healthy food, the continuous surge in militant activities, corruption, a severely polluted ecosystem and abject poverty have all combined to form a wicked problem. Decades of military rule in Nigeria might be partly responsible for the corruption and bad governance, but 17 years into democracy (the past 5 under Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Niger Delta president), things are not looking much better.

Figure 2.0 Map of the Niger Delta

All nine oil producing states as seen in the research infographics on pages XVIII -XIX before the introduction chapter.

Background

a poor health care system, lack of access to basic amenities like clean water and

region have incited an ongoing crisis. Complex and multifaceted issues such as

Environmental Degradation The Niger Delta has a rich and varied ecosystem. It is the largest wetland in Africa and the third largest mangrove forest in the world. The wetland ecosystems play a critical role in supporting the livelihoods of about 30 million people in the Niger Delta (Wetlands International, 2014). Nevertheless, this environment has been subject to severe degradation as the result of five decades of reckless oil exploration. Environmental degradation is the primary cause of most problems associated with oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta. In fact, the impact of oil exploration has been so devastating, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) claims it will cost $1 billion to rectify and 25 to 30 years to clean up the region. One of the most notable causes of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta is oil pollution. The three main sources of oil pollution in the region are oil spills, gas flares, and discharges of effluent and waste (Pyagbara, 2007). These

Background

problems are the direct result of poor waste management, reckless oil exploration practices by oil companies, inadequate pipeline maintenance, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and pipeline bombings by oil thieves and militants. The company most associated with environmental degradation in the Niger Delta is Royal Dutch Shell (referred to as ‘Shell’ hereinafter in this book). Shell operates four subsidiaries in Nigeria: the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), and Shell Nigeria Oil Products (SNOP). Shell is responsible for about 40% of Nigeria’s oil production. According to Pitkin (2013), although“Shell extracts oil in 38 countries worldwide and has operations in over 100 countries, 40% of the oil spills attributed to its operation are in Nigeria” (p. 19).

Oil Spills The Niger Delta is one of the most polluted areas in the world, and oil spills are the main source of this pollution. According to the UNEP, more than 400,000 tons of oil has spilled into the soil and creeks of the Niger Delta over the past 30 years, and about 70 percent of the spills have gone unrecovered. According to the Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty report by Amnesty International in June 2009, “independent environmental and oil experts estimated between nine million and 13 million barrels had leaked in the five decades of oil operations. It also quoted U.N. figures of more than 6,800 recorded spills between 1976 and 2001” (Purefoy, 2010). Oil spills have been a major subject of discussion in the Niger Delta due to their adverse effects on the once lush greenery and the inhabitants of the area. Adelana, Adeosun et al., (2001) describe an oil spill as [a] release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment due to human activity, [as] a form of pollution. The term often refers to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters. Oil spills include releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs and wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as gasoline [and] diesel) and their by-products, and heavier fuels 19

used by large ships such as bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily white

Background

substance refuse or waste oil. (p. 834)

Figure 2.1 Oil spills in Bodo

Cecilia Teela trying to find periwinkles after an oil spill in Bodo

Causes of Oil Spills Over the past three decades, oil spills in the Niger Delta have been attributed to numerous factors such as reckless oil exploration and poor maintenance of machinery, which has led to system failures, oil theft, illegal refineries, and sabotage.

Reckless Exploration and System Failures

In 2014, Shell and the Italian oil giant ENI admitted to over 550 oil spills in the Niger Delta. Shell reported 204 spills, while ENI, which operates in a smaller area, reported an astonishing 349 spills. This is an enormous amount of spilled oil, considering that only 10 spills per year were recorded across Europe between 1971 and 2011 (Amnesty International, 2015). These numbers seem bad enough, but it appears companies like Shell deliberately hide the actual quantity of oil spilled, which means the actual amount of spilled oil could be significantly higher. In 2008, Shell reported an oil spill near Bodo, Ogoniland, where an American

Background

oil spill firm backed by Amnesty International determined that the spill was at least 60 times larger than reported by Shell, based on video footage recorded by locals (Vidal, 2012): “The figure was based on an assessment agreed at the time by the company, the government oil spill agency, the Nigerian oil regulator and a representative of the community” (Vidal, 2012, para. 2). This case paints a clear picture of the failures of the Nigerian regulatory system as a result of corruption as well as the lack of technical expertise on the part of the Niger Delta people and government. It is also important to note that most of the oil spills in the Niger Delta go unreported because they are considered insignificant (Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008).

Oil Bunkering, Illegal Refineries and Sabotage

Nigeria currently loses 400,000 barrels of crude oil to theft every month. This translates to about $1.7 billion, representing 7.7 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, or more than the African nation spends on education and healthcare each year. It also makes Nigeria number one on the list of countries most plagued by oil theft (Oil Price, 2014). One major reoccurring theme in the Niger Delta crisis is the continuous ‘blame game’ played amongst the government, people and companies, especially on the subject of oil spills. The general gist of the game is that the people lay the blame on oil companies, and vice versa. The following report by Gas and Oil Pipeline Standards in Figure 2.2 shows the major causes of oil spills in the Niger Delta. This report would make more sense if the oil bunkering business were not currently booming in the region.

Figure 2.2 Major causes of oil spills

A Pie Chart showing the ‘supposed’ five major causes of oil spills as noted in (Gas and Oil Pipeline Standards of Nigeria cited by Achebe, 2012) as seen in the research infographics on pages XVIII -XIX before the Introduction.

Oil theft, or illegal oil bunkering, is the act of breaking into pipelines or flow stations to steal crude oil, with the aim of refining or selling it abroad (Ugwuanyi, 2013 as cited in Odalonu, 2015). It is a very expensive operation that requires a goodly amount of expertise to operate numerous mechanisms. On a less dangerous note, smuggling additional crude oil through legitimate cargos is also

and unemployed youths hired by illegal refineries. During a conference debate on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, Adamu Aliero argued that there were international syndicates behind oil theft in the Niger Delta (Olowosagba, 2015). This theory has been echoed for years by administrative heads and even locals, mainly due to the expensive nature of the operations. According to a report by Global Financial Initiative (GFI) “stolen Nigerian crude oil is transported on internationally registered vessels, sold to international buyers, processed by international oil refineries and paid for using international bank accounts” (Olowosagba, 2015, para.7). The report also claims a group of oil thieves admitted to making around USD $7,000 (approximately1.4 million Nigerian Naira) daily in profits from their illegal activities. Despite the plethora of evidence, the key question of ‘who are the sponsors of oil bunkering in the Niger Delta?’ remains unanswered. On the other hand, militant organisations like MEND have admitted to numerous acts of oil bunkering, including the sabotage of flow stations, oil pipelines and other acts of vandalism. For instance, in 2012, a pipeline owned by ENI leading to the Tebidaba flow station in the Clough-Creek area was attacked. MEND claimed responsibility for the strike by issuing a statement to reporters: “At 0210, fighters of MEND attacked and destroyed one wellhead and one manifold on trunk lines belonging to Agip ... more attacks to follow” (Reuters, 2012).

Background

Oil bunkering operations in Nigeria are mainly carried out by militant groups

considered illegal oil bunkering (Asuni, 2009 as cited in Odalonu, 2015).

These kinds of radical operations by militant groups are quite puzzling because the so-called militant activism has only made the situation worse. Research has shown that militants have done more to contribute to the problems of the region than even the widely blamed oil companies. According to TOGY (2015), “of the 1,228 oil spills recorded in 2014, only 114 were due to equipment failure, operational error or corrosion. A whopping 1,029 of the spills were caused by sabotage and theft” (para.2). Shell in Nigeria (2014) reported that the number of oil spills related to SPDC operations increased from 137 to 157 between 2012 and 2013, while an average of 32,000 BODP were stolen from SPDC pipelines and other facilities. Furthermore, “the joint venture lost production of around 174,000 BODP due to shutdowns related to theft and other third-party interference. This equates to several billion dollars in revenue losses for the Nigerian government and the joint venture” (p. 1).

Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Niger Delta Inhabitants As outlined in the preceding pages, it appears that oil has brought nothing but

Background

trouble to the inhabitants of the Niger Delta and perhaps can even be considered a ‘resource curse’. Since the 1980s, there has been a steady decline in economic production, which has led to a tremendous rise in unemployment and underemployment. The lack of basic amenities such as clean water, healthy food, and decent housing has made life difficult for the locals. Other factors include discriminatory policies that deny the Niger Delta people access to authoritative positions and thus prevent them from partaking in decisions that will better their lives (Wifa, 2008 as cited by Oviasuyi & Uwadiae, 2010).

Health Problems

The inhabitants of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta generally suffer from a wide range of health issues. Chief among these are skin diseases and respiratory ailments due to oil pollution, deteriorating infrastructure, and the region’s poor health care system. Waterborne diseases such as typhoid, diarrhoea and cholera are the most common ailments that result from contaminated drinking water. Factors such as unreliable power supply for clean borehole water and stagnation of water as a result of bad roads have created hatcheries for the waterborne diseases and disease-spreading organisms (Global Health Watch, 2008). The perpetually unsafe drinking water presents tremendous challenges for local communities. Unsurprisingly, the region also has the lowest life expectancy rate in Nigeria, with an average of just 49 years (Effiong & Etowa, 2012). One notorious cause of health and environmental hazard is gas flaring. In the Niger Delta, an estimated 2.5 billion cubic foot of gas is burnt daily (Osuoka

and Roderick, 2005). According to Gasflaretracker.ng (2014), “[t]he hazardous air pollutants emitted from gas flaring have been shown to impact human health. These include oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon and Sulphur (NO2, CO2, CO, SO2), particulate matter, hydrocarbons and ash, photochemical oxidants, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S)”. These pollutants have been linked to various ailments such as cancer, lung damage, skin diseases, deformities in children, and neurological, reproductive and developmental conditions (Gasflaretracker. ng, 2014). Pollutants from these flares are known to affect communities within a 30km radius (IRIN, 2012), causing an epidemic of bronchitis in adults, and asthma and impaired vision in kids. Gas flares also contain toxic by-products like chromium, benzene and mercury, and are partly responsible for the deterioration of the immune system of the locals, especially children, thereby making them more vulnerable to communicable diseases such as measles and polio (Piller et al., 2007 as cited in Global Health Watch, 2008).

