---------- 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
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