On February 23, dozens of solidarity actions were held across the US and UK to support the Iraqi people in their resistance of an oil law that would give unprecedented control to foreign oil companies. In Washington, Oil Change International —in coalition with other US labor and peace organizations— hosted a press conference and […]

Western oil giants are poised to enter Basra to tap the country’s vast reserves, despite the ongoing threat of violence, according to the UK Prime Minister’s business emissary to the country.
Michael Wareing, who heads the new Basra Development Commission, acknowledged that there would be concerns among Iraqis about multinationals exploiting natural resources.

As protests start against Iraq’s controversial oil law, Shell has criticized the fact that progress on the law “doesn’t go very fast”. The oil company says it hopes Iraq will pass the law some time this year and sees this and improved security as prerequisites for being able to work there.
“You need basically two green […]

Just over twelve years ago, the Ogoni activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa was murdered by the military junta in Nigeria for campaigning against the ecological destruction of his homeland and for asking for a greater share of the oil wealth.
Twelve years after his death, the Niger Delta remains in deep trouble. As Reuters reported this […]

More than 70 companies have registered to compete for oil extraction and service contracts to help develop Iraq’s oil reserves. The news comes just days before the International day of Solidarity against Iraq’s controversial Oil Law.
Big oil firms such as Royal Dutch Shell and BP have been positioning for years to gain access and […]