Source: Justiceinnigerianow.org

Since 1984, gas flaring has been illegal without the written permission of the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The current fine for flaring gas in Nigeria is $3.50 per 1000 standard cubic feet (Gasflaretracker.ng, 2014). Although the threat of penalty has not completely stopped companies from gas flaring, Shell reported that, between 2002 and 2010, gas flaring from SPDC plants fell by over 50 percent, mainly due to militant activities (IRIN, 2012). Unsurprisingly, Shell reported a 32 percent rise in gas flaring operations between 2009 and 2010, which was around the time the amnesty programme was instituted and militant operations dropped tremendously (IRIN, 2012). Not only humans are suffering from the excesses of the oil industry in the Niger Delta. Reports from Ogoni indicate that exposure to oil pollution has led to

instances of diseases uncommon to the local flora and fauna (Pyagbara, 2007). Pyagbara also noted that [in a] recent research report released by a group of scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, it was found that water Figure 2.3 Gas Flaring

A young girl walking past an oilfield with gas being flared in the background

samples collected from the sea, river, bore holes, lagoons, beach and so on from the Niger Delta region – especially in Delta and River States, indicates that more than 70% of the water in the Niger Delta contains a chemical called Benzo () pyrene, with a high concentration of 0.54 to 4ug per litre, far above the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of 0.7ug/1 for drinking water. (Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2004 as cited by Pyagbara, 2007, p.12) In similar fashion, the rural community of Ogbodo has suffered lengthy exposure to oil pollution following a spill that occurred in June 2001, which took

“Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas that is associated with crude oil when it is pumped up from the ground. In petroleum-producing areas where insufficient investment was made in infrastructure to utilize natural gas, flaring is employed to dispose of this associated gas”

Background

What is Gas Flaring?

at least three months to clean up. By then, about 10 miles of soil along the Calabar River was filled with very high concentrations of oil, grease, and overloads of hydrocarbons. The soil and aquatic organisms in the area were totally destroyed, and a study showed that humans living there suffered respiratory, gastro-intestinal diseases and mental distress (ERA/FoEN, 2005 as cited in Global Health Watch, 2008). Research has also shown that, all across the Niger Delta, the land and water have been polluted with high concentrations of heavy metals, hydrocarbon and other poisonous substances (ERA/FoEN, 2005 as cited in Global Health Watch, 2008). The rising cancer rates have also been linked to the thousands of toxin-containing waste pits spread across the region (Global Health Watch, 2008). In 2015, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) reported that Rivers State had the highest level of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, with a 15.2 percent prevalence rate (Naij.com, 2015). This is not surprising, as Rivers State is the center of all oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta. The influx of oil workers

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and the ever-rising number of military and private security operatives have helped create a hub for commercial sex, which partially accounts for the high instances of abuse, violence and STDs, including HIV/AIDS (Izugbara & Otutubikey, 2005). Factors like traditional gender roles, lack of gainful employment, and lack of quality education contribute to the high number of women engaging in the sex trade as a means of income to support their families. The ongoing nature of these human health problems in the region further illustrates the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total disregard for the wellbeing of its people.

Internal displacement

Internal displacement is an issue that has plagued the Niger Delta for over 30 years and for the most part is a direct result of the environmental degradation caused by oil spills. Nigeria is an emerging country that is currently embroiled in various ethnic and religious conflicts. These conflicts, along with natural disasters such as floods and erosion, have been cited as the major causes of internal displacement in the country. Opukri and Ibaba (2008) argued that activities of the oil industry (e.g., oil spills and gas flaring) have displaced many inhabitants from their homes and jobs without providing viable alternatives. Oil- and gas-related activities have also caused the displacement of ancestral homes, place-specific milieus, and religious and cultural antiquities (NDES, 1997 as cited in Ashibuogwu, 2014). Increasing levels of violence in the region has been another major cause of displacement. In May 2009, during fights between MEND and the JTF, thousands of locals were displaced. Reuters reported that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the JTF launched land

and air strikes around the city of Warri in Delta State, and later extended its offensive to neighbouring Rivers Stateâ&#x20AC;? (Reuters 2009 as cited in IDMC, 2009). In the local capital of Ogbe Ijoh, the reported number of displaced people ranged from 1,000 people taking refuge at a hospital and school and up to 10,000 locals presumed to have escaped into the forests (IRIN, 2009 as cited in IDMC, 2009). This was a common occurrence during the height of militancy operations in the Niger Delta. It has since cooled off with the start of the amnesty program in 2009. Besides loss of jobs and homes, culture and cultural heritage has continued to be displaced mainly due to the oil companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; blatant disregard for culture and tradition. A case study conducted by ECCR (2010) reported that Nigerian law forbade oil extraction in sacred shrines and forests, but this appears not to have stopped Shell. Shell did not strive to understand the customs of the Delta communities in order to work with these traditional rules but rather appeared from the outset to seek to impose its set of civilised values. (p. 20) These and similar actions by oil corporations in the Niger Delta are common25

place, probably because the penalties for disobeying these exploration laws are quite minor, and most of the local heads of the oil-producing communities

Background

are amenable to accepting bribes from the oil corporations in exchange for not prosecuting them. Additionally, oil-related incidents such as oil spills have caused the death and extinction of traditional medicinal herbs, which has had a profound spiritual impact on the community (Pyagbara, 2007).

Figure 2.4 Displaced inhabitants of the Niger Delta village of Ayakoromo

ÂŠ Pius Utomi Ekpei, Getty Images

They fled to the impoverished village of Gbekebor in the Niger Delta swamps when fighting re-erupted between militants and Nigeria Solders

Source of Livelihood

Perhaps, the biggest effect of reckless oil exploration on the inhabitants of the region is the destruction of the people’s traditional source of livelihood. The Niger Delta people were traditionally farmers and fishermen dating back millennia, which accounts for the region’s success in oil palm production in the early 1900s. However, oil pollution and seismic explorations have completely destroyed this once prosperous local economy. The implications are starvation, hunger, unhealthy food, and ultimately death. For instance, the oil-rich Ogoni community of Bodo was once covered in an abundance of mangrove forest. At that time, the livelihood of the community’s inhabitants was largely based on the healthy and fruitful mangrove forest. The locals fished, farmed, and gathered wood for building and for generating local energy. This all changed with the discovery of oil in commercial quantities. Today, most of the mangrove forests and the organisms that depend on them have been killed off due to the constant oil spills (Pyagbara, 2007). Despite the fact that the oil corporations in the Niger Delta brand themselves Background

as ‘green corporate citizens’, their methods of operation say otherwise. Their oil spill “clean-up” methods are ineffectual and create even more problems for the people and environment. For the most part, they use the classic ‘scoopand-burn’ technique that involves scooping up oil from affected water and soil,

dumping it into open waste pits, and then burning it. As a result, forests, rivers, and mangroves are set on fire, and farmlands and other communal properties are destroyed (Global Health Watch, 2008). Oil and gas activities continue to negatively impact the livelihood of the people, as the government and oil corporations have failed to create viable alternatives to agriculture as a source of living. Figure 2.5 illustrates the results of a study conducted by Salau (1993) and Adeyemo (2002) (as cited in Ayuba 2012), showing a direct relationship between gas flaring and the decline in

Salau (1993) and Adeyemo (2002) as cited in Ayuba 2012)

agricultural productivity in the Niger Delta.

Distance of Farmland from Flare Site 200 meters 600 meters 1 kilometer

Figure 2.5 Impact of gas flaring on agricultural outputs in the Niger Delta Table showing the results of Salau(1993) and Adeyemo (2002) study

Percentage Loss in Yield of Crops 100 percent 45 percent 10 percent

Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on the Ecosystem One of the most devastating processes of oil exploration is seismic exploration. It usually involves clearing large portions of land (e.g., swarms, freshwater creeks, mangroves and farmlands), doing surveys, and using sizeable amounts of explosives for geological excavations. The detonation of these explosives in marine environments leads to the destruction of fish and other sea organisms (Zabbey, 2004 as cited in Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008). The burial of pipeline fragments in the wetlands not only results in the massive reduction of habitat space, but also leads to the division of natural populations, which may detrimentally alter the affected organisms’ behaviors (Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008). MOSOP president Pyagbara (2007) stated that the destruction of ecosystems is a direct result of unchecked oil pollution in Ogoniland. He also explained that mangrove forests have been ruined by the toxicity of the oil spills and are being replaced by noxious nipa palms. At the same time, the deforestation of the rainforest has led to the extinction and migration of wildlife, and has also rendered farmlands infertile. A large majority of the reported oil spills in the region occurs in the mangrove swamp, which endangers and damages the rich community of fauna and flora

penetration into water bodies, and this in turn leads to suffocation of certain aquatic organisms” (Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008, p. 144). The high level of toxicity in crude oil kills or causes substantial damage to plants and animals. Other factors include type and quantity of crude oil, type of ecosystem and type of organisms, as different organisms have different levels of sensitivity (Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008). What is an Acid Rain? “Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.” Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As mentioned earlier in the chapter, gas flaring not only affects human health but also negatively affects the environment and biodiversity. Flaring has been known to cause acid rain, which has led to the destruction of crops and animals (Ayuba, 2012). The abundance of grasses and shrubs in various parts of the Niger Delta suggests the destruction of natural forests as a result of acid rain and other consequences of oil and gas operations (Uyigue & Agho, 2007; Opukria & Ibaba, 2008 as cited in Ayuba 2012).

