CHEVRON: FUELING WARS AND ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS & THE ENVIRONMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE

From Richmond to Ecuador, Nigeria, Canada, Burma and Iraq  

WE DEMAND PEACE, CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

WED., MAY 28, 7:00 - 10:30 AM

MASS THEATER ACTION AND DEMONSTRATION

CHEVRON WORLD HEADQUARTERS: 6001 BOLLINGER CANYON RD., SAN RAMON

On May 28, DASW - acting together with a broad coalition of social and environmental justice organizations - will be co-organizing a protest and mass theater action at Chevron’s Annual General Meeting, at Chevron’s world headquarters in San Ramon. We need 100 people to join us, put on Hazmat suits, and help us “clean up” Chevron’s dirty act. If you are willing to participate in the mass theater action, please email info@chevrontoxico.org.

Joining us in San Ramon will be anti-Chevron activists from around the world:

Luis Yanza, Ecuadorian community organizer and 2008 Goldman Environmental Award recipient.

Hugo Criollo, Ecuadorian indigenous leader.

Omoyele Sowore, Nigerian human rights, pro-democracy and anti-corporate leader.

Larry Bowoto, plaintiff in the lawsuit against Chevron for complicity in an attack by Nigerian soldiers against a nonviolent occupation of Chevron’s Parabe offshore oil platforms. Two activists were killed, others were injured, and Bowoto himself was tortured.

These leaders from Ecuador and Nigeria will demonstrate with Bay Area environmental justice, solidarity, antiwar, and human rights groups, and will also join supportive shareholders and organizers in confronting Chevron executives and shareholders inside their meeting.  As we take action at the gates of Chevron World Headquarters (please come on time so we can greet the shareholders who arrive by 7:30am), some shareholders have filed a resolution demanding that Chevron report on the environmental laws in every country where it has operations, in an attempt to push for accountability. Check out www.chevrontoxico.com for more info.

How to Get There:

Take BART to Walnut Creek BART: We will provide shuttles from Walnut Creek BART to the demonstration. Or you can take short ride on County Connection shuttle 121, or it’s a flat 12-mile bike ride.

Carpools: (if you have space in your car or need a ride):

SF: Meet @ 6am; Safeway parking lot, Church and Markets Sts.

East Bay: Meet @ MacArthur BART @ 6:15am

Driving/Carpooling Directions: A quick 25 miles east of Oakland. Take 580 to Hwy 24 E. to I-680 S to exit #34/BOLLINGER CANYON ROAD. Take a left over the highway. Take the first left into the shopping center. Park and walk back across Bollinger to Chevron.

Sponsored by:

Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Direct Action to Stop the War, Amazon Watch, Laotian Organizing Project, Justice for Nigeria Now, Global Exchange, Burmese American Democratic Alliance-SF, Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity (FACES), Rainforest Action Network, West County Toxics Coalition, Richmond Greens, Richmond Progressive Alliance

For more information: info@chevrontoxico.org - (510) 984-2566

Related events:

TUES. MAY 27, 5:30-9pm

111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco

 An inspiring gathering on the eve of the Annual General Meeting. Join local and international guests affected by Chevron’s human rights and environmental violations as they share their stories and inspire our continued struggle for justice.

THURS. MAY 29, 7pm

COMMUNITY FORUM: Capping Chevron’s Crude

Richmond Recreation Complex, 3230 Mac Donald Ave., Richmond

Teach-In about Chevron’s Dirty Crude Richmond Refinery Expansion plans that will go before the Richmond Planning Commission on June 5.

With Antonia Juhasz, Henry Clarke, Greg Karras, and Marleen Quint.

Info: 510 232-4493

SAN FRANCISCO MAY DAY ACTIONS
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008

Join Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW) in solidarity with immigrants and ILWU dockworkers on May Day. Dockworkers are taking direct action against the war by stopping work at West Coast ports on International Workers’ Day. Meanwhile, immigrant rights groups will again be marching this year demanding amnesty.

DASW will also go to the military recruitment center and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Let’s call for an end to the war and protest the military’s bribing of immigrants to enlist in the war as a fast track to citizenship!

“Support dockworkers’ direct action!”
“The war is illegal — immigrants aren’t!”

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
NO PEACE, NO WORK!
Join us all day, or for part of it.

10:30 AM
Join the DASW contingent in the ILWU’s anti-war march
>> Meet at Beach St. at Mason St. (Take Muni F-Market.)

