---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 06:20:27 -0700 From: David Mozer <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: wa-afr <[log in to unmask]> Subject: [wa-afr] FW: ACTION: Chad-Cameroon Pipeline -----Original Message----- From: Vicki Lynn Ferguson [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2000 7:36 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: ACTION: Chad-Cameroon Pipeline ADNA Action: 000715 Message from: Rainforest Action Network For contact info see also: http://www.ran.org Dear ADNA members, Following find an update for background information and an action alert with a sample letter from the Rainforest Action Network Africa Campaign, regarding the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline. Feel free to share this with your networks as well. Thank you for supporting this action. Regards, Vicki Ferguson ADNA Communications Facilitator From: Rainforest Action Network Subject: CHAD- CAMEROON PIPELINE See this Update on the CHAD CAMEROON PIPELINE which was approved by the World Bank last month - and more at http://www.ran.org/info_center/wrr/wrr00_07/index.html Full text version follows. Background World Bank Approves "Nightmare" African Oil and Pipeline Project The World Bank last month voted to lend 192 million dollars to the multi-billion dollar Chad/Cameroon oil and pipeline project. The project, led by a consortium that includes ExxonMobil and Chevron, will consist of the development of oil wells in southern Chad and the construction of a pipeline from the oil fields through Cameroon to Cameroon's Atlantic coast. The controversial oil project has been strongly opposed by a coalition of environmental and human rights organizations concerned about the considerable risks associated with the project. Both Chad and Cameroon have long standing problems with corruption and human rights abuses, leading many to fear that the project will cause an increase in violence in the region, and that revenue from the project will fail to benefit the poor people of Chad and Cameroon. These fears were aggravated last month after reports from Chad stating that government forces were threatening men, women, and children with summary execution if they opposed the pipeline. Already in 1998, a Chadian parliamentarian was sentenced to three years in jail for voicing his concerns about corruption related to the Chad/Cameroon project. "Under the constant threat of brutal government repression, it is highly unlikely that the citizens of Chad will reap any benefits from the World Bank's proposed oil pipeline if it goes forward now and, clearly, they stand to be harmed if they try to voice their concerns," said a spokeswoman for the Chadian Association for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights prior to the Bank's vote. In addition to concerns about corruption and human rights abuses, critics point out that the project will require the forced relocation of people living along the pipeline route, and will affect thousands of indigenous Bakola people that live in the region. Many groups have grave concerns about environmental repercussions from the pipeline as well. Any pollution or deforestation resulting from the pipeline would pose a particular threat to the Bakola, who are dependent on the health of local forests, wildlife, land, and water to maintain their traditional way of life. The pipeline will run through rainforest areas inhabited by endangered chimpanzees, gorillas, and forest elephants, and open up forest interiors to poachers and illegal logging. The project's oil fields are located in the heart of Chad's food producing region, where oil spills could have disastrous consequences. "If the World Bank was really committed to the environment and poverty alleviation, they would invest in cleaner, sustainable projects with direct benefits to local communities rather than dirty oil projects that will benefit giant oil companies and corrupt governments, and be a nightmare for the people," said RAN's African Rainforest Campaigner Erick Brownstein. Despite the social and environmental risks associated with the project, the Bank's executive board voted overwhelmingly to fund it, with the exception of the director representing Italy who abstained from voting. The US voted for the project after pushing for strict enforcement of environmental and anticorruption measures, according to a US official. The oil consortium, led by Exxon, had indicated that the World Bank's support was essential for the project to go forward. In addition to approving 193 million dollars in loans, the World Bank agreed to arrange another 300 million dollars of commercial finance to support the project. The Bank also promised to set up an international supervisory board to oversee the project and help prevent environmental and human rights abuses. "Promises to improve controversial but misguided projects are nothing new for the World Bank," noted Brownstein. "These promises are used to cover up a shameful record. It is local communities and the environment that feel the impacts of the World Bank's dismal record." In April, thousands of activists converged on the streets of Washington DC to protest the policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which they say often harm, rather than help, countries like Chad and Cameroon. A comprehensive report issued by the World Bank in May appears to validate many of the activists' concerns. According to the report, people in sub-Saharan Africa-devastated by war, corruption, and disease-live less well today than they did in the 1960's, and international aid donors are at least partially to blame. The report acknowledges that the heavy flow of aid in recent decades did relatively little to ignite sustained economic growth, and that the Bank and its sister agencies have wasted billions on ill-conceived projects. Action - What You Can Do Tell the Export-Import Bank to deny a loan guarantee for the Chad- Cameroon Pipeline! Now that the World Bank has approved funding for the Chad- Cameroon Pipeline, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) must decide whether to provide a $300 million loan guarantee to the private bank which finances the project. This would essentially remove all risk to the bank should the investment prove to be a bad one and instead puts the burden on U.S. taxpayers. Please write James Harmon, chair of the Export-Import Bank and urge him to immediately postpone consideration of the Chad- Cameroon pipeline project. SAMPLE LETTER Recipient: Mr. James Harmon Subject: Deny loan guarantee for Africa oil pipeline! James Harmon, Chair Export-Import Bank of the U.S. 811 Vermont Ave., NW Washington, DC 20571 Dear Mr. Harmon, As you know, the World Bank has approved the controversial Chad/Cameroon Oil Pipeline project. The World Bank board approved the project weeks after verifiable reports from Chad stating that government forces were threatening men, women and children with summary execution if they opposed the pipeline. For ExxonMobil, Chevron and Petronas, this approval is a major step towards raising the millions of dollars necessary for this project's realization. EXIM must now decide if it will offer the estimated $300 million loan guarantee to essentially remove any risk to the corporations. US taxpayers will assume the risk in case the project goes bad, not unlikely given the climate of violence in Chad and Cameroon. In Cameroon in particular, this project would have serious, irreversible environmental repercussions. The pipeline would run through major river systems and ecologically fragile rainforest areas, including areas inhabited by indigenous forest peoples and endangered animal species. The World Bank's promises of environmental protection should be weighed with consideration for Cameroon's dismal record of environmental protection as the rainforests and wildlife disappear rapidly. As a US taxpayer, I urge you to immediately postpone consideration of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project. Please listen to the voices of those in Chad and Cameroon who will be directly affected by this misguided project. Sincerely, (your name, and full mailing address) ______________ Erick Brownstein Africa Campaign Director Rainforest Action Network [log in to unmask] *** This message is distributed from Rainforest Action Network for the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA). Vicki Ferguson Advocacy Network for Africa Communications Facilitator c/o Africa Policy Information Center Director of Education and Outreach 110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 509 Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 202-546-7961 Fax: 202-546-1545 e-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.africapolicy.org/adna ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get great brand name shoes with just the click of a mouse. Check out the huge selection at Zappos.com, the Web's Most Popular Store! http://click.egroups.com/1/6994/12/_/23029/_/963840008/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next meeting Wed., July 26, 7 PM, Douglas-Truth Library, 23 and E Yesler, Seattle, see web site for details. To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe sending a blank message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a blank message to [log in to unmask] For complete information on the Washington State Africa Network visit: www.ibike.org/africamatters ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------