The indigenous peoples of Sakhalin Island, Russia are taking direct
>action, and demanding that the enormous Sakhalin I and II oil and gas
>projects address their concerns. As you read this, about 40
>protesters are blocking the entrance to ExxonMobil's shoreline
>production complex on Sakhalin's Chaivo Bay in a tense stand-off.
>They are holding their ground despite sub-freezing temperatures and
>the presence of local and federal police. According to the latest
>reports, there is a line of at least 100 fully loaded trucks stopped
>in their tracks on the road leading to the site. The protesters are
>having an impact!
>
>The protesters urgently need the solidarity of the world community.
>You can show solidarity with these brave activists by sending an
>email message to the heads of ExxonMobil, Shell, and the Governor of
>Sakhalin. Just

>follow
>this link, and with a few easy clicks, you can show your support in
>their struggle:

> http://www.actionstudio.org/public/page_view_all.cfm?option=begin&pageid=5848
>
>The Nivkh, Uilta, and Evenki of Sakhalin have seen their livelihoods
>and their subsistence economy diminish under the crushing presence of
>companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, and Mitsubishi. Oil and gas
>development has led to massive fish die-offs, and the construction of
>a 500-mile pipeline threatens the island's pristine salmon habitat.
>The pipeline also crosses a sacred indigenous burial site, and
>construction noises have disturbed the reindeer herding that is
>crucial to the local economy.
>
>After years of failed negotiations with the oil companies and with
>the public banks that back the projects, they are asking that the
>companies take immediate action to improve their practices, and to
>establish an independently managed indigenous peoples' compensation
>fund. They won't back down until this action is taken.
>
>