NOON
Join DASW at the ILWU’s anti-war rally
>> Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero BART)

12:30 PM
March/protest at military recruitment center & ICE
>> Depart from Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero BART)

2:30 PM
Join DASW at the immigrant rights rally and march.
(Please, no direct action here, per immigrant groups’ request.)
>> Dolores Park (18th St. at Dolores, 16th Street BART)

Get text message updates on May 1st: text ‘follow daswmayday’ to ‘40404′

MORE INFORMATION:
dasw.mayday@gmail.com

On Saturday, DASW will be having a strategizing and planning meeting.

When: Saturday, April 19, 3-5 pm
Where: Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness (between Grove and Mcallister), San Francisco

In this meeting, we will focus on creating a strategic framework for DASW, and discussing possible next steps.

Direct Action to Stop the War is holding its next meeting (with potluck!):

Saturday, April 5
4 PM
UNITE-HERE Local 2
209 Golden Gate @ Leavenworth (near Civic Center BART)

Arrive at 4 and share your favorite potluck dishes! Please try to bring your own plate and fork!

Please take some time before this meeting to consider the following questions (and, if applicable, discuss them with your affinity group):

- What were your goals for M15 and/or M19? What were your affinity group’s goals?
- Were those goals met? How, and how not?
- What are some lessons from this organizing effort that you will carry forward into your work?
- Of all the things that were great about M15 and/or M19 and the organizing effort leading up to the days of action, what was your favorite?
- If you could change one thing about M15/M19 and the organizing effort leading up to the days of action, what would it be?

In the spirit of Praxis, the majority of this meeting will be evaluatory, but there is a section for talking about next steps.

Hope to see you there!

There will be two meetings for all arrestees from March 15th and March 19th. This will be a chance for you to talk to lawyers and organize your legal defence.

Monday, March 24th
7:00pm - 9:00pm
AK Press
674 23rd St #A
Oakland, CA

Sunday, March 30th
2:00pm - 4:00pm
St. Martin de Porres
225 Potrero Ave.
SF, CA

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding your cases:

* Hold on to all your jail paperwork - especially your citation!
* Think before you talk (blog, email, etc.) about any potentially illegal activities that happened around your arrest - you could get you or other folks in trouble
* Keep an eye on the legal website for updates - http://midnightspecial.net/dasw
* Try to make one of the arrestees meetings
* There will be an announcement email list for updates - if you haven’t given Legal your contact info, please download an outtake form from their website (http://midnightspecial.net/dasw/arrestees.html) and email it to dasw-legal (at) unsealed.net.
* Attorneys will be organized attorneys through the National Lawyers Guild to represent you at your arraignments

CLEAN AIR, HEALTHY KIDS, NOT DIRTY CRUDE!

Thursday, March 20, 2008
6:15 - Rally Outside of Richmond City Hall
7:00 - Planning Commission Hearing (bring food and snacks– we need folks to stay for the whole hearing!). To testify people need to sign up before 7pm and 1-3 minute public testimony will take place around 10pm.

Richmond City Council
1401 Marina Way South (past Regatta)

*Carpool-Offer a Ride or Catch one at 5:45 Richmond BART (510 967-7377)
* AC transit bus #74 stops near by
* Driving Directions: From Oakland/East of Richmond:Take I-580 W. Take the CUTTING BLVD exit toward HARBOUR WAY SOUTH. Turn RIGHT onto CUTTING BLVD. Turn RIGHT onto MARINA WAY S.

Community Demands:

* No Increase In pollution! Reduce Current Pollution Levels!
* Environmental justice, worker justice and right to know are a must!
* Chevron’s expansion must provide a meaningful
public review process, including considering alternatives to refining dirtier crude!
* Recirculation of the EIR! Suspend the approval process until there is full disclosure of changes in crude oil stock & its impacts!

We are encouraging all residents of Richmond and surrounding communities (Bay Area-wide) to make testimony at this hearing. Please demand that the Planning Commission suspend the process, recirculate the Final EIR (environmental impact report) as it is missing emissions data and does not disclose the true scope of this project.

Additionally, let them know that you don’t want any dirtier crude refined in Richmond.

See Communities for a Better Environment.
See the agenda on the hearing and more info.

For more information please contact:
Jessica Tovar 510-302-0430 ext 24
Dr Henry Clark 510- 232-3427

Multiple actions at multiple locations

7:30 am - 5 :00 pm - Meet at Market and Sansome to plug into actions throughout the day marches to multiple sites - led by the Brass Liberation Orchestra!7:30 am, 9:00 am and 11:00am - Bikes Not Bombs - Bikers leave Justin Herman Plaza at to support the day’s actions.

