6 reasons why #Budget2016 really really shouldn’t subsidise North Sea oil even more
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Mar 15, 2016
Osborne is announcing his #Budget2016 on Weds, and there’s lots of pressure from the oil barons for more subsidies and tax cuts. Their income has been hit by the falling oil price, and in all those years of bonanza profits they never thought to save for this rainy day (even though it was predictable given the mostly cyclical...
How to save energy jobs in Scotland: Public ownership, not tax cuts
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Aug 25, 2015
As thousands of North Sea oil workers lose their jobs, helicopter pilots threaten strike action over redundancy arrangements and Unite criticise the oil companies of failing “to plan for a rainy day when the sun shone”, we thought we’d share an extract of this new report. ——————————————————- Extract from “Jobs in Scotland’s New Economy”, published by the Scottish...
The dream of America – a family history of mining and migration
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Jan 21, 2014
Mika Minio-Paluello, Anna Galkina and James Marriott travelled in North America as part of a tour over September and October to promote The Oil Road – Journeys from the Caspian to the City of London. The ninth of a series of blogs on the journey comes from Pennsylvania… Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Long hours under rough blankets....
In pictures: Chevron rig still burning in Nigeria
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Jan 26, 2012
On 16 January, between 4.30am and 5am, Chevron’s KS Endeavour drilling rig exploded six miles off the coast of Nigeria after the company lost control of the gas well. Two workers were reported killed. Ten days on, the fire continues to burn. Photos courtesy of Morris Alagoa at ERA/FoE Nigeria.
Chevron oil rig explodes off coast of Nigeria; 2 killed
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Jan 18, 2012
On Monday 16 January at 4.30 to 5am, Chevron's KS Endeavour drilling rig burst into flames, approximately 6 miles off the coast of Nigeria. Two workers are reported missing. The gas rig is still said to be burning for the second day running and is reported to have partially collapsed into the ocean. The cause is...
UK government backs risky offshore drilling
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Dec 31, 2011
Despite serious environmental concerns, the heightened risk of major accidents and inadequate regulatory oversight, the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change has awarded 46 new licences for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, including in the ecologically sensitive West of Shetlands area. Speaking to BBC News, Adam Ma’anit of Platform condemned the move: “There...
Support oil workers and their communities in Kazakhstan – Protest at police killings
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Dec 20, 2011
A message below from an activist call out in solidarity with Kazakh oil workers and communities: Demonstration: Wednesday, 21st December 2011, 12 noon Kazakh-British Chamber of Commerce 62 South Audley Street Mayfair London W1K 2QR
London listed oil company at centre of Kazakh crackdowns
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Dec 16, 2011
Today The Guardian reports that at least 10 people have been killed in violent clashes between police and oil workers in Zhanaozen, a small city in western Kazakhstan. Local oil workers have been protesting for higher wages and better working conditions throughout 2011. The oil and gas companies, among them KMG, (KazMunaiGaz) which is 39% owned...
Egyptian Oil Ministry protestors break through police barricade
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Oct 26, 2011
Yesterday hundreds of protesting petroleum ministry workers broke through police barricades, pushing towards the Egyptian Cabinet’s offices in downtown Cairo. Large workers’ protests take place every day, demanding contracts and a minimum wage of 1200 Egyptian pounds a month. Al Ahram English reported that on Tuesday
Colombian army attacks striking BP workers
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Jun 10, 2010
Claire Hall from Espacio Bristol-Colombia describes how the Colombian army has joined in the repression of striking BP workers in Casanare. from Upside Down World: “A five month long mobilisation against BP in the Casanare region of Colombia has escalated after the Colombian army entered the BP installations with force this week and confronted workers who have been peacefully...
