Called by Hands Off Iraqi Oil and supported by the Stop the War Coalition.


* A London action, involving a Corporate Pirates revival, is already being organised: meet 12.30pm, Bond Street tube (see see tinyurl.com/2oh6b7 and tinyurl.com/3e27pg for
background and pictures from a previous piratical excursion) *

STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE IRAQI PEOPLE
For the Iraqi people, the ongoing war and occupation have led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, relentless insecurity and crippling poverty. But for foreign oil companies, the desperate situation in Iraq is an opportunity to make massive profits at the expense of the Iraqi people.

WHY NOW?
In February 2007 the Iraqi cabinet approved an oil law which, if passed into law, would allow the likes of Shell, BP and Exxon to take over control of most of Iraq's oil reserves, depriving ordinary Iraqis of scores of billions of dollars. Shell and BP, with the help of the UK Government have been actively pushing for this law and these contracts since 2003.

One year on, despite five US administration- and IMF- imposed deadlines, the law is still being contested at every level of Iraqi society. However, a 31January deadline for nternational oil companies to register to compete for tenders to help develop Iraq's oil ( http://tinyurl.com/2bzcuq) represents a first official foot in the door.

We need to keep the pressure up here in the UK and support the Iraqi people in their ongoing fight.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO STOP THEM
The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions is at the forefront of grassroots campaigning against the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry and has threatened strike action should the law go ahead. Oil experts, lawyers, academics, trade unionists, and students are rejecting the
occupation-imposed oil law and the economic occupation it serves.

Who should decide the future of Iraq’s economy and resources? The people of Iraq, or Shell and BP?

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Join the Hands Off Iraqi Oil national day of action on Saturday 23 February 2008:

* Invite a speaker to help build for your local action: contact 07749 421 576

* Hold a protest at your local Shell and BP garages (see below for resources), and let us know when you’re doing it so we can help publicise it:  handsoffiraqioil@gmail.com

* Stay informed: sign up for emails updates about the campaign via  handsoffiraqioil@gmail.com

* Find out more: check www.handsoffiraqioil.org for briefings, leaflets, posters, stickers and details of actions both here in the UK and internationally.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The following resources can be ordered or downloaded from www.handsoffiraqioil.org or by phoning Voices UK on 0845 458 2564:

* Hands Off Iraqi Oil poster (A2)
* Hands Off Iraqi Oil stickers (A7)
* Mythbusters factsheet: responses to some common myths about Iraq’s oil
* 'Iraqi Oil for Beginners' by Jon Sack, a new comic book history of Iraq’s oil. Price £3
* Shell leaflets and factsheets