PRESS RELEASE:SF BAY JOINS GLOBAL ACTION AGAINST WTO AT CHEVRON TEXACO REFINERY

For Immediate Release On:
September 9, 2003

Direct Action Targets ChevronTexaco's Processing of Iraqi Oil and Toxic Terror in Richmond
Bay Area Residents Join Global Demonstrations against WTO and Bush's Imperial Agenda

Point. Richmond, CA. As thousands prepare for mass demonstrations in Cancun, Mexico against the destructive policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Bay Area residents are organizing to stop ChevronTexaco -- one of California's largest and most controversial corporations -- from processing Iraqi oil. Over 70 solidarity actions are planned across the United States with hundreds more planned around the world. Many of the actions will link the WTO and the U.S. invasion of Iraq as similar efforts to restructure economies around the world to benefit corporations at the expense of workers, the environment and local democracy.

The action comes at a critical time as the Bush administration's motivations for the invasion and ongoing occupation are being increasingly questioned. To date no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq and no solid evidence of links between Saddam Hussein and the 9-11 tragedy has emerged. As ChevronTexaco -- notorious for its close links to the Bush administration -- begins to ship Iraqi oil into its Richmond refinery, many Bay area residents are accusing the Bush administration of using the occupation to strengthen U.S. corporate control of Middle Eastern oil. ChevronTexaco's profits have quadrupled over the last three-month period to $1.6 billion dollars as a result of war-inflated oil prices.

Bush critics point to Presidential Executive Order 13303, as further evidence of Big Oil's influence on U.S. foreign policy. The order, which exempts U.S. oil companies from any liability for environmental, human rights or other abuses related to their handling of Iraqi oil, was passed with almost no media attention earlier this summer.

"It's clear the Bush administration has deceived the American public about the motivations for the invasion of Iraq. No weapons of mass destruction have been found, no solid evidence of Al-Qaeda links have emerged, but the flow of Iraqi oil has begun into ChevronTexaco's California refinery. Are U.S. soldiers risking their lives and American taxpayers footing a mounting billion dollar a week bill so that Chevron can make record profits?" asked Gulf War veteran and Oakland businessman Eric Shaw.

ChevronTexaco's Richmond refinery has become the subject of public health and environmental justice concerns because of hundreds of accidents, including major fires, explosions, and toxic gas releases. Life-long Richmond resident and Director of the West County Toxics Coalition Dr. Henry Clarke explains, "ChevronTexaco is a toxic terrorist who is poisoning people and ecosystems around the world. Our community vowed that we would not silently allow stolen Iraqi oil to be processed in Richmond.. We intend to stop this criminal corporation from profiting off war and toxic pollution."

Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW) -- the community based mobilization which organized a 20,000 person shut down of the San Francisco financial district in response to the U.S. invasion of Iraq - has consistently highlighted the links between U.S. corporate interests and Bush's empire building policies. "WTO-style corporate globalization is war by other means," said Sasha Wright, with Direct Action to Stop the War. "it allows corporations to wage economic war on local communities. The best way to insure peace and security at home is to promote global justice for all."
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