[IMC-UK-Features] Proposal: Hands Off Iraqi Oil

[freethepeeps at aktivix.org]

Any suggestions for a picture? More reports may still come in.

Abstract:
<p>On Saturday 23rd February, a number of actions took place in the UK and
Netherlands, in solidarity with the Iraqi peoples' struggle against the plunder
of their oil reserves. The callout for action by the <a
href="http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/">Hands Off Iraqi Oil Campaign</a>
resulted in actions in , <a href="/en/2008/02/392226.html">Birmingham</a>, <a
href="/en/2008/02/392147.html">London</a>, <a
href="/en/2008/02/392219.html">Liverpool</a>,
 <a href="/en/2008/02/392134.html">Wrexham</a>, <a
href="/en/2008/02/392106.html">Coventry</a> and <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2008/02/50361.shtml">Amsterdam</a>.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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 18th
February <a
href="http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/26507">deadline</a> for
international oil companies to register to compete for tenders to help develop
Iraq's oil  represents a first official foot in the door.</p>

<p>The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions is at the forefront of grassroots
campaigning against the privatisation of Iraq&#8217;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. International solidarity is
desperately needed to support their struggle</p>

<p>Links:</p>

<p>Action reports: <a href="/en/2008/02/392226.html">1</a> |<a
href="/en/2008/02/392147.html">2</a> |<a href="/en/2008/02/392219.html">3</a> |
  <a href="/en/2008/02/392134.html">4</a> |  <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2008/02/50361.shtml">5</a> |  <a
href="/en/2008/02/392106.html">6</a> | <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2008/02/50361.shtml">7</a> |</p>

<p>Audio reports: <a href="/en/2008/02/392106.html?c=on#c189840">London
tour</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/">Hands Off Iraqi Oil</a> |  <a
href="http://www.basraoilunion.org/">Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions</a> | <a
href="http://www.iraqoillaw.com/">Stop the Iraqi Oil Law</a> |</p>




 Text:
<p>In Birmingham, a Shell Petrol Station was <a
href="/en/2008/02/392226.html">shut down</a> for two hours. The entrance and
exits were blockaded with banners which read: 'Stop shafting Iraqi workers for
the spOILs of war' and 'Shell is closed for ethical repairs'. Local residents
joined the action and hundreds of leaflets were handed out. There were no
arrests.</p>

<p>In London, over fifty <a href="/en/2008/02/392147.html">corporate pirates</a>
toured the offices of companies that are lobbying to get their hands on Iraqi
oil, or are already directly benefitting from the occupation. The tour stopped
at the Offices of the mercenray outfit Erinys, BP, The National Portrait
Gallery (sponsored by BP as part of its greenwash strategy), The London offices
of the Washingtom based think tank the International Tax and Investment Centre,
and finished up at the London HQ of Shell. The march roamed freely without any
police assistance, and the samba band attracted much attention.</a>


<p>Activists from the <a
href="http://www.liverpoolsocialforum.org.uk/">Liverpool Social Forum</a>
picketed a Shell garage. Activists described the <a
href="/en/2008/02/392219.html">action</a> as very effective, getting
information out to many people who were using the petrol station. Activists
engaged in conversations with many drivers, and received a lot of support.</p>

<p>A group of women <a href="/en/2008/02/392134.html">picketed</a> a Shell
forecourt in Wrexham, whilst in Coventry <a href="/en/2008/02/392106.html">five
banner drops</a> took place during the course of the day. In the Netherlands,
the <a href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2008/02/50361.shtml">Amsterdam clown
army </a> organised a picnic and party at a central Amsterdam BP gas
station.</p>