Background

living organism, as “oil on a water surface forms a layer which prevents oxygen

(Ugochukwu & Ertel, 2008). Crude oil tampers with numerous vital organs of

Furthermore, the heat resulting from gas flaring has a wide range of impacts. For instance, it destroys plants, forests and salt marshes, stunts the growth of plants, and causes the degradation of soil and a massive decline in agricultural productivity (UNDP, 2006). In 2004, the Kala-Akama Okrika mangrove forest was set on fire and burned for three days after a Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) pipeline that went through the forest leaked. All the plants and animals in the area were destroyed (Nenibarini, 2004 as cited in Ayuba, 2012). Such events have been occurring in the Niger Delta for many years because pipelines that go through forests and swamps are seldom serviced or monitored. Figure 2.6 shows a burning forest in Ibada-Elume, Okpe L.G.A, Delta State. Figure 2.6 Burning Forest in Ibada-Elume

ÂŠ http://waado.org/Environment/OilFires_2000/ElumeRiverFire/FireImages.html

Background

The Fire was caused by an oil spill that lasted for several days in Ibada-Elume. It was a result of gross negligence on the part of Federal Government owned Petroleum and Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC) (ERA Field report #73)

Figure 2.7 Background poster/8 sided zine

A visual summary of the background chapter

Background

30 Background

Design Activism Since the rise of militancy in the Niger Delta in the early 2000s, the region has been portrayed in mass media as a quasi war zone. This is similar to the infamous terrorist organisation Boko Haram being portrayed as a nationwide hazard, when Awareness Campaign

Design a social media awareness campaign, to educate the world on the happenings in the Niger Delta. This idea sparked the search for a design approach that could effectively push the term of awareness.

in fact it is a regional-based group. The skewed representation of the Niger Delta has only succeeded in hiding the real problems that affect the people living there. The first step in ameliorating these issues is identifying the main problems and their causes. The next step is informing, enlightening and educating the other regions in Nigeria, along with the international community. This second step is critical, because the mainstream media’s misrepresentation of the Niger Delta has allowed the government and oil corporations to continue their mistreatment of the region ‘under the radar’ of the international benefactors of the area’s oil wealth. Creating international awareness of societal problems of this magnitude is an almost guaranteed way to get the government and oil corporations to change their way of doing business so that it benefits the people and the land, not just the oil companies. In 2001, Nike was exposed for employing underage children in developing countries, and huge international campaigns from ‘Oxfam’ and ‘Clean Clothes Campaign’ forced Nike to adhere to international labour laws and compensate the victims (Boggan, 2001). This need to create awareness led to the initial research question of this thesis, which was: How can design help enlighten the international community on the struggles of the Niger Delta?

What is a Activism?

After months of research, design activism became the obvious choice for a

“Activism involves taking action that makes a claim for change on behalf of a wronged, excluded or neglected group —it is driven by the identification of a wrongdoing or problem that needs changing.”

design approach due to its dynamic ability to give a voice to the voiceless and

Source: (Tilly, 1995 as cited in Thorpe, 2011)

expose the ills of a social system. Fuad-Luke (2009) defined design activism (also known as socially conscious design) as “design thinking, imagination and practice applied knowingly or unknowingly to create a ‘counter-narrative’ aimed at generating and balancing positive, social, institutional, environmental and/or economic change” (p. 27). He emphasized ‘counter-narrative’, because ‘counter-narrative’ suggests that it is different from the existing narrative, and the existing narrative could be unequivocal or tacit. In the end, design activism speaks on behalf of the neglected or disadvantaged by airing existing possibilities with the sole aim of evoking positive social change (Fuad-Luke, 2009). Markussen (2011) suggested that design activism represents the idea of using design as a catalyst for promoting social change, raising awareness about values and beliefs, or probing the effects of the restrictions stemming from mass

(Left) Figure 2.8 First research concept mapping

production and consumerism on people’s daily life. He also argued that design activism can be used to disrupt existing social structures to, as it were, give

A virtual museum that invites people to engage with issues of the Niger Delta from any part of the world. This is a typical example of Fuad-Luke’s theory of unknowingly creating a counter-narrative. This concept was created long before the theory of design activism came into consideration. Yet it strongly features characteristics of design activism.

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Virtual Museum

How might design activism help educate the local and international community on the struggles of the Niger Delta?

freedom back to individuals and people at street level so that they can use their own hands to deal with those problems that they face in their everyday lives. In dealing with social structures, systems, governments, etc., it is important to note that there is a huge difference between design activism and political activism. Design activism focuses on the use of ‘designerly’ approaches to intervene in people’s lives, whereas political activism uses acts such as strikes, boycotts, demonstrations, protests, and so on (Markussen, 2011). Thorpe (2011) states that there is a difference between design in activism and design activism. Design in activism involves the use of design as a tool for conventional activism. For example designers for UK’s climate camp produced protest shields covered with large photos of faces from all around the world, representing diversity (Boehnart 2008 as cited in Thorpe, 2011). Another example saw architects create awareness for housing shortages by designing protest housing (illegally built temporary housing); they also built tree houses for people protesting in endangered forests (Lerner, 2003, Greenberg, 2004 as cited in Thorpe,

Background

2011). These examples show that when design is used as a tool for activism, design is forced to conform to the conventional structures of activism (Thorpe, 2011). However, the goal of this research is to explore ways in which design could bring its own structure and devices to the idea of activism (Thorpe, 2011).

Examples of Design Activism Civil Rights Movement

The co-director for the Center of Artistic Activism in New York City, Stephen Duncombe, feels that the leaders of the civil rights movement were the masters of the design process. He points to the seminal event that occurred on December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat on the bus to a white man; for Duncombe, this act of resistance was a prime motivator for the modern civil rights movement (Kraus, 2015). Duncombe also argues that this type of “everyday racism” that Parks experienced was a reality that most people could not see. He describes design activism in the civil rights movement as the movement that used aesthetic vision and the design process to bring awareness to the “invisible reality” of everyday racism (Kraus, 2015). A staged photoshoot a year later showed the iconic photograph of Parks sharing a bus seat with a white man (figure 2.9). That single photograph was crucial in the fight against racism and segregation. It also sparked innumerable stories and will remain a significant part of the collective American cultural memory (Kraus, 2015).

Figure 2.9 Rosa Parks sits on a bus with a white man in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955

10 x 10 Low Cost Housing Project

In 2008, the Capetown-based design firm Design Indaba developed the 10x10 low-cost housing project to address inadequate housing for poor urban dwell33

ers in Capetown, South Africa. Ten architectural teams comprised of South Africans and internationals were tasked with applying sustainable design, con-

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struction and operation principles to create affordable, attractive and creative ‘solutions’ to the problem (“10x10 Low-Cost Housing Project”, n.d.). The firm MMA Architects created the first qualifying response. Their design was a singlefamily home that worked effectively within a tight $7,000 budget by drawing elements from the traditional Wattle and daub construction techniques (“10x10 Low-Cost Housing Project”, n.d.). This design won the Curry Stone Design Prize, “an international award that recognises creative solutions with the power and potential to improve our lives and the world in which we live” (“10x10 Low-Cost Housing Project”, n.d., para. 2). The Low-Cost Housing Project was a typical example of design activism at the socially conscious end of the activist spec-

trum , as it provided services to people living in poor conditions.

Figure 2.10 10x10 Low Cost Housing Project

Conclusion Nigeria is a developing country rife with social and economic problems, but the serious issues plaguing the Niger Delta have been all but ignored by national and regional government officials for decades, despite the region’s tremendous contribution to the Nigerian economy. In downplaying or outright refusing to officially acknowledge the massive problems endemic in the region, the government is effectively disregarding 23 per cent of its population and the most valuable 75,000 square kilometers of the country. The problems initiated by the oil industry have grown to monstrous proportions over the past 50 years and can never be totally ‘fixed’, as decades of reckless exploration have done irreversible damage to the environment.. Given the grim outlook on its land and people, the Niger Delta urgently needs the assistance of government and oil corporations to make things even marginally better for future generations. However, history has shown that Nigerian government authorities will only choose to ‘do the right

Background

thing’ when a tremendous amount of pressure is put on them by benefactors. After decades of failed attempts to expose the problems of the Niger Delta to a wider audience, a new approach is needed. Accordingly, this research proposes design activism as an approach that can potentially help the people voice their displeasure and expose the ills of the existing systems of power and authority to local and international communities. The aim is to engage the people of the Niger Delta in everyday behaviors that could contribute to raising awareness and the potential for amelioration of their oil-related problems.

Chapter Key Points • Lack of technical expertise and Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil as its major source of income has left the country at the mercy of oil companies. As a result, the Nigerian government is unable to monitor and properly regulate these companies. • The immensely rich ecosystem is the major source of livelihood in the Niger Delta, so the degradation of this ecosystem due to reckless oil- and gas-related activities has resulted in a wide range of social and environmental problems. • Oil spills are the primary cause of environmental degradation in the region. They are caused by reckless oil exploration, poor maintenance of machinery, oil theft, illegal refineries, sabotage, and negligence on the part of the government and oil corporations. • Oil- and gas-related activities have negatively impacted the inhabitants of the region in numerous ways, such as internal

• Much like the people, the ecosystem has had to endure decades of contamination, which has resulted in the endangerment and extinction of region-specific organisms. Oil exploration has also destroyed the immensely rich mangrove swarm and fertile farmlands. • Design can potentially help bring international awareness to the pitfalls of the existing systems of authority and power that have betrayed the people and failed the region for decades.

Background

the loss of traditional livelihood.

displacement, a host of long-term health-related issues, and

METHODS AND METHODOLOGY

Methodology Action Research What is a Methodology “Methodology is the systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study. It comprises the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge. Typically, it encompasses concepts such as paradigm, theoretical model, phases and quantitative or qualitative techniques”. Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Finding a methodology to conduct this research was relatively easy because action research and the actual design process are quite similar. This research also meets all the provisos that make a study suitable for action research, as noted by Cal Swann (2002) in his paper “Action Research and the Practice of Design”. These conditions include that the subject matter’s focal point is a social practice that requires change; that it is a collaborative where researchers work on a level play field; and, most importantly, that it is an iterative process (Swann, 2002). The aim of this research is to explore the causes and effects of oil exploration in the Niger Delta. It intends to discover a design-based approach to raise awareness and to increase the potential for amelioration of the problem. Action research is made up of four stages: planning, action, observation and reflection (Swann, 2002). Each stage encourages deep thinking and reflection, which ensures that the research continues to evolve, as things that were not apparent at the beginning become apparent when new knowledge is gained in the course of research. Swann (2002) suggests that action research is initiated as

in the research process (p. 55). The theme of collaboration is heavily emphasized in action research, engaging consumers, users, and the public in the developmental process as participants, as “[p]articipation and collaboration in action research requires that all those participants share in the developmental process in an emancipatory role” (Swann, 2002, p. 56). By comparison, design activism, as the main approach in this research, actively involves the user in the process from start to finish. In designing with rather than designing for, this approach builds the capacity of the people to solve the problem for themselves (Pilloton, 2010). Swann (2002) also acknowledges that despite the profound engagement between the design process and end-user, it will take a while for design research to attain the highest level of equitable collaboration possible in action research.