10:00am - Guerrilla Street Theater with legendary performer Keith Hennessy

11:00am - Words Against War, Market at Montgomery. City Lights Bookstore co-sponsors an anti-war read-out featuring Jack Hirschman, SF Poet Laureate; Guillermo Gómez-Peña, performance artist; Rebecca Solnit, author and activist; and MC James Kass of Youth Speaks.

5:00 pm - March & Rally to End the War Now! Gather at Civic Center Polk and Grove Sts. Initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition - San Francisco - (read their call to action)

Important Info:

• • The National Lawyers Guild legal hotline for arrestees is 415-285-1011. View the Direct Action to Stop the War Legal website.
  • Join the March 19 DASW Text Mob to stay updated throughout the day:
    Send a text to 40404 with the words “follow dasw” (case sensitive, no quotation marks). Standard rates apply.
  • Catch live, from-the-street updates on your radio at 102.5 FM!
  • Print out the Direct Action Menu

On March 19, 2008 - the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq - Direct Action to Stop the War will be organizing a day of decentralized, multiple-target direct action against government offices and war profiteers in downtown San Francisco. We have created a list (which is below) of San Francisco offices of federal agencies, corporations with military contracts or contracts in Iraq, politicians who have failed to stop the war, and foreign embassies of countries linked to the war in Iraq. We are focusing primarily on corporations with military or Iraqi contracts, because we want to focus attention on the prominent role played by war-profiteering corporations in the U.S. occupation of Iraq. We will take direct action on March 19th against as many of these locations as possible, in order to send a clear message to the economic and political elites that control this country: No business as usual until all U.S. troops are withdrawn from Iraq!

Plug into the March 19th San Francisco Day of Direct Action:

1. Get together with a group of your friends and plan a direct action against a government or corporate office on March 19th.
2. There are many, many other vital roles you can play in this action. Please come to our next organizing meeting and plug in.
3. Take the day off work or school and meet up with us at Market & Sansome starting at 7:30am. Snake marches will be leaving Market & Sansome throughout the day, and going on “tours of shame” of the different war profiteers in downtown SF (and supporting the direct actions, which will be ongoing throughout the day).
4. Come to the next March 19th working group meeting. This is a meeting for folks who are interested in planning the action, coordinating the snake marches, and helping out with other logistical needs.

If you decide to plan an action, contact Adrian (adrianw [at] riseup.net) and tell him where and when your action will take place (so that he can let you know if someone else is planning on doing an action at that same location); anything you tell him will be strictly confidential.

Here’s some suggestions of what kinds of actions you could do at a corporate or government office (and, of course, you could always do more than one):

• *Blockade the entrance to the building.* (If you feel up to it, we’d strongly encourage you to try to do a blockade/occupation of some sort, and we’d be glad to help you out with planning and logistics. Email the March 19th working group at dasw.march19th [at] gmail.com to learn more.)
• Occupy their office by handcuffing yourselves to desks or doorways.
• Do a sit-in or die-in in their office.
• Do creative and attention-grabbing street theater outside, educating people about what that company is doing (we can help you do research on the company).
• Hang a banner from their building (again, we can help you out with that).
• Try to get into the company’s office and do a creative action (present a mock award, deliver a coffin, hold an impromptu ‘dance party for peace’…).

Or, you could do an action that isn’t specific to any single location - like altering billboards, or forming a roving bike brigade that pelts corporate offices with rotten vegetables, or anything else you can come up with! Basically, we would encourage you to be creative, come up with an anti-war action that excites you and your group, and then do it! And if you belong to a smaller group, you could always get together with other groups and do an action together. And, of course, we’re here to support you in any way we can. Email us at dasw.march19th [at] gmail.com if you need any specific support, or have any questions.

Direct Action Menu (Download PDF)

Direct Action to Stop the War
March 19, 2008

Gourmet Government Agencies:

San Francisco Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Ave.
(Nancy Pelosi’s office is on the 14th floor.)
Not on Map

New Federal Building
90 7th St.
Not on Map

U.S. Army Recruiting Office
670 Davis St.
Map Code: A

Export-Import Bank of the United States
250 Montgomery St.
Map Code: B

The Export-Import Bank – an arm of the U.S. government – has been heavily involved in Iraqi reconstruction contracts.

Palatable Politicians:

San Francisco Democratic Party
155 Sansome Street #520
Map Code: C

Dianne Feinstein’s office
1 Post St # 2450
Map Code: D

Crunchable Consulates

British Consulate-General (Suite 850) and Citigroup (Suite 2600)
1 Sansome St.
Map Code: G

Even after a large draw-down under Prime Minister Brown, Britain still has about 4500 troops in Iraq.

