Hands Off Iraqi Oil say Bristol Stop the War

bristol | protests | news report

Tuesday February 26, 2008 14:46

by Andrzej W

National protest

On Saturday 23 Feb, Bristol Stop the War protested outside the Esso Garage in Park Row, Bristol, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about the next 'invasion' of Iraq: the corporations, who are salivating at the sight of all that Iraqi oil...

Bristol Stop The War, Esso Garage, Park Row, Bristol. A small but committed protest against corporate plundering of Iraqi oil resources

A small but committed group from Bristol Stop the War made the point to passers by at the Esso Garage in Park Row on Saturday 23 February. They were met with a sympathetic response from most passers-by and with the occasional blast on a car horn from passing motorists (although the punters at the garage seemed a little less enthusiastic).

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.

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, an 18th February deadline for international oil companies to register to compete for tenders to help develop Iraq's oil (http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/26507) represents a first official foot in the door.

To get involved in future actions in Bristol (and beyond!) email bristolstopwar@hotmail.com for more details.