(Left) Figure 3.0 Cal Swann’s action research and the practice of design

Methods and Methodology

ners find themselves,” mainly as a method for inviting the user to actively engage

a result of “a problem, dilemma, or ambiguity in the situation in which practitio-

Analysis

Synthesis

Execution

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Research

Creative

Communication

Production

Evaluation

Figure 3.1 Cal Swann’s design process diagram

As shown in “Action Research and the Practice of Design” (p, 53)

Methods and Methodology

Problem

Investigation Need

Plan

Synthesis

Figure 3.2 Early sketch of the research design process diagram

Execute

It is modelled after Cal Swann’s design process as shown in the figure above. It is divided into two categories: Knowing; which encompasses the need and the investigative phase, while doing; embodies the plan, the execution and synthesis

The Design Process The design process is non-linear, analytical, and repetitive. For effective results, it requires continuous re-assessment and re-analysis of the issue, followed by a final synthesizing of the revised outcomes (Swan, 2002). The design process is also versatile, in that it continuously finds links and new design possibilities amongst various circumstances.

Creating the Design Process as Methodology Diagram Figure 3.2 shows a preliminary sketch of the design process as a methodology. It was heavily inspired by Cal Swann’s (2002) five-phase design process shown in Figure 3.1 (illustrated in Action Research and the Practice of Design). This research’s diagram is divided into two categories encompassing all five phases of the design process. These categories are as follows:

Knowing

This encompasses the ‘need’ and ‘investigative’ phase. As the name suggests, these phases of the research deal with gathering information, data and knowledge, and with searching for spaces for design intervention. As a result of the

Doing

This phase embodies some later stages of the research process, which are ‘plan’, ‘execution’ and ‘synthesis’. Doing or designing is the next logical step after ‘knowing’, as it deals with putting acquired knowledge to work by creating design concepts and possibilities. Doing is perhaps the best example of the non-linear nature of the design process, whereas the methods of doing, such as sketching, diagramming and idea mapping, are heavily featured in the knowing process.

Methods and Methodology

at any time in the research process because the designer never stops ‘knowing’.

repetitive and flexible nature of the design process, these phases can be revisited

CON TEX T

DEE PR GS DIN EA

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Methods and Methodology

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Figure 3.3 Final iteration of the research process as methodology diagram

The five phase diagram which also features all research methods applied during each phase.

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The need is the problem, the research question, the dilemma, or the ambiguity. It is crucial for the researcher to identify the need that initiated the design process.

NEED

Some of the research questions in this project include: How can design activism intervene in the Niger Delta problem? Can design activism help remediate environmental degradation in the Niger Delta? Can design activism help educate the local and international community on the struggles of the Niger Delta? The next step is to determine the scope, i.e., make sure it can be executed in the given time.

This is the stage where information is gathered, reviewed, and analyzed. In this

INVESTIGATION

phase, contextual search and review is very important, as it informs the designer about existing theories, perceptions, presumptions and history surrounding the research. This broadens the designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view on the issue, while also affording the designer time to assimilate and become engrossed in the research.

This stage involves creating a strategy, developing an action plan, choosing

PLAN

or go right, but what are the consequences of taking either direction?). This is also the stage where the designer explores the research for design spaces or opportunities. It is important to note that ideas are formulated throughout the design process, but that at this stage, ideas begin to turn into concepts.

Execution is a hands-on exploration of design opportunities and concept

EXECUTION

development, rendering chosen concepts into prototypes that can be tested to gauge their limitations and possibilities. In this stage, the prototype is tested against the goals of the research, with the researcher mindfully reflecting on the results of the tests and analyzing the outcomes.

This is perhaps the most important stage in the design process and also the step that defines the quality of the final outcomes. Synthesis involves articulating results through evaluation, and comparing and contrasting the design

SYNTHESIS

decision-making process. In this stage, the designer reviews, gathers and discusses feedback, and then reflects on it all. Then, adds, subtracts, adjusts, and refines the research based on an interpretation of the entire evaluation process. The key here is continuous reiteration and re-analysis of the entire process, as new issues might be exposed or new research questions raised.

suitable design methods and methodology, and weighing options (e.g., go left

Visualize Visual Analysis

Idea Mapping

Mind Mapping

Graphic Modelling

Sketching

Study Literary Review

Deep Readings

Media Review

Personal Beliefs

History Review

Contextual Review

Infographics

Diagramming

Visual BrainStormming

Reflective logging

Research Methods

Figure 3.4 Research methods diagram

Probe Deep Observations

Scenario Designing

Methods of Research The research methods in this research process refer to specific strategies that were used to gather, analyse and streamline information, as well as to test theories and visualize ideas and thoughts. All through this research process, various methods were employed to unlock new insights and patterns and to invoke an approach for design outcome. These methods have been categorized into Study, Visualization and Probing.

Study

Source: Business Dictionary. www.businessdictionary.com/definition/study.html

the Niger Delta and the Niger Delta problem. To undertake a subject of this magnitude, it is important to understand and examine the problem from different perspectives in order to limit the level of personal bias. Although it is almost impossible to completely eliminate personal bias in a research of this nature, it is quite possible to keep it to a minimum. Personal biases could include a collection of data and information that fits a specific personal agenda or skewing facts and figures to fit said agenda. Personal bias can potentially lead to distorted conclusions, which will inevitably affect the effectiveness of the design outcome. Studying existing sources, specialists, and practitioners engaged in various aspects of the Niger Delta problem was essential for identifying the problem specifics and spaces for design intervention. In the preliminary stages, this research engaged with themes of etic, emic and ethmic. It was quite important to compare and contrast between the thoughts of indigenous scholars and media correspondents versus those of foreign counterparts.

Visualization Visualization methods such as visual brainstorming, storyboarding, and mind mapping were quite integral in the early stages of this research. These methods helped the designer lay out thoughts for easy organisation, analysis, and visual processing. Research has shown that 90 per cent of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, and that humans process visual information 60,000 times faster than text (O’Connor, 2014). This further illustrates the huge importance of visualization in the design research process, as it is quite easy to get lost in the written information and data of a research of this magnitude. Indeed, visualization played a huge part in streamlining the research questions and creating a concentrated focus.

Is the“systematic research, examination, identification, and understanding of the aspects or factors associated with an activity, event, phenomenon, situation, etc. Often a report is produced at the end of a study that summarizes its findings and may also include recommendations on the next step(s) to be taken.”

This stage of the research consists of a comprehensive study of the history of

Methods and Methodology

To Study

Visualization of thoughts and ideas gives the designer an opportunity to see and communicate ideas in a different light. It also allows the designer to scrutinize them towards the generation of new perspectives, which then presents the designer with the opportunity to either drop the idea or take it to the next level.

Probing Probing methods were very important in the early and latter stages of this research process. Early on, during the development of research questions, methods such as reflective logging and a few observation methods were used to examine and analyse various existing theories on wicked problems and the persistent exploitation of the Niger Delta. In the latter stages of the research, scenario designing was used to

Figure 3.5 Various subject matter related documentaries viewed during research

Methods and Methodology

test the final design interventions in a controlled environment.

Study Methods Literature, Media and Contextual Review Studying during this research consisted of mainly a plethora of Niger Delta and design activism-related text-based resources. Libraries and online resources were most useful for acquiring research related to printed books and online journals. While studying the Niger Delta problem, the researcher realized that much of the Niger Delta-related information showed extreme personal bias and clearly pushed a certain agenda. Other means of gaining knowledge and information included watching documentaries, lectures, and video clips. One notable lecture that greatly informed this research on design activism is Design Activism as Social Innovation by Thomas Markussen. In his lecture, Markussen critiqued various existing design activism frameworks, such as Charles Laundry’s ‘The Creative City - Global Thinking’ and Sarah Ross’s ‘Design Activism for Social Change’, and then built an arguably better framework that explores the relationship between what people are doing, how they feel about it, and how design activ-

Figure 3.6 Studying design activism

Three Major books that were collected during the literary, media and contextual review

Methods and Methodology

ism has the ability to renegotiate that relationship (Markuseen, 2011).

Visualization Methods Mind Map Mind mapping is one of the most important methods used in this research process. Mind-mapping is a simple form of data visualization that helps to organise thoughts for careful review and analysis. In the early stages of this research, it was difficult for the designer to conceive the scope of the research due to its massive size and wicked nature. These maps were able to expose the lopsidedness of the research, in the sense that so much knowledge had been acquired in certain aspects and little to none in others. It also helped divide the research into two parts, which were the attainable (i.e., issues that have potential for design interventions) and the unattainable (i.e., issues that are extremely broad

Methods and Methodology

in scope and would require more time than afforded by this research). Some of the wicked problems include corruption, oil theft, and regulations. The map divided the initial stages of the research into five parts, namely: (1) awareness levels; (2) environmental degradation; (3) history of natural resource exploration; (4) perception of the Niger Delta in mass media; and (5) intractable violence. These parts represent the scope of this research.

Awareness Levels

Nigerian crude oil has been described as sweet because it contains less than 0.42% sulfur, and hence its appeal to the international market. However, it appears that little has been done to inform the international market about the inhumane consequences of this oil exploration in the region. Even in Nigeria, the Niger Deltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woes are severely undersold and largely unknown to most parts of the country.

Environmental Degradation

This area of the map explores the causes and effects of 50 years of reckless oil exploration in the Niger Delta. It delves into issues like oil pollution, leaking pipelines, uncovered oil wells, etc., and also examines the exploration readiness system (or lack thereof) put in place by the Nigerian government and some oil corporations. This leads the research to question the environmental laws in Nigeria and why the federal government is having a hard time enforcing these laws on the oil corporations. Lastly, it identifies some examples of relief organisations working in the region, like the Niger Delta EnvironmentÂ and Relief Foundation (NIDEREF) and National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND). It also contains some research questions, such as: Can design be used to better prepare the people and environment for exploration? How can design better inform recovery steps?

History of Natural Resource Exploration

This area explores the history of human and natural resource exploration in the Niger Delta dating back to the 1800s. It also compares and contrasts the difference between resource explorations in other regions of the country to that of the Niger Delta. It also raises questions interesting like, how has the history of exploration in the region affected the value of this region in the eyes of the government, the companies and the rest of the country? Does the government look down upon the Niger Delta because of the slavery of the 1800s?

Perception of Niger Delta in mass media

Over the past 20 years, the media has painted the Niger Delta as a place of horror. They highlight all the violent activities perpetuated by MEND, such as the abduction of foreign oil workers, oil theft, pipeline bombings, etc., but neglect to include information on the causes and drivers of these violent acts. Given this media-driven lopsided view of the region, how can design be used to re-image the Niger Delta?

