Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore spoke to a room filled beyond seating capacity last night as part of a Global Exchange international delegation of speakers bringing attention to human rights abuses by corporations around the world.

Sowore spent the first 30 minutes of his presentation giving a concise review of the political climate in Nigeria and his experiences growing up in the midst of violence and corruption. In his mind, the major problem was with the oil companies, not necessarily the Nigerian kleptocracy.

"I'm harder on the oil companies because they come from the civilized parts of the world and they don't work here the same way they do there," Sowore said. "If they were to have this one single standard for exploration, the [Nigerian] government would be the single problem."

He presented many ideas as to how America can alleviate its reliance on oil. Among these ideas are suggestions to ditch SUVs and trucks in exchange for plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles. Above all, Sowore urged his audience to get involved with their campuses and their politicians to drive the oil and pharmaceutical lobbyists from Congress.

Sowore's lecture was organized and presented by Global Exchange, in cooperation with the Sierra Student Coalition of UW and Amnesty International. The Sierra Student Coalition of UW is a grassroots political organization. Amnesty International is a non-partisan human rights organization that confronts human rights abuses wherever it is found, no matter who is involved.

"I want students to feel like they can make change," said Christina Billingsley of the Sierra Student Coalition of UW. "The overall message that I want to get out is that we can make change in our communities, in our governments...it is possible."

"Our biggest concern is the impact corporations can have on indigenous populations all over the world," said Phil Neff of Amnesty International. "Our main goal is to hold corporations to the highest human rights standard wherever they operate around the world."

Contributing writer Anthony Michael Erickson: development@thedaily.washington.edu