A winner of the “Green Nobel” put his life on the line to stop a British oil company from drilling in the oldest national park in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Now we need you to make sure he gets the corporation’s promise to stay out of Virunga National Park in writing.

We introduced you to Rodrigue Katembo last month when he won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, awarded to those who stand up to corporate power in the name of the climate. Rodrigue endured torture and threats and eventually forced UK-based SOCO to withdraw from his park. But we the agreement is so far only verbal.

Thousands of SumOfUs supporters sent Rodrigue powerful messages of support for his inspirational fight. Now we need to ensure he gets SOCO’s promise in writing. Only a written agreement will ensure the future prosperity of his beloved Virunga National reserve.

Tell SOCO to put its promise to withdraw from Virunga National Park in writing.

Rodrigue faced down poachers and armed thugs in his fearless fight to keep the priceless Virunga out of Big Oil’s hands. He paid an enormous price for his activism. In 2013, just days after he had stopped a SOCO team from building a telecommunications antenna inside the park, Katembo was arrested and tortured for 17 days.

Rodrigue and the footage he gathered during his undercover investigations were heavily featured in the documentary film Virunga. The film gained a massive international audience through Netflix and in late 2015, SOCO announced it was giving up its oil license. Rodrigue had won.

But this win and Rodrigue’s incredible work will mean nothing if we can’t get this agreement in writing. Let’s make sure he gets it.

Show Rodrigue he can count on us. Demand SOCO signs a written agreement to stay out of Virunga forever.

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