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Dear All Voices (campaigning in solidarity with the people of Iraq) are organising a second action to STOP THE CORPORATE INVASION OF IRAQ on Monday 27 October. The last action (at Olympia) got coverage on Newsnight, the Today programme and in the Guardian (see pictures on www.voicesuk.org) On Monday we will have a giant cake in the shape of Iraq so that we can offer the attendees a slice of the country they are seeking to privatise, as well as street actions and music, to highlight the profiteering behind the reconstruction contracts and the illegitimacy of the privatisation of Iraq's economy - see the press release below. PLEASE JOIN US TO DEMAND THAT IRAQ'S PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN ECONOMIC FUTURE ** 27 October. STOP THE CORPORATE INVASION OF IRAQ.** 1 Whitehall Place (nearest tube Embankment) from 8.30am to around 1pm. Protest and street actions outside the Reconstructing Iraq conference (admission £1099...). This is a conference on ‘how to win contracts in Iraq’. Focusing particularly on ‘energy, infrastructure, transport and telecoms’, it features representatives from the US Department of Commerce, the Foreign Office and talks on 'UK industry/Army link', 'the potential legal obstacles to trade', 'removing currency from the county', and 'claiming ownership of Iraqi oil'. Also contact Voices UK for a copy of the Voices briefing 'Iraq for Sale' and copies of the free campaign postcard 'Stop the Corporate Invasion of Iraq'. PRESS RELEASE 22nd October 2003 Voices UK [1] Contact: 0845 458 2564 or 0794 783 9992 voices@voicesuk.org Corporate reps offered a 'slice' of Iraq Giant Iraq-shaped cake greets delegates to 'Reconstructing Iraq' business conference. Monday 27th, from 8.30am, outside 1 Whitehall Place: Business men and women attending a conference entitled 'Reconstructing Iraq' [2] will be offered slices from a giant Iraq-shaped cake this morning in a protest over the continuing 'corporate invasion' of Iraq. Protestors representing the corporations McDonalds, Olive Security and Bechtel, amongst others, will also bid for contracts in a mock auction outside the conference. The Conference takes place in the wake of the recent announcement by the US Government of new laws permitting all of Iraq's industries and services (other than oil, gas and minerals) to be sold off to foreign companies [3] and allegations by a US Congressman that 'waste and gold-plating' of contracts are 'enriching [corporations such as] Halliburton and Bechtel while … actually holding back the pace of reconstruction in Iraq' [4]. Inside the conference attendees will be treated to talks by representatives from the US Department of Commerce and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as talks on the 'UK industry/Army link', 'the potential legal obstacles to trade', 'removing currency from the county', and 'claiming ownership of Iraqi oil'[B]. Business Consultants Ernst and Young, the private security firm Olive Security [5] and HSBC are amongst the corporations sponsoring the event and leading sessions. A spokesperson for the protestors, Gareth Evans, said 'After thirteen years of war and economic sanctions Iraqis need a reconstruction process that they control and which is centred on their needs. What we are seeing is war-profiteering on a grand scale and cronyism. Not only are there concerns about how much ordinary Iraqis will benefit but it is actually delaying the reconstruction of the country with potentially catastrophic consequences. It is outrageous that the US and Britain, having illegally invaded and occupied Iraq, are now forcing their free-market ideology on the country whilst selling its assets off in what can only be described as a fire-sale. The whole process is completely undemocratic.' Photo opportunities: Delegates will be offered cake from 8.30am onwards. There will be a special photo opportunity with the cake at 9.45am and the mock auction and other activities will take place until 12.30pm For more information contact 0845 458 2564 or 0794 783 9992 NOTES [1] Voices UK is a group campaigning in solidarity with the people of Iraq. Between Feb. 1998 and May 2002 Voices UK sent 11 sanctions-breaking delegations to Iraq to protest the grave humanitarian impact on ordinary Iraqis of UN economic sanctions. For more info. see www.voicesuk.org. [2] For more information about the conference see: www.smi-online.co.uk/events/overview.asp?is=8&ref=1467 [3] See 'Foreign firms to bid in huge Iraqi sale', Guardian, 22 September. http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1046868,00.html [4] See 'Spending on Iraq Sets Off Gold Rush', Washington Post, 9 October. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A496-2003Oct8.html [5] Olive Security is a British private security firm that worked in Iraq earlier this year providing security for Bechtel. Their web-site boasts that 'All our consultants are former members of United Kingdom Special Forces.' _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk