http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/33488 The Last Straw: OCCUPY NIGERIA January 1st 2012 the Nigerian government removes a fuel subsidy, doubling the price of fuel to N145 from a usual N65 overnight. One week prior the country is in mourning; a suicide bomber kills 37 outside a church on Christmas day in Abuja. Public question - does the government care about us at all? Nigeria the Giant of Africa is a country with excessive oil wealth, yet most of the country lives in poverty. Insecurity is rapidly increasing with the Boko Haram insurgency. People are pushed to their maximum, multitudes of promises from the givernment are yet to be fulfilled however people are still "suffering and smiling" as the great Fela Kuti wrote. The removal of fuel subsidy on the 1st of January was the last straw for many people. It would effect the cost of everything, the price of food, transport, medicine and even electricity. Inspired by the Arab Spring and Occupy movements, the country united to take a stand. Christian and Muslim, rich and poor, old and young. In Lagos, a city of 20 million people came to a holt as most people stayed home as others gathered to peacefully protest through music and dance. The frustration amongst protesters was palpable, and presenting itself in bizarre actions, an almost hysterical carnival type celebration. During the week of protests 16 people were reportedly killed by police forces. With fear of anarchy Goodluck Jonathon deployed hundreds of soldiers to the streets of Lagos Over night protest stages were removed, and any group of two or more gathering on the streets were separated. Due to purported security concerns, trade unions unilaterally called off the protests saying they acted to save lives after hearing information that security would use any means to end protests. The public was advised 'protest at home' They tried to continue the peaceful protest at gani fawehinmi parkbut were stopped by military force so congregated at the late Fela Kuti's Shrine. Labor unions and the government later agreed to 30% price drop to 97 and protests dissolved http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/41606/meingyero_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333688/Scaler-3264_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333688'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333688 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:20:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333688 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333688/Scaler-3264_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333688'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333742/Scaler-3748_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333742'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333742 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:20:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333742 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333742/Scaler-3748_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333742'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333724/Scaler-3624_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333724'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333724 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333724 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333724/Scaler-3624_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333724'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333736/Scaler-3717_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333736'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333736 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333736 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333736/Scaler-3717_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333736'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333697/Scaler-3351_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333697'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333697 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333697 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333697/Scaler-3351_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333697'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333700/Scaler-3371_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333700'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333700 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333700 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333700/Scaler-3371_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333700'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333754/Scaler-3846_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333754'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333754 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333754 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333754/Scaler-3846_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333754'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333703/Scaler-3377_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333703'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333703 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333703 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333703/Scaler-3377_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333703'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333691/Scaler-3281_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333691'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333691 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333691 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333691/Scaler-3281_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333691'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333706/Scaler-3404_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333706'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333706 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333706 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333706/Scaler-3404_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333706'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333709/Scaler-3414_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333709'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333709 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333709 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333709/Scaler-3414_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333709'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333760/Scaler-3892_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333760'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333760 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333760 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333760/Scaler-3892_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333760'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333751/Scaler-3839_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333751'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333751 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333751 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333751/Scaler-3839_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333751'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333778/Scaler-4089_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333778'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333778 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333778 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333778/Scaler-4089_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333778'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333727/Scaler-3627_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333727'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333727 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333727 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333727/Scaler-3627_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333727'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333712/Scaler-3495_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333712'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333712 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333712 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333712/Scaler-3495_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333712'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333748/Scaler-3794_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333748'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333748 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333748 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333748/Scaler-3794_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333748'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333769/Scaler-3945_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333769'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333769 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333769 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333769/Scaler-3945_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333769'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333715/Scaler-3559_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333715'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333715 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333715 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333715/Scaler-3559_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333715'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333718/Scaler-3563_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333718'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333718 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333718 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333718/Scaler-3563_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333718'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333733/Scaler-3705_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333733'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333733 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333733 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333733/Scaler-3705_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333733'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333781/Scaler-4108_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333781'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333781 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333781 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333781/Scaler-4108_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333781'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333694/Scaler-3316_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333694'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333694 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333694 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333694/Scaler-3316_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333694'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333739/Scaler-3727_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333739'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333739 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333739 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333739/Scaler-3727_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333739'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333721/Scaler-3599_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333721'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333721 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333721 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333721/Scaler-3599_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333721'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333766/Scaler-3918_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333766'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333766 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333766 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333766/Scaler-3918_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333766'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333757/Scaler-3870_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333757'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333757 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333757 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333757/Scaler-3870_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333757'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333775/Scaler-3960_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333775'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333775 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333775 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333775/Scaler-3960_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333775'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333730/Scaler-3645_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333730'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333730 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333730 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333730/Scaler-3645_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333730'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333763/Scaler-3903_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333763'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333763 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333763 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333763/Scaler-3903_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333763'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333772/Scaler-3955_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333772'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333772 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333772 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333772/Scaler-3955_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333772'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333745/Scaler-3773_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333745'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333745 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:24:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333745 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1333745/Scaler-3773_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1333745'>view full-size image</a> Ruth McDowall