Activists step up Iraq oil fight
25 March 2009
NEWS HOOKSWednesday, 25 March-Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Rome
First-ever conference for Iraqi and international human rights campaigners
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
London
Demonstration over UK oil giant BP celebrating its centenary at the British Museum
Historic talks resist US, UK takeover
Campaigners will today intensify their battle against the US and Britain handing control over Iraq's oil to corporations in a landmark conference for the occupied country's civil society.
The Rome event will for the first time bring together Iraqi activists, trade unions, and women's and youth groups, with supporters from around the world, including Britain.
It will address the bid to stop the oil takeover and the struggle to replace occupation and violence with a peaceful democracy which ensures Iraqi control over land and resources.
The talks will come in the run-up to a demonstration next Wednesday as the UK oil giant BP - one of the companies which aim to win control over Iraq's oil - celebrates its centenary at the British Museum.
Elsewhere in London on the same day, protesters will mark the sixth anniversary of the war on Iraq as US president Barack Obama and other world leaders arrive for the G20 summit of the world's leading economies.
The UK anti-poverty charity War on Want will join forces with civil society organisations, including oil trade unions and human rights groups, to plan new initiatives at the conference to promote Iraqi sovereignty.
Gemma Houldey, international programmes officer at War on Want, said: "This ground-breaking event will take place at a vital point in Iraq's history. For decades oppression and dictatorship have silenced or weakened Iraqi civil society.
"Now, six years on from the fall of the Saddam regime, we are determined to strengthen our backing for the oil workers and other marginalised groups.
"The US and British government cannot be allowed to hand over Iraq's resources to swell multinationals' profits at ordinary people's expense."
Since 2005 the US and Britain have demanded new legislation to privatise control over Iraq's oil.
But, faced with strong opposition led by the Iraqi oil workers' trade union, achievement of that objective has been consistently delayed.
The Hands Off Iraqi Oil coalition, including War on Want, warns of greater conflict and hardship if the American and British governments succeed with pressure to drive through contracts.
NOTE TO EDITORS
The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative conference will take place at Velletri, near Rome.
CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media office (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728
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