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

[freethepeeps at aktivix.org]

Hi, after discussions in IRC - I've made some changes - they can be viewed
here:
https://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkIraqiOil

best

ftp

Quoting 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>
> 
> 
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