Intractable Violence

The surge of violence and crime in the mid-2000s was a direct result of decades of mistreatment suffered by the people at the hands of oil corporations and

pseudo-militant activism and even went overboard by committing crimes of oil theft, murder, abduction, and other acts of terrorism. The violence eventually took center stage and overshadowed the real problems of the region. This section of the map explores ways that violence can be used creatively.

*see next page for mind map

Methods and Methodology

the people through peaceful protests, groups like MEND engaged in acts of

the government. While organisations like MOSOP fought for the rights of

Methods and Methodology

“

I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head. How else could I capture all these mini inspirations,quickly, without the simplicity of Mind Mapping?

Figure 3.7 Early research mind map

— Dominic O’Brien

Awareness Cultural Heritage Time (Past/Present/Future) Exploration Effects

Methods and Methodology

Important Research Questions

Storyboard After developing the initial mind map, it became apparent that there was a need to visualize the problem as a timeline that showed the past, present and (presumed) future of the Niger Delta. The storyboard shows the history of exploitation in the region dating back to the late 1800s, when the indigenes of the region were captured as slaves. It then shows the early 1900s, when the

Methods and Methodology

Figure 3.8 Early research storyboard

Niger Delta was exploited for its riches in oil palm. The timeline moves to the discovery of oil in 1956 and the outbreak of civil war in 1967, partly due to

the distribution of oil wealth. Finally, it shows the present-day environmental degradation and a few predictions for the future. This method was achieved by sketching and collaging; along the way, it also raised a few research questions, such as: How much of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity has been lost as a result of centuries of maltreatment? How has the past affected the value of the Niger Delta in the eyes of the government and the rest of the country in general? How do other oil-producing countries deal with large multinational companies? Why is a

Methods and Methodology

country that is so blessed in natural resources so dependent on crude oil?

Presentation The multiple presentations of this research progress during peer reviews were a daunting but rewarding task. The presentations required good communication skills and mastery of design thinking to effectively deliver a clear and concise overview of the research ideas in a very short time. This was achieved through the use of summarised key points that were succinct and visually aided by slides. The presentations helped to streamline the research,

Methods and Methodology

weeding it of superfluous and redundant information.

Figure 3.9 Various presentations during the research process

Diagramming Diagramming is representation of information and/or data in a visual form. Figure 3.10 shows a flow chart of an early stage of this design research. It places environmental degradation as the central problem and then identifies four role players (oil corporations, agriculture, federal government and the people) associated with the problem. Each role player expands to show other subject areas connected to them. It also identifies subject areas that design could potential intervene. Much like the mind map, this diagram helped detect research loopholes and subject matters that had been under researched. Diagrams also help to bring order to a research during the information and data collection stage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good diagrams turn chaos into clarityâ&#x20AC;? (LLC, 2011, para.2). Other instances of diagramming can be seen across various pages of this book.

Environmental Degradation of the Niger Delta

Design Intervention

Multinational Oil Companies

Government Management

Agriculture

Royal Dutch Shell

Ocean

Oil Spills

Onshore Rigs

Offshore Ocean Rigs

Oil Pollution

Gas Flaring

Sealife

Animals

Mangroves

Vegetation

Endangered Species

Endangered Mangrooves

Farming

NDDC

Corruption

People

Joint Task Force

NNPC

Unhealthy Produce

Epidemics

Aquaculture

Design Intervention

History

Indigenes

Violence

Traditions

MEND

Foreign Workers

Oil Bunkering

Abduction

Design Intervention

Illegal Refineries

Oil Polution Design Intervention

Figure 3.10 Early research flow chart

showing the various subject matters associated with environmental degradation in the Niger Delta

Sketching Sketching is one of the very first steps in the ‘doing’ phase of the design process. It helps the designer to release ideas that have been cached in the mind, and is another method for elucidating research problems. Furthermore, sketching helped in the planning and rapid-fire execution of creative thoughts, and eliminated the potential time-wasting execution of unfleshed-out ideas on the computer. This helped the designer to articulate ideas without fully committing to them: “The language of sketches is in suggestion and possibilities rather than definitives and closed doors. There’s romance in a pencil that you just don’t find in a mouse” (Azurdia, 2014 as cited in Barr, 2015, para. 6). In this research, sketching was used for visual brainstorming, mind-mapping, story-

Methods and Methodology

boarding, and articulation of 30 design possibilities.

Figure 3.11 Concepts Map

Showing 10 design possibilities visualized by sketching

Infographics Infographics is the use of compelling visuals to present intricate or elaborate ideas in ways that are easy to understand. It draws in viewers through the use of fun and exciting graphics and keeps them entertained. Infographics tells a story with compiled data composed like poster images (Boyd & Schaffer, 2013). Unlike the mind map and the sketches, infographics was used as a more refined means of visually communicating and presenting this research. It gave the designer an opportunity to purge the mind maps, sketches, doodles of unnecessary information. This is important, because infographics affords the designer very limited visual space to present months of research data and information. The designer has to choose information that best tells the story of the research. During the design process, the infographics was key in the early stages of ‘synthesis’. It was very effective in reviewing accomplished goals and possible future directions as it went through various iterations at different stages of the research. Infographics is divided into 2 parts: the top half reviews the Niger Delta problem and relevant statistics that emphasize the wicked nature of the problem, and the

research), design activism as the main approach, and design possibilities (which also changed with each iteration of the infographics, as each iteration presented different design possibilities that also reflected the stage of the research). Pages XVIII and XIV features the final version of the infographics, which was updated to show the conclusion of the research. It also features the updated research question: “How might design activism help design for justice in the Niger Delta?” Aesthetically, infographics presents strong visuals that are reminiscent of the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. The visuals are simple and tell the story of the region through its use of very significant colors. The header features silhouettes of various oil exploration equipment to signify pollution; the top half (Niger Delta problem) shows barren brown soil with numerous cracks as a result of oil spills, while the bottom half (design potion) shows a layer of green soil creeping into the barren land, which signifies ‘design improving the situation’.

*see pages XVIII and XIX for the research infographics

Methods and Methodology

diagram (which, at various iterations of the infographics, indicated the stage of the

lower half explores the design research. It features the research as a methodology

Probing Methods Factors such as location and time prevented the use of interviews which could have been a crucial probing method for this research. Instead, reflecting logging was used to record and reflect thoughts and observations on YouTube videos that consisted of various Niger Delta residents and government and oil corporation executives giving a different perspective to the problems in the region. Although this probing method was not as effective as holding formal and informal interviews where a specific set of questions is asked, some of the questions and responses contributed immensely to the exploration of theories on the

Methods and Methodology

perception of people, militants, oil corporations, and government officials.

Chapter Key Points • This research is built on the principles of action research methodology, which is very similar to the design research process. • The design research process is flexible and non-linear, and requires constant re-evaluation and re-analysis for best results. • The design research process comprises need, investigation, plan, execution and synthesis. These five steps are based on the principles of knowing (gaining knowledge and information on the subject area) and doing (intervening with design). • Research methods such as studying, visualization and probing give life to the research process. They were used to acquire knowledge, brainstorm, visualize ideas and

Methods and Methodology

thoughts, and test for efficiency.

PRACTICING DESIGN ACTIVISM

62 Practicing Design Activism

On page 31, this research discussed and showed the initial ten design possibilities that indirectly inspired design activism as the primary design approach for this project. After further study, design activism was chosen to be applied to the Niger Delta problem. Design activism is suitable for exposing to local and international communities the injustices occurring on the Niger Delta. Such exposure could potentially force the Nigerian government to give its full attention to the devastaConcept 2: Tours

Design a tour facility that will invite foreigners to engage with the struggles of the Niger Delta. It could be physical or virtual.

tion caused by the oil companies. Based on this approach, some new research questions arose, such as: How might design activism help expose the oil-related injustices occurring in the Niger Delta region? Can design activism help educate the international community on the struggles of the Niger Delta? From these new research questions, twenty new concepts were developed based on the design activism approach. Figure 4.0 shows an early idea map

test and awareness artifacts. However, because some of the concepts embodied both themes, the plan was to combine the categories to form the idea of ‘creating awareness through protest’. The challenge is to stay away from radiConcept 1: Sporting Events

Design a series of artifacts for an international sporting event to bring attention to the struggles of the Niger Delta.

cal forms of protests and awareness campaigns like those successfully carried out elsewhere (for example by Greenpeace), because local organisations like MOSOP have encountered very little success in the Niger Delta, despite its strong presence and large following, especially since the death of environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995. This chapter will explore two of the twenty design activism ideas (highlighted in yellow in figure 4.0). These two ideas are a combination of various concepts from the initial twenty. They are early concepts that were taken to the plan-andexecution phase of the design process, but were abandoned after synthesis due to factors like concept feasibility, political interference, and many more that will expatiated on in subsequent pages. Interestingly, some of these ‘abandoned’ concepts are later revised and play a huge role in the final stages of this research.

(Left) Figure 4.0 Design activism concepts map

Practicing Design Activism

awareness, the early concept development was divided into two parts: pro-

illustrating the first ten concepts. Working with the themes of protest and

Practicing Design Activism

Concept One: Awareness Campaign Sporting Events Fútbol Tournaments The idea here is to use the popularity of sports in the region as a tool for positive change. For example, we could host a series of football tournaments that will take place in oil-polluted wastelands. These tourneys could feature the youths of the region showcasing their talents amongst themselves or against any foreign opponents willing to participate for the cause. This would be similar to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)’s age-grade competitions, but in oil-ravished environments. The underlying theme is ‘the region’s true wealth is its people, not the thick black substance in the ground’. The players’ jerseys would feature specially designed patterns that echo the cries of the people to the local and international communities. The most important aspect of this concept is that it could potentially engage the inhabitants of the Niger Delta in the design process, which is one of main characteristics of design activism.

Cycling Tours Unlike Fútbol, cycling is not the national sport of Nigeria, but the idea here is

Showing before and after effects of exploration during the event

take place across heavily affected swamps, wastelands, etc. The participation of famous cyclists could attract heavy media coverage. Throughout the event, videos and images could show what the land looked like previously, and what it looks like now (figure 4.1). The athletes would also wear protest attires in the form of jerseys and helmets. The idea here is to take advantage of the fact that people pay attention to causes supported by famous celebrities. The aim of this campaign is to showcase the plight of the Niger Delta to the international community.

