October 21, 2002

3:25 PM

Burmese villagers sue Unocal in an L.A. courtroom. The villagers are charging that Unocal is responsible for human-rights abuses committed by the Burmese military along the company's $1.2 billion Yadana gas pipeline. Here's a Unocal website responding to the suit. And the Free Burma Coalition's Unocal Page.
posted by Ty Webb (11 comments total)

"At Unocal, respect for human rights is fundamental in all of our activities. We strive to convey this respect through our employment."


What lovely people these oil men are.
posted by JonnyX at 4:02 PM on October 21, 2002

Though not a defendant in this case, Halliburton was also involved in the Yadana pipeline. Here is ERI's report, Halliburton's Destructive Engagement.

It is really nauseating that the current Vice President of the U.S. recently enriched himself off these kind of human rights violations. And it is pathetic that the American people turn a blind eye to these acts while our government accuses others of being 'evildoers'.
posted by homunculus at 6:04 PM on October 21, 2002

Fascinating stuff about the interesting reuse of the the Alien Tort act. Gosh, the State Department thinks all this judicial wrangling might clog up the goddam divine right of international business to make profits off of conscript labor? It kills me that they might fuck over the villagers with the visa vendetta. The whole thing is really quite killing.

Jesus, I have to go to law school.
posted by DenOfSizer at 6:23 PM on October 21, 2002

In other cheery oil industry news, Canada's pride, Talisman Energy, continues to assist the Sudanese government in its brutal civil war.

Care to comment on alternatives to this kind of economic activity, Mr. Cheney?

"Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound comprehensive energy policy."

- Dick Cheney, speaking in Toronto, May 1, 2001
posted by gompa at 7:07 PM on October 21, 2002

More discussion and lots of good links in this August thread.
posted by mediareport at 7:08 PM on October 21, 2002

We already know that the Bush administration is riddled with such self-serving individuals.

The question is, will we learn from this travesty? My cynical pragmatism screams "Doubtful!" in my ear, but I remain optimistic.

We've got two and a half years to deal with these chuckleheads - let's not make the same mistake twice. Vote early, vote well, vote your conscience.
posted by FormlessOne at 7:47 PM on October 21, 2002

Vote early, vote well, vote your conscience.

And here I thought the democrats rallying cry was, "Vote early, vote often!"
posted by Plunge at 8:29 PM on October 21, 2002

...he said, linking to a news story that has been shown to be little more than exaggeration and misinformation fed to reporters by Republicans.
posted by goethean at 9:01 PM on October 21, 2002

This Get Your War On page has a bit to say about the Burmese/ Oil Company atrocities.
posted by troutfishing at 9:33 PM on October 21, 2002

....he said linking to an op/ed piece with little useful information.
posted by Plunge at 10:01 PM on October 21, 2002

UN to probe Burma rape allegations
UN envoy meets Aung San Suu Kyi
posted by homunculus at 9:23 AM on October 22, 2002