More legal battles on the way for Shell

Multinational fuel giant Shell may have won the first round in the fight to carry out seismic surveys in the sea off the east coast, but it seems as though there are more legal battles on the way as both local people and environmentalists fight to stop what they say will be disastrous exploration.

The arguments in favour of the testing are that resources like oil and gas can be exploited to lift a country out of poverty.

Look at the Middle East for proof of that, the argument goes.

On the other hand, opponents also make some valid points. They say that the testing will damage the marine life for a long distance from where it will be conducted.

Local communities, some of which include fishermen, are already fighting exploitation in the Wild Coast area from mining companies and a proposed new N2 highway.

Apart from anything else, say the critics, why should Shell be allowed to prospect for a substance which is already blamed for massive climate change?

Should we be worried, though, that, at the end of the day, this could be yet another big business rape of a sensitive ecosystem with no real benefit for the ordinary people?