Citigroup is KBR’s banker. KBR is the largest recipient of Iraq contracts.

Consulate General of Israel
456 Montgomery St. #2100
Map Code: F

Irresistible Iraqi War Profiteers:

URS Corp. Headquarters and Carlyle Group office
Transamerica Pyramid
600 Montgomery St.
Map Code: 1

The Carlyle Group has been the leading private equity investor in military industries for more than a decade.

Bechtel Corp.
50 Beale St.
Map Code: 2

Bechtel had $5.4 billion in total military revenues 2003-2006 (26th biggest U.S. military contractor), and $2.3 billion in Iraq contracts 2003-2007. (Bechtel withdrew its Iraq operations in 2007.)

Chevron Energy Solutions
345 California St. # 18
Map Code: 3

Through the International Tax & Investment Center, Chevron has lobbied for the passage of the Iraqi Oil Law and the privatization of Iraq’s oil resources. Chevron execs also met with the Iraqi National Congress in 2002 to divide up Iraq’s oil reserves.

Parsons Corp.
50 Fremont Street, Suite 1500
Map Code: 4

Parsons had $5.87 billion in Iraq contracts.

AT&T
611 Folsom St.
Map Code: 5

AT&T had at least $1.12 billion in U.S. military revenues during 2004-7. In 2006, whistleblower Mark Klein alleged that in Room 641A of AT&T’s 611 Folsom facility, the NSAoperated an intercept facility, to monitor all data crossing the Internet.

Booz Allen Hamilton
101 California St # 3300
Map Code: 7

BAH had $7.75 billion in U.S. military contracts 2003-2006, making it the 17th biggest U.S. military contractor.

Farm-Fresh Financiers

Carlyle Group , Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
555 California St., Floor 34
Map Code: 8

For Carlyle, see above.

Goldman Sachs is a major underwriter for KBR, the former Halliburton subsidiary that is the biggest Iraq contractor. Goldman Sachs contributed $390,600 to Bush’s campaign in 2004 (5th biggest contributor). Morgan Stanley is a major underwriter for URS, the 2nd biggest Iraq contractor (see above). Morgan Stanley contributed $600,480 to Bush’s campaign in 2004 (biggest contributor).

Blum Capital Partners
909 Montgomery St.
Map Code: 9

Blum Capital Partners owns 23.7% of URS Corp. (see above). Its owner, Richard Blum, is married to Dianne Feinstein; Blum sits on the board of URS and Perini, both of which have major contracts in Iraq.

Credit Suisse
650 California, 31st Floor
Map Code: 10

Credit Suisse is a major underwriter for Kellogg Brown & Root, the former Halliburton subsidiary that is the biggest Iraq contractor. Credit Suisse contributed $331,040 to Bush’s campaign in 2004 (7th biggest contributor).

Delectable News Media

NBC KNTV
848 Battery St.
Map Code: 11

NBC’s parent corporation, General Electric, had $14.6 billion in total military revenues during 2003-2006 (10th biggest U.S. military contractor), and $8.5 million in Iraq contracts during 2003-2006.

Fox News
901 Battery St.
Map Code: 12

Fox News blatantly advocated for the Iraq War, and essentially served as a propaganda mouthpiece for the Bush Administration.

(Download PDF)

A.N.S.W.E.R. Call to Action:

5 years of illegal occupation of Iraq
March & Rally to End the War Now!
Wed. March 19, 5pm
gather Civic Center, Polk and Grove Sts., SF

BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW
END COLONIAL OCCUPATION - IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PALESTINE, HAITI
MONEY FOR JOBS, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE & SCHOOLS, NOT WAR
STOP U.S. INTERVENTION IN IRAN, VENEZUELA, CUBA, PHILIPPINES . . .
NO TO RACISM & ANTI-IMMIGRANT ATTACKS, DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES

March 19, 2008 will mark the fifth anniversary of the illegal, unjust and disastrous invasion of Iraq by the U.S. military. On March 19, 2003, as the bombing began, thousands of people joined a night march through the streets of San Francisco. On March 19, 2008, a day of resistance will culminate with an evening march from the Civic Center through a number of communities. We urge you to join the march and to help organize for it in your school, workplace, union, community or religious organization. Call the ANSWER Coalition at 415-821-6545 if you can help.

