Shell has never apologized for it destruction of Ogoniland or for failing to intervene to prevent Saro-Wiwa's execution. The oil giant has also immersed itself in projects around the world that pose serious risks of polluting pristine environments, endangering the livelihoods and lives of indigenous populations and even of inflaming civil wars. For all of the horror that Shell has wreaked in Nigeria and all of the threats it continues to pose around the globe, the company has suffered only a few bruises to its reputation and almost none to its bottom line. In the wake of Saro-Wiwa's execution, even the New York Times editorialized against Shell. But U.S. citizen movements failed to rise to the challenge and opportunity of disciplining Shell.
Most groups simply let the moment pass by.
Among the national environmental groups, only the Sierra Club maintained an ongoing anti-Shell campaign. A new organization, Project Underground, also focused on Shell and Nigeria, as did many African and Nigerian advocacy organizations. Unfortunately, among those groups which did seek to promote democracy and environmental justice in Nigeria, many focused their effort primarily on lobbying for congressional sanctions against Nigeria. Thwarted by apologists for the Nigerian dictatorship such as Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, this has been a failed effort. A burgeoning community and student movement has achieved passage in Massachusetts and many cities of selective purchasing laws that forbid governments from buying goods or services from companies that do business in Burma.