2/24 Stop the Corporate Invasion of Iraq

Stop the Corporate Invasion of Iraq!

On February 24, protest Halliburton, Bechtel, and the other corporations
that are making millions in Iraq, and speak out for Iraqi workers’ rights
and self-determination.

WHAT: International day of protest to end the corporate invasion of Iraq
and support Iraqi workers’ rights
WHEN: Tuesday, February 24
WHERE: In your city, at the offices of Halliburton, Bechtel, or another war
profiteering company (see suggestions below)

Following on the heels of the military invasion of Iraq, another invasion
began: a corporate invasion by Halliburton, Bechtel, and other U.S.
companies that were awarded millions in “reconstruction” contracts.
Nine months into the occupation, Iraqi schools are still in disrepair,
electricity is intermittent, and the water is not safe to drink.

Qualified Iraqi businesses say they are shut out of the reconstruction of
their own country and some 70% of Iraqi workers are unemployed. But the
contracts for U.S. companies -- especially ones with close ties to the Bush
administration - keep getting fatter, even as Halliburton is suspected of
overcharging the U.S. up to $61 million for fuel in Iraq, and the Pentagon
has accused Bechtel with doing “horrible” work.

At the same time, the occupation administration has essentially put Iraq up
for sale. In September, the Coalition Provisional Authority issued an
“order” that allows for the privatization of Iraqi state companies, 100%
ownership of Iraqi banks, mines and factories by foreign companies, and 100%
expropriation of profits by foreign firms operating in Iraq. While the U.S.
saw fit to approve these drastic changes to Iraqi economic laws, which very
well may violate international law, it chose not to make any changes to
Iraqi labor laws. In a period in which Iraqi workers are organizing
throughout the country, the CPA left in place a Saddam Hussein-era law that
forbids workers in state-owned enterprises (where the majority of Iraqis
work) from forming unions. They have also repeatedly detained or harassed
workers who are demonstrating for jobs or better pay.

TAKE ACTION - ORGANIZE A FEB. 24 PROTEST AT THE LOCAL OFFICE OF HALLIBURTON,
BECHTEL, OR ANOTHER WAR PROFITEERING COMPANY

Please join the international day of action against the corporate invasion
of Iraq by organizing a Feb. 24 rally at Halliburton, Bechtel, MCI or
another war profiteering company that has offices in your city. If these
companies don’t have an office in your city, protest in front of the federal
building or at another well-trafficked downtown location. For a list of U.S.
companies that have reconstruction contracts and their local offices, email
peace [at] globalexchange.org or call 415-575-5555.

The protests don’t have to be big - even a few people holding up signs in
front of a Halliburton local office would be great! Ideas for slogans
include: Bring Halliburton and Bechtel Home, Stop the Corporate
Invasion of Iraq, Support Iraqi Workers’ Rights, Iraq is not America’s to
Sell, Iraq for the Iraqis, Privatization is not Liberation, No Blood for
Corporate Profits, US Corporations get Freedom-Iraqi Workers Get Saddam’s
laws, etc.

Tell us about your planned protest so we can publicize it as part of the
national day of action. Email peace [at] globalexchange.org or call Global
Exchange at 415-575-5555. To find out what’s already planned, see
http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Sponsored by Campaign to Stop the War Profiteers (Institute for Southern
Studies), CodePink, Democracy Rising, Global Exchange, US Labor Against War,
National Network to End the War in Iraq, American Friends Service Committee
San Francisco, American Muslim Voice and the Ronald Reagan Home for the
Criminally Insane and others.