The Iraq war is the second longest in U.S. history. It has killed more than one million Iraqis and 4,000 U.S. troops. Hundreds of thousands more have been wounded. Nearly five million Iraqis have been made refugees by the war and occupation. Over a quarter of Iraq’s population has been killed, wounded or displaced. While Bush and the other hypocritical politicians talk endlessly about “supporting the troops,” tens of thousands of returning soldiers have life-altering wounds – both physical and psychological – and totally inadequate medical care and benefits. Many are already homeless.

The cost of the war is now running at more than $400 million per day, nearly $5,000 per second. Military-industrial corporations and the big banks are reaping huge profits, while millions of people go without healthcare, decent housing and jobs. Much of the country’s infrastructure – bridges, roads, water systems, schools, etc. — is falling apart. The same banks that are evicting millions of people from their homes are profiting from the war.

The vast majority of people want the war ended and ended now. And while some of the presidential candidates talk about ending the war, none of the leading Democratic or Republican candidates have any intention of getting out Iraq anytime soon.

The US political and military establishment, not just the neo-conservatives, is committed to dominating the Middle East and incorporating the region as part of a new US Empire. That is why both parties and the Pentagon brass compete with each other to see who can be most threatening toward the people of Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. New US wars and conflicts in the region are looming while more than 150,000 soldiers and marines continue to occupy Iraq.

The only thing that will stop the war machine is when the people of this country rise up. This is a war for Empire but it not our empire. The owners of Citibank, Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, Halliburton, Bechtel, Lockheed, Boeing, Ford and General Motors and the other corporate elites will profit from the Empire but it is not their sons and daughters who are sent to kill and be killed.

VOLUNTEER NOW! Call 415-821-6545 or for the East Bay, call 510-435-0844.

March 19th Organizing Meeting
Monday, March 17, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Unite-Here office (209 Golden Gate Ave. in S.F.)

On Monday, March 17, we’re having an organizing meeting specifically for the March 19th day of action. If you’re participating in that day of action, please come to this meeting. And if you know anyone who wants to participate, please let them know. (We’d like to invite larger groups to send one spokesperson to the meeting.)

DIRECT ACTION & RALLY: CHEVRON RICHMOND REFINERY
cosponsored by Greenaction, West County Toxics Coalition, Amazon Watch, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Richmond Greens, Community Health Initiative, Communities for a Better Environment, Global Exchange, and Rainforest Action Network.

IMPORTANT INFO: Print DASW’s Map (PDF) and Orientation Sheet (PDF) for March 15!

9 - 11am - Check out or join the Bay Area Peace Navy! (We know the Coast Guard will be!)

11am­ Rally at Judge G. Carroll Park
W. Cutting Blvd & S. Garrard Blvd, Richmond (map)

1pm­ Nonviolent Direct Action at Chevron Refinery
100 Chevron Way, Richmond (map)
(Free shuttle buses will leave from Richmond BART and Point Richmond - 3rd St. and Chesley Ave - at 9:30am, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM.)

Join the March 15 & 19 DASW Text Mob to stay updated through the day:
Send a text to 40404 with the words “follow dasw” (case sensitive, no quotation marks). Standard rates apply.

The National Lawyers Guild legal hotline for arrestees is 415-285-1011. View the Direct Action to Stop the War Legal website.

The purpose of this action is shut the Chevron refinery down for the day, and to support community efforts to stop Chevron from expanding its refinery, which will increase pollution and cause asthma, cancer and rising death rates in surrounding communities. Chevron is driving the war and occupation in Iraq, refining over a million barrels of stolen Iraqi oil in Richmond a month, and actively lobbying for the privatization of Iraq¹s oil fields so companies like Chevron can seize control of them. Join us, and help send a clear message to Chevron: Stop stealing Iraqi oil, and stop polluting our communities! See our Chevron fact sheet. (Chevron fact sheet with footnotes.)

We will shut down the Richmond Chevron refinery by land, by bike, and by sea. We’re asking that you form an affinity group, and help us shut down Chevron. Here’s some ways you can plug in and help out:

1. Get together with a group of your friends, and help blockade the refinery (please check in with the Chevron working group if you want to do this – their email address is dasw.chevron [at] gmail.com).

2. To get involved in with the bike brigade, contact Bria at brihannala [at] gmail.com.

3. If you have a boat, you can join the ‘DASW Yacht Club! If you’re interested in this, please contact dasw.chevron [at] gmail.com.

4. If these options don’t sound appealing to you, there are many, many other important roles you can play in this action. Please come to the next Chevron organizing meeting (check back for details).

5. If helping organize this action isn’t something you have time for, you can just show up at Carroll Park (W. Cutting Blvd. and S. Garrard Blvd.
in Richmond) on March 15th, at 11am. And please tell your friends!

An introