LOCAL campaigners stage demonstration against UK oil companies profiting from the Iraq war as part of a Global Day of Action to say ‘Hands Off Iraqi Oil’. A few local residents will be dressed as typical ‘robbers’, to represent the oil companies. The staged dialogue between these ‘robbers’ and local anti-war campaigners will explain the relationship between war, oil and profit to local passers-by. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN PLEASE SEE CONTACT DETAILS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Cambridge Hands Off Iraqi Oil (1)
‘Iraq Oil robbers’ to be challenged by local campaigners
DATE: Saturday, 23rd February 2008, 11am.
PLACE Roundabout at end of Fen Causeway opposite Shell petrol station. Then walk to Market Square.
Photo opportunity: ‘Campaign Cops and Oil Robbers’
· 11am at Shell petrol station, Newnham roundabout (end of Fen Causeway)
· 12pm at the Market Square, outside the Guildhall.
Cambridge residents will be protesting against plans by UK Oil companies to control the development, production and depletion of Iraq’s oil reserves by staging a demonstration on Saturday 23rd February in Cambridge (1). The theme of the local protest will be ‘Corporate Robbers’.
Under the proposed new Hydrocarbon Law, Iraq stands to lose billions of pounds in oil income. (2) Days before the invasion in March 2003, the British and US governments were lobbied by Shell, BP, ExxonMobile, Total and Chevron. They were asked to press the Baghdad administration to sign a law, giving them exclusive rights to extract over two-thirds of Iraq’s oil.
Two in three Iraqis oppose the plans (3), which will allow oil companies control over new Iraqi oil fields for 25 years. Many feel that the proposed law would surrender Iraq’s economic sovereignty and undermine the development of Iraq.
Jannie Brightman said: “It is a scandal that Shell and BP intend to raid Iraq’s oil wealth for themselves. Shell has posted record profits for the second year in a row (4), yet they are intent on exploiting people under occupation.
“With 95% of Iraq’s revenues derived from oil, decisions on the future of Iraqi oil are fundamental to the country’s development. Who should decide the future of Iraq's economy and resources? The people of Iraq, or Shell and BP?”
For more information or if you would like to join the demonstration, please contact
Jannie Brightman, bright1[AT]yahoo.com
NOTES:
(1) Hands Off Iraqi Oil is a UK coalition opposing any foreign exploitation of Iraq’s oil reserves that rips off the Iraqi people. Members include Corporate Watch, Iraq Occupation Focus, Jubilee Iraq, PLATFORM, Voices UK and War on Want. For more information on the campaign please visit www.handsoffiraqioil.org
(2) The protest in Cambridge is part of an International day of action taking place in:
UK - Bangor, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Hastings, Halifax, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Norwich, St Andrews.
USA - Washington DC and Dallas, Texas.
(3) Using economic models for 12 of the 60 Iraqi oilfields listed as priorities for Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) in 2005, based on an average oil price of $40 per barrel, PLATFORM (a UK based NGO) projected a loss in revenue to Iraq of between $74 and $194 billion, compared to keeping control in public hands. In early 2008, the oil price hit $100 a barrel. (Crude Designs: The rip-off of Iraq’s oil wealth, PLATFORM with Global Policy Forum, Institute of Policy Studies, New Economics Foundation, Oil Change International and War on Want, November 2005.)
(4) Found in a poll organised by a number of organisations including Oil Change International, the Institute for Policy Studies, Global Policy Forum, PLATFORM, and Jubilee Iraq. Quoted in
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/08/3061/
(5) Shell reported profits of $27.6 bn, the largest ever profits in British corporate history for the second year in a row. In 2006, Shell’s profits were $25bn (up 21% on 2005).
CONTACTS:
Jannie Brightman, bright1s[AT]yahoo.com
‘Iraq Oil robbers’ to be challenged by local campaigners
DATE: Saturday, 23rd February 2008, 11am.
PLACE Roundabout at end of Fen Causeway opposite Shell petrol station. Then walk to Market Square.
Photo opportunity: ‘Campaign Cops and Oil Robbers’
· 11am at Shell petrol station, Newnham roundabout (end of Fen Causeway)
· 12pm at the Market Square, outside the Guildhall.
Cambridge residents will be protesting against plans by UK Oil companies to control the development, production and depletion of Iraq’s oil reserves by staging a demonstration on Saturday 23rd February in Cambridge (1). The theme of the local protest will be ‘Corporate Robbers’.
Under the proposed new Hydrocarbon Law, Iraq stands to lose billions of pounds in oil income. (2) Days before the invasion in March 2003, the British and US governments were lobbied by Shell, BP, ExxonMobile, Total and Chevron. They were asked to press the Baghdad administration to sign a law, giving them exclusive rights to extract over two-thirds of Iraq’s oil.
Two in three Iraqis oppose the plans (3), which will allow oil companies control over new Iraqi oil fields for 25 years. Many feel that the proposed law would surrender Iraq’s economic sovereignty and undermine the development of Iraq.
Jannie Brightman said: “It is a scandal that Shell and BP intend to raid Iraq’s oil wealth for themselves. Shell has posted record profits for the second year in a row (4), yet they are intent on exploiting people under occupation.
“With 95% of Iraq’s revenues derived from oil, decisions on the future of Iraqi oil are fundamental to the country’s development. Who should decide the future of Iraq's economy and resources? The people of Iraq, or Shell and BP?”
For more information or if you would like to join the demonstration, please contact
Jannie Brightman, bright1[AT]yahoo.com
NOTES:
(1) Hands Off Iraqi Oil is a UK coalition opposing any foreign exploitation of Iraq’s oil reserves that rips off the Iraqi people. Members include Corporate Watch, Iraq Occupation Focus, Jubilee Iraq, PLATFORM, Voices UK and War on Want. For more information on the campaign please visit www.handsoffiraqioil.org
(2) The protest in Cambridge is part of an International day of action taking place in:
UK - Bangor, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Hastings, Halifax, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Norwich, St Andrews.
USA - Washington DC and Dallas, Texas.
(3) Using economic models for 12 of the 60 Iraqi oilfields listed as priorities for Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) in 2005, based on an average oil price of $40 per barrel, PLATFORM (a UK based NGO) projected a loss in revenue to Iraq of between $74 and $194 billion, compared to keeping control in public hands. In early 2008, the oil price hit $100 a barrel. (Crude Designs: The rip-off of Iraq’s oil wealth, PLATFORM with Global Policy Forum, Institute of Policy Studies, New Economics Foundation, Oil Change International and War on Want, November 2005.)
(4) Found in a poll organised by a number of organisations including Oil Change International, the Institute for Policy Studies, Global Policy Forum, PLATFORM, and Jubilee Iraq. Quoted in
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/08/3061/ (5) Shell reported profits of $27.6 bn, the largest ever profits in British corporate history for the second year in a row. In 2006, Shell’s profits were $25bn (up 21% on 2005).
CONTACTS:
Jannie Brightman, bright1s[AT]yahoo.com