Marathons Much like the cycling and football ideas, these marathons would involve people from around the world running across affected landscapes in the Niger Delta. The difference is that the runners would be dressed in protest artifacts, similar to the annual London Marathon, where people run dressed in funny or creative costumes, some for fun and some for causes like breast cancer, ‘save the rhino’, etc. The plan moving forward is to design appropriate artifacts that runners could carry or wear. These artifacts could be oil derricks, post boards, oil barrels, or other examples or symbols that refer back to the problem. These artifacts could (Left) Figure 4.2 London marathon

Showing participants running to raise awareness for various causes

potentially act as educational devices to the local and international audiences.

Practicing Design Activism

(Left) Figure 4.1 Live broadcast of cycling tour

to invite world-famous cyclists and celebrities to participate in cycling tours that

Taking it a Step Further After some deliberation, the cycling tours were chosen as the design direction. The first task was to add an edge to it in order to raise it to another level, i.e., add more design to the activist nature of the tour. A design approach should appear different from a regular awareness cycling event. As with other ideas, questions arose, such as: How will celebrity bike races change the behavior of the federal government, the oil corporations, the militants, and the rest of the country? How do you protect participating cyclists from the dangers of the oil-laden environment? These and other questions helped reveal a different perspective of the concept, which led to rethinking and then changing the direction of the entire concept. The first step in designing for the cycling tours was to take an inventory of the artifacts most associated with bike races, such as helmets, vehicles (motorcycle, Practicing Design Activism

bicycle etc), reflective cycling gear, jerseys, glasses, etc., and then redesigning them into an awareness campaign artifact that could potentially act as a voice for the people of the Niger Delta.

Velomobiles/Bicycle Cars

The first artifact to redesign was the vehicle, as the main problem with regular motorcycles or bicycles was their openness to the environment. For people

to cycle all day across these polluted areas, they would require some form of protection from the contaminated air and water. The velomobile immediately comes to mind as a solution to this problem. Interestingly, Shell sponsors an annual event held in Asia, the Americas and Europe called Shell Eco-Marathon, described as follows: “[the] Shell Eco-marathon is a unique competition that challenges students around the world to design, build and drive the most energyefficient car (“Shell Eco-marathon”, n.d.). The marathons usually feature a wide variety of velomobiles that have been entered in the race to showcase their energy-saving capabilities. So, one of the ideas that floated around was the possibility of getting Shell to sponsor these events as Africa’s version of the Eco-marathon, but of course with a totally different twist that would be unknown to the oil giant. A velomobile is a human-powered enclosed vehicle that provides protection against crashes and weather through its aerodynamic body that also allows it to reach higher speeds than bicycles (Van De Walle, 2004). Modern velomobiles now feature an electric-powered (electricity-assisted) option, which allows for tremendous speed and easy navigation through bad driving surfaces.

(Left) Figure 4.3 Velomobile concept sketches

One unique feature of the velomobile is its ability to be modelled into any form. Some interesting examples can be seen in Figure 4. 3. The combination of oil barrels (representing the oil corporations and environmental degradation) and fishing boats (signifies the traditional source of livelihood in most Niger Delta communities) generated some interesting-looking protest artifacts, as seen in the figures below. The use of these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;commonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; objects from the Niger Delta led to the research to the following proposition: perhaps these velomobiles could be locally made in the region, thereby actively engaging the people in activities that could potentially contribute to the betterment of their situation. As men-

Practicing Design Activism

tioned earlier, design with not for is a strong feature of design activism.

68 Practicing Design Activism

Other proposed features of the velomobile include each velomobile riding with a flag (made from fish nets) that changes color as it collects radiation residue; it also reveals a message as the colors change, as seen in Figure 4.4. Additionally, the vehicle could feature a sensor on top of its roof that changes colors as the velomobiles approach highly polluted areas. The flags and sensors would act as visual clues for the viewing audience.

Velomobile Flags

Practicing Design Activism

Flags made from fishing nets that changes color as it collects radiation residue. It reveals the message â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Live Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x153;

Velomobile Sensors

Detect levels of contamination and reveals the results to the viewing audience via the colors (green, yellow and red)

Figure 4.4 Velomobile Flags and sensors

Reflection Hosting a large international sporting event guarantees mass media coverage and huge international awareness but is almost unrealistic in the Niger Delta, given that permission from the government would be required for such an event to take place. The chance that the government would grant permission to host an event that exposes their corruption and that of the oil corporations is highly unlikely. One of the goals of the sporting events is to actively involve the inhabitants of the Niger Delta in activities that could contribute to positively changing their existing conditions. These activities involve participating in marathons, fĂştbol, and the production of velomobiles. The problem here, however, is that there is no way to guarantee the participation of the people because other forms of

Practicing Design Activism

awareness campaigns in the region have produced little success. The velomobiles present the very form that represents the struggles of the people, but they run the risk of becoming too gimmicky. Although the idea of racing through wastelands and burned forests shows the severity of the problems, the interesting look of the artifacts (velomobiles) themselves takes away from the problems they are trying to showcase, so that the problem runs the risk of becoming just a backdrop for the promotion of velomobiles. This is a problem that the next concept addresses, because the artifacts put the oilrelated issues in the foreground.

The idea here is to build a tourist park in the Niger Delta. This park would be a tourist destination that uses virtual reality capabilities to showcase the plight of the people and environment of the region. The physical structure can also be styled to communicate some characteristics of the Niger Delta while allowing people to engage with the local issues. The park would feature a virtual reality simulator that is similar to one in production called ‘The Void’, (figure 4.5) which, through the help of specially created gear and environments, enables the user to see, feel and move around the virtual world. The virtual park would simulate destroyed villages, wetlands turned into wastelands, oil spills, ravaged farmlands, and contaminated rivers – in other words, all the harsh realities of the Niger Delta. Figure 4.5 Virtual reality game (The Void)

Another idea was to build the tourist park like a planetarium, but instead of presenting educational and entertainment shows about the solar system, it would house a theatre that projects virtual tours about the struggles of the Niger Delta (figure 4.6). Strong visuals and sound effects will be used to drive home the severity of the problems.

Tourists watching a documentary on illegal oil refineries in the Niger Delta

Practicing Design Activism

Figure 4.6 Tourist park in the Niger Delta

Taking it Global

The major challenge with the virtual park was that it was going to be built in the Niger Delta, which would restrict its reach to a global audience. The fastest way to expand the reach of any cause in the 21st century is to take it online. However, the challenge then would be replicating the same effects of the physical park in the online version. As the concept evolved, it expanded with the addition of digital tours. The digital tours include interactive websites and YouTube videos with 3D capabilities, or it could be an experience similar to the physical park with the help of the upcoming oculus rift headset. This could be quite useful in terms of an educational campaign for other areas around the world. For example, it could be used at an exhibition on the Niger Delta, or it could serve as exhibition pieces that people wear users in the poor social and economic conditions of these oil-producing communities to elicit emotions that can hopefully promote positive social change.

Figure 4.7 International Niger Delta exhibition

Users engaging with various issues associated with the Niger Delta via awareness artifacts ÂŠ grammymusuem.org

Practicing Design Activism

to promote some of the issues (Figure 4.7). The purpose of this is to immerse the

Another way of ‘taking it global’ could be similar to the New Orleans initiative, where the city encouraged locals to upload memories of the city, both old and new, to a website that was created specifically for this purpose. The idea was to help preserve/digitize memories of the city for future generations. This idea can be used to preserve the culture and heritage of the Niger Delta at least to some extent. Most importantly, it can also be used to create global awareness. Inhabitants of the region can be encouraged to upload pre- and post-exploration images of their communities. These images can then be placed side-by-side to show the predicament of the oil-producing communities.

Reflection As stated earlier, building a physical park in the Niger Delta restricts its reach to a wider audience. It also poses the question: How do you convince foreigners to visit a huge facility like that in a state like Rivers, which has been at the center of horror stories about attacks, kidnappings, and the murder of foreign oil workers? For instance, Nigeria was slated to host the FIFA under-17 World Cup soccer tournament in October 2009, but in June, MEND issued a warning to FIFA not to allow Nigeria to host the tournament. As a result of these threats, all match venues in Delta and Rivers State were cancelled, as FIFA officials could

ated in 2009, it will take quite a while to win back the confidence of foreigners. The online version accomplishes the task of taking the tours global via the World Wide Web. However the concept fails to make an instant statement and also lacks urgency, which is crucial for an issue such as this. The online version also requires the users to spend some time on the site, whereas most causes that go viral online are quick and impactful. For example, in April 2014, after the Nigerian-based terrorist organisation Boko Haram abducted 276 high school girls in Chibok, Borno State, the hashtag ‘bringbackourgirls’ instantly went viral on social media. Eventually it expanded beyond the bounds of the digital world, because it was short, impactful, mysterious, and carried a clear sense of urgency.

Practicing Design Activism

the security risks have reduced drastically since the amnesty program was initi-

not access them for inspections (“2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup”, 2009). Although

Chapter Key Points • Bringing international awareness to the poor conditions of the Niger Delta can be accomplished by using sports as a tool for protesting against the system. • It is almost impossible to hold a major international event in the country without permission and/or interference from the government and oil corporations. • From remote locations across the world, online virtual tours have the potential to immerse users in the poor social conditions of the Niger Delta inhabitants by allowing them to

Practicing Design Activism

engage with issues that plague the region. • Past history of security problems in the region make it difficult to promote physical tours to foreign visitors. • Online virtual tours reach a wider audience than the physical tours, but they lack the instant impact and sense of urgency needed to bring attention to the problems associated with the Niger Delta.

PASSIVE CAMPAIGNING

Passive Campaigning

After the realization that it would be almost impossible to organise awareness campaign events without the government and oil corporations interfering, it became obvious that any form of campaign or movement would have to be passive, silent and quiet (i.e., campaigns that allows people to express themselves without fear government interference). This new ‘need’ took the research back to the investigative stage of the research process, as further research needed to be conducted on design activism. At this stage, it seemed like all 30 design possibilities/concepts were unsuitable, as new concepts would have to be generated to satisfy this new need. Even though at this stage it appeared as if the 30 concepts were a ‘waste of time’, they actually were not. They had served their purpose, which was to practice, explore, and engage with the theory of design activism. They also

research does not get to the “eureka!” stage without first going through a host of design possibilities that are unsuitable for one reason or another. This research will focus on using design activism as a means for inventing innovative ways for people to create awareness through everyday behaviors and activities, which are free from the control of the government and other forms of authority and power. An example of campaigning through everyday behaviors is the iSee project developed by the Institute for Applied Autonomy. It is a web-based antisurveillance application that allows city dwellers in Amsterdam, Ljubljana, and New York to track and avert CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras. The iSee website provides a map that shows an overview of the current surveillance infrastructure of each of these three cities (Markussen, 2011). The iSee projects reveals how CCTV cameras infiltrate the environment and also presents people with the opportunity to generate their own routes, aptly named ‘paths of least surveillance’. This enables them to “walk around their cities without fear of (Left) Figure 5.0 ‘Paths of Least Surveillance’

being ‘caught on tape’ by unregulated security monitors” (Markussen, 2011, p. 7). Figure 5.0 shows two examples of a user-created route.

Passive Campaigning

that so-called failures in the design process are still necessary, because this

demonstrated, through their marginally useful albeit short-lived existence,

iSee shows how design activism as an aesthetic practice can potentially influence peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behaviours to their benefit. By exposing and contesting the surveillance systems, iSee informs the people of how law enforcement and private businesses always monitor the general publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions. It then invites people to react against and contribute to ways that can change these situations (Markussen, 2011). By allowing citizens to create their own routes, iSee shows how people can passively protest against existing systems and infrastructures through everyday behaviours as simple as walking. The plan at this stage is to design an artifact that embodies the concept similar to the concept of iSee. The artifact will enable the Niger Delta inhabitants to create conditions that will

Passive Campaigning

contribute to the betterment of their existing situation.

‘Disruptive Aesthetic’ Patterns One uncommon form of passive campaign is campaign through the use of aesthetic patterns. These patterns appear on clothes, plates, artwork and nature (e.g., trees, flowers, water, and soil) and are seemingly ubiquitous. Every culture has different patterns that represent their behaviors and beliefs. In passive campaign through disruptive aesthetic patterns, these patterns are used to disrupt the consensus of a system or paradigm and most importantly create awareness by being ‘disobedient’ aesthetic patterns. To formally define it, ‘disruptive aesthetic’ patterns are the use of apparently innocuous patterns to “disrupt or subvert existing systems of power and authority” (Markuseen 2011, p.2). These patterns could be explicit, tacit, or somewhere in-between. Below are two striking examples of aesthetic patterns being used as instruments of education and expression. In Afghanistan, weavers have found ways to campaign against the occupation of the country by the Soviets (1979-1989) and most recently by the Americans (2001-2014) following the 9/11 terror attacks. As shown in Figure. 5.1, they design ‘rugs’ that depict tragedies of war, as well as kalashnikov rifles, pistols, and AK-47s. These rugs are called Afghan War Rugs, and according to the Smithsonian, the depictions on these rugs are historically accurate; they show battle maps and Soviet tanks retreating to the North (Fyfe, 2015). Afghan War cate pattern details, take the women (weavers) six to nine months to complete large ones (Fyfe, 2015). In an interview, Washington-based rug enthusiast, Barry O’Connell, explained: “Women in that part of the world have a limited ability to speak out, [so]these rugs may be their only chance to gain a voice in their adult life” (Fyfe, 2015, para. 5). Afghan War Rugs are a testament to the constant negotiation between what people are ‘doing’ and how they feel about it, as described by Markussen in The Disruptive Aesthetic of Design Activism: Enacting Design between Art and Politics. Both Images are copyright of © http://www.theplaidzebra.com

Figure 5.1 Afghan War Rugs

Passive Campaigning

Rugs are made with vegetable dye on Persian wool, and because of the intri-

Another example is the use of the traditional textile known as ‘arpilleras’ by the women of Chile. Arpilleras is “the practice of stitching colorful threads or cloth onto cut squares of burlap bags” (Meyer, 2012, para. 3).The women of Chile used the arpilleras patterns to express themselves against the repressive dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), which forced their loved ones to flee into exile in Argentina, Uruguay and other countries, as shown Figure 5.2 (Meyer, 2012). The arpilleras patterns depict compelling representations of the women’s thoughts and dreams through the use of food packaging scraps and torn rags. The women of Chile were also known to use scraps of clothing from their missing loved ones, which established a personal connection between them and the patterns they designed (Meyer, 2012). A former staff member of Chile’s Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ) nonviolence network, Roberta Bacic, said: “They sewed their lives and their loss Passive Campaigning

into the tapestries” (Meyer, 2012, para. 6). Besides allowing the women of Chile to passively campaign the ills of existing power and authority, the patterns provided an avenue for civilian empowerment through arpillera workshops. Even after so many years, the arpillera patterns still visually bring to life the struggles of that time (Meyer, 2012).

Afghan War Rugs and the arpillera patterns perfectly illustrate how everyday behaviors like weaving can not only be used to passively bring awareness to ills of the system but also to create a source of livelihood for the people. These patterns are a testament to human resistance and the immense potential of design activism as a disruptive aesthetic practice.

Figure 5.2 Chilean Arpilleras patterns

The popularity of aesthetic patterns across all ethnic groups in Nigeria is perhaps one of the few things these ethnic groups share. In the past, each ethnic group had their own cultural aesthetic patterns that were based on factors like religion, location, beliefs, skills etc. Over time, these patterns, although still dominant in their tribes of origin, found their way into other cultures. Meanings and translations have been lost and new ones created. For example, the famous Yoruba textile known as ‘adire’ (shown in Figure 5.3) has transcended the Yoruba culture and can be seen across Nigeria and beyond. Today, these patterns can be seen mainly on traditional attire which is worn very frequently, especially on the weekends, to church, mosques, weddings, birthday parties, and so on. In Nigeria, traditional attire has also become the unofficial Friday dress code for corporate organisations. The plan here was to take advantage of the popularity of aesthetic patterns in the country by using them as agents of passive awareness campaign. These patterns would be tailored mainly for traditional attires (hats, wrappers, towels, head ties, shirts, etc.) but would also be featured on materials such as postcards, napkins, candy, buttons, etc., as these items are most likely going to be select number of objects, so that it does not turn into a cliché tourist souvenir. These disruptive or disobedient aesthetic patterns will be known as ‘Patterns for Justice’, and represent the struggles of the Niger Delta people. Some of them will be direct and explicit, like the Afghan War Rugs or the arpillera patterns, and some will be tacit and metaphoric. Much like the aforementioned examples, Patterns for Justice will be made locally.

exposed to a global audience. The key is to keep its production limited to a

Passive Campaigning

Figure 5.3 Adire (Yoruba Tie Dye)

Passive Campaigning

Patterns for Justice

Figure 5.4 Patterns for Justice (Oil Spills Related) (Top Right) Pipelines going through houses (Center) Oil spills contaminating water (Bottom Right) Good Job Shell!

85 Passive Campaigning

Figure 5.5 Patterns for Justice (Contamination) (Top Right) Oxygen prohibited (Center) Fresh air prohibited (Bottom Right) Contaminated tomatoes

Etibor Image ÂŠfnbdesigns.blogspot.comspot.com

Passive Campaigning

86 Figure 5.6 Oil destroyed our traditional source of livelihood

(Top Right) Fish skeleton in an oil barrel pattern. (Bottom Right) Dead fish in an oil barrel pattern embeded on the Niger Delta traditional attire (Etibor).

Reflection When designing Patterns for Justice commenced, it appeared to the researcher as if the concept was going to be the outcome of months of research and conceptualization. Patterns for Justice accomplishes the goal of using disruptive aesthetics to bring attention to the struggles of the Niger Delta people by using strong visual stories and simple illustrations (mainly ironic and metaphorical) to get the message across. It does not adapt the visual language of Niger Delta traditional costumes for the sake of uniqueness, as uniqueness is needed for the Patterns of Justice to stand out in a crowd. It does, however, fit in perfectly with the unique traditional clothing style (i.e., Etibor). see figure 5.6. After designing the first six patterns, a few problems became apparent. Firstly, it appeared that the use of irony took away from the severity of the issues the patterns were trying to communicate, as they elicited remarks such as ‘isn’t that clever’ or ‘isn’t that funny’ when shown to a few people who were unaware of the problems associated with the Niger Delta. Much like the Afghan War Rugs and the arpillera patterns, the reach of such patterns is limited. Moreover, although it fulfills half of the criteria for this research by reaching out to other regions in the Nigeria due to the continuous saturation of cultural patterns, the “funny and

pers, towels, head ties, shirts, etc., that might better reach a global audience was nixed because it was almost impossible to guarantee that these items would not turn into ordinary souvenirs as opposed to strong awareness devices. Lost in the excitement of creating Patterns for Justice were themes of ‘urgency’, ‘mystery and ‘instant impact’, as discussed in Chapter 4: Practicing Design Activism. Patterns for Justice delivers its messages but its lack of urgency is considered a failure, because the people of the Niger Delta need urgent help. For any outcome to be successful in this research, it has to invite the international community not only to intervene, but to intervene urgently.

Passive Campaigning

initial plan to extend the uses of the patterns to mediums such as hats, wrap-

ironic” patterns fail to reach (and if to reach, to touch) a global audience. The

88 Passive Campaigning

89 Passive Campaigning

(Left - Right) Figure 5.7 Research reflection maps

Showing research progress from the beginning till date.

Chapter Key Points • Passive awareness campaigns can potentially allow the Niger Delta inhabitants to bring international attention to their struggles without fear of governmental interference. • The iSee project demonstrates how design activism invites people to react and change an unpleasant condition through everyday behaviours as simple as walking. • Afghan War Rugs and arpillera patterns highlight the underrated ability of ‘disruptive aesthetics’ as a powerful tool for drawing attention to a failed system.

Passive Campaigning

• Patterns for Justice attempts to use the strong culture of traditional clothing in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a device for exposing to a global audience the failures of the powers and authorities in the region. • Pattern for Justice uses irony and strong visual storytelling to effectively communicate the struggles of the Niger Delta. • Patterns for Justice fails to communicate the urgency of problems associated with the region.

DESIGNING FOR JUSTICE

The previous concepts in this research created the need to delve into the theme of ‘urgency’. These themes mostly describe the response that this research is trying to elicit from the local and international community. The goal is to showcase the struggles of the Niger Delta through strong visuals that instantly draw the viewers in and deliver the message as quickly as possible. This research aims at using mystery to stimulate the curiosity of people and to make them ponder; this will be achieved through a ‘viral awareness campaign’. The theme ‘viral’ refers to the speedy and vast circulation of information from Figure 6.1 Folgers Coffee

one person or group to another person or group, and can be analogue (posters, buttons) or digital (videos, virtual images). Viral campaigns are often used in marketing to generate buzz for a product or service and are usually achieved

through guerilla ads, video ads, etc. For example, in a recent campaign, the

mug emitted steam in their direction. The aim of this ad was to instantly whet the appetite of passersby for Folgers coffee (Lum, 2010). In another example of viral marketing, the entertainment giant Warner Bros (WB) promoted the film Superman Returns by installing a twisted telephone pole in the middle of a busy city sidewalk (figure 6.2). It drew the attention of people, who then stopped to inspect the pole regardless of whether or not Figure 6.2 Superman Returns

they were interested in seeing the movie (Lum, 2010). Yet another example of a viral ad is for the grooming product line Axe/Lynx. Through its famous ‘running’ ads (emergency exit signs of multiple women running after a man see

figure 6.3) posted in various cities across the United States, the ads promise that women will flock to Axe users as a result of its alleged chick-magnet scent (Lum, 2010). These campaigns succeed because of the use of interesting and compelling visuals that instantly find creative ways to deliver the message. The intent here is to use techniques that work in viral marketing campaigns but to also stay away from the look and feel of a marketing campaign. We are not trying Figure 6.3 Axe the chick-magnet scent

to sell a product but rather to educate people on the injustices that have been dealt to oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta and to the region in general.

Designing for Justice

embedding a coffee mug in the ground (figure 6.1). As people passed by, the

multinational coffee purveyor Folgers used the optical illusion of street art by

ÂŠ thegiant.org ÂŠ thegiant.org

Designing for Justice

96 Figure 6.4 OBEY Giant Campaign

(Top Right) Andre the Giant has a posse stickers (Bottom Right) OBEY Giant posters

Justice Awareness Campaign This research explores the concept of passive campaigning by creating an awareness campaign called the ‘Justice Campaign’ that seeks to educate and enlighten the local and international community on the struggles of the Niger Delta. The campaign is modelled after the ‘OBEY Giant’ or ‘Andre the Giant has a Posse’, designed in 1989 by Shepard Fairey in Providence, Rhode Island. The ‘Obey’ campaign is a silk-screened, 2-inch-square black-and-white sticker that began appearing in the summer of 1989 around Providence initially as ‘Andre the Giant has a Posse’. It features then WWF (World Wrestling Federation) professional wrestler André Roussimoff (a.k.a. Andre the Giant), as Fairey’s original goal was to raise the image of Andre the Giant to iconic status (“Obey Giant”, n.d.). Threats of a lawsuit from WWF stopped Fairey from using the trademarked name “Andre the Giant”. He then redesigned Andre’s image on the sticker and attached the new iconic slogan ‘OBEY’, which was a parody of propaganda and also an homage to the cult classic They Live, starring another professional wrestler, Roddy Piper (“Obey Giant”, n.d.). Fairey later claimed the campaign was an experiment in phenomenology. The primary aim of phenomenology is to arouse a ‘sense of wonder’ about

ship with their surroundings” (“Obey Giant”, n.d., para 1). The rationale here is that people are not conversant with ads or propaganda whose motives are unknown. Recurring and novel encounters with the Obey campaign incites uncomfortable thoughts and possible frustration (“Obey Giant”, n.d., para), but “nevertheless revitaliz[ed] the viewer’s perception and attention to detail. The medium is the message” (“Obey Giant”, n.d., para 1). The Justice Campaign will attempt to use mystery to stimulate the curiosity of the viewing public through a series of campaign posters and stickers that will go viral both in analogue and digitally across the world. The campaign is divided into three stages, and as the campaign progresses through its three stages, its goals will become increasingly apparent.

Designing for Justice

curiosity and bring people to question both the campaign and their relation-

one’s surroundings. Hence, “[t]he Obey campaign attempts to stimulate

Designing for Justice

98 Figure 6.5 Justice Symbol

The Symbol The symbol of the Justice Awareness Campaign is a dripping seal stamp made out of crude oil, as a parody of a wax seal stamp. In the past, governments and royalty used unique seals to give their official and authoritative stamp of approval. In England and its colonies, important documents “were authenticated by placing a glob of sealing wax next to the signature and impressing the wax with a signet ring” (“History of Wax Seals”, n.d., para 5). Nowadays, wax seals are used to prevent the physical tampering of custom envelopes containing legal contracts and election votes, and also to prevent tampering of original literature and products (“History of Wax Seals”, n.d.).

overt sign that the problems are of utmost importance, have been verified by the people of the Niger Delta, and require urgent attention. The centerpiece is one of the Patterns of Justice illustrated in Chapter 5: Passive Campaigns. It shows a fish skeleton in an oil barrel, which symbolizes the death of the traditional source of livelihood of the Niger Delta by oil-related activities. The loss of livelihood brought on by reckless and destructive oil exploration has resulted in numerous social problems, such as poverty, unemployment, poor education, and a multitude of health conditions. The dead fish pattern best embodies the nature of the wicked problem confounding the Niger Delta and its people and is also sufficiently abstract to help preserve the mystery of the Justice Campaign.

Symbol Disrupting Political Contexts

Symbol in other Contexts

Fish skeleton in an oil barrel, which symbolizes the death of the traditional source of livelihood of the Niger Delta by oil-related activities.

The oil seal is a ‘disruptive aesthetic’ pattern that symbolizes justice. It is an

Designing for Justice

Centerpiece

Stage One: Sightings of the Justice Symbol In stage one, the Justice Symbol begins to show up in different mediums (digital or analogue stickers, posters, clothing pins, street art, posters, flyers

100

Designing for Justice

etc.) and contexts without any explanation.

Temporary Facebook Profile Photo

Google Home page

Designing for Justice

ÂŠstevonxclusive.com

101

Figure 6.6 First sightings of the symbol

Shirt Pins

Stage Two: Justice

102

Designing for Justice

Justice begins to appear next to the symbol.

103

Figure 6.7 Justice propaganda posters

Figure 6.8 Disrupting election campaigns

Designing for Justice

www.vanguardngr.com

104 ÂŠ www.voanews.com

Figure 6.9 Dropping off Justice flyers Designing for Justice

105

ÂŠ twww.timeout.com

Stage Two: Justice App A free Justice app shows up on the app store under the category â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mysteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The app features a sign up process that ensures that users are updated on the progress of the campaign.

Featured Apps Page

Figure 6.10 Justice App

Download Page

App Icon

App Home Screen

Stage Three: Subtle Reveal

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Designing for Justice

Using Ogoniland as a reference, new posters are revealed with more information.

Figure 6.11 Reveal posters

Designing for Justice

109

110 Designing for Justice

Designing for Justice

111

Reflection The campaign uses disruptive aesthetic vision to make visible the seemingly invisible problems of the Niger Delta. It is based on a form of activism that promotes user involvement as a major prerequisite for success with design activism. Without the participation of people in the design process, whether by talking about it or passing campaign artifacts from one person to another either on- or offline, the campaign does not exist. In addition to the hope that the people participating in these behaviours can potentially contribute to ameliorating the problems, the campaign will also accomplish the goal of using passive activities as a tool for bringing awareness to the inhumane conditions of the region. In the 21st century, sharing a picture of a farmland ravaged by oil spills online has the potential to grab more attention than a violent protest over said oil spills not broadcast by the government-controlled media. Going back to a previous

112

Designing for Justice

example, a simple hashtag (#bringbackourgirls) online did more to bring international attention to the Boko Haram problem and the negligence of the Nigerian government than all the protests that occurred as a result of that incident. Overall, the campaign has immense potential to succeed. The scenarios highlight the strengths of visual communication and opportunities for further development. Going forward, the plan is to test the campaign in a more controlled environment such as on social media, and perhaps getting family and friends to share it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., to gauge the reaction of their friends and acquaintances. Based on reactions, tweaks will be made if necessary before committing to the realization of the campaign.

Chapter Key Points • Through viral campaigning that stimulates the curiosity of the viewing public, i.e., makes them deliberate over what they are seeing, this research aims to expose the injustices that have been dealt to the land and people of the Niger Delta. • The Justice Campaign draws inspiration from the OBEY Giant campaign. It aims to get people invested by making them think about what they are seeing as opposed to the usual campaigns that makes their intentions obvious right from the start. • The Justice oil seal symbol represents the importance and urgency of the problem. • The campaign perfectly illustrates design activism by not only exposing the shortcomings of the system in the Niger Delta, but also by inviting the people to participate in the design process.

Designing for Justice

used to bring about international awareness to critical conditions.

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• The campaign shows how passive activities can potentially be

CONCLUSION AND REFERENCES

116

This research project began with an investigation into the dilemma of how a region like the Niger Delta, which is so rich in crude oil (i.e., one of the most profitable natural resources in the world) can still suffer from extreme environmental degradation, abject poverty, a poor health care system, administrative neglect, unemployment, poor living conditions, and so on. These problems gave birth to the surge in violent militant activities in the 2000s, which provided the Nigerian government and oil corporations with excuses to continue the exploitation and mistreatment of the Niger Delta people. It also provided the mass media with ammunition to misrepresent the region, thus hiding the real problems from the rest of Nigeria and the international community. A literary and contextual review revealed that past attempts by the inhabitants of the region to protest either peacefully or violently have fallen on deaf ears as a

and international awareness to the struggles of the Niger Delta. History has shown that the Nigerian government and large corporations will only â&#x20AC;&#x153;do the right thingâ&#x20AC;? (i.e., treat the people and land with respect) when a tremendous amount of pressure is placed on them by international benefactors. Throughout the thesis study, the research engaged with the theory of design activism as a design approach that could potentially help educate the local and international community on the exploitation and maltreatment of the Niger Delta. The development of several design concepts revealed that design activism in this research would have to be a passive activity, as interference from the Nigerian federal government and oil corporations restricted the potential of radical awareness campaigns. The need to create awareness conceived a campaign that emphasizes the severity of the issue and invites people to participate in passive activities that inform and enlighten the international on the poor conditions of the Niger Delta. Figure 7.0 Winds of Change

Color green slowly creeps into the Justice propaganda poster to reflect changes caused by the Justice campaign

In the end, the campaign will generate interest in the subject matter by using mystery to stimulate the curiosity of the people, thereby investing them in the problem and inviting them to contribute in ways that can incite positive social, environmental, economic and cultural change in the Niger Delta.

Conclusion

This research focused on exploring ways in which design can help bring local

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result of the corrupt system and government.

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Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; American social reformer, Frederick Douglass

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