“Europe’s largest oil company agreed on Monday to a $15.5 million payout to settle a lawsuit over alleged complicity in human rights abuses under the former military regime in Nigeria during the 1990s.

The case, initiated 13 years ago, had been due for trial in the United States next week.

The victims included the Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who led a non-violent protest against environmental destruction and abuses against the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta. He was hanged in 1995 along with other activists after standing trial in a military court. The activists’ deaths triggered international condemnation and outrage.

Though willing to pay up, Shell was quick to reject the claims concerning the 1995 execution of six anti-Shell activists by the African country’s military regime.”

Full Article

I know that money won’t bring the dead back, and I know that something is better than nothing at all, but I also know that a life is worth more than $700,000! These oil companies make billions, so milions is a drop in the ocean. The oil giant has made that 15 million back many times over since the ruling was decided, plus the company accepts no responsibility for the activists’ deaths. Surely the point of the case was to show how the company played a part in the executions, yet suddenly money made everything all right.

The developed world takes advantage of Africa so often. The ‘western world’ dumps chemical waste on African beaches or rivers, pollutes the African atmosphere by pumping more harmful chemicals into the air, and then destroys farmers’ livelihood through unfair trade. What do some African leaders do? They let it happen time and time again because they’re in a huge mansion with luxuries, that you and I can only dream of, far away from the people suffering the consequences of greed.

So….is your life worth $700,000?

Once again, two of the greatest singers of all time will go head to head on the charts.

On August 31st (UK) and September 1st worldwide, Houston will be back in the limelight. Her first studio album since 2002′s Just Whitney will hit stores near you. After overcoming drug problems, divorce, dwindling sales, and more, Houston appears to have triumphed it all to return to the stage.

On September 18th, Carey brings us Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Like Houston she has also overcome many hurdles including two albums that failed to match her previously high sales, a breakdown, and an unhappy marriage and divorce at a young age.

But on to happier times…

Whitney’s recent performances show even though her voice is not as it once was, she is still a force to be reckoned with. Photographs of her with her daughter show happy times, she seems to have returned to a healthier weight, and she has the backing of her label and the bosses at the top.

Mariah is on a label who were willing to give her a chance when others had moved on, her ‘lambs’ stand by her no matter what, and now she is happily married to Nick Cannon who seems to be the perfect, doting husband.

But let’s cut to the chase: Whitney VERSUS Mariah.

Who is the better singer?
Who is the better performer (singing+dancing+interactions with the crowd+concerts)?
If one of them flops, which one will it be?

You decide in September…and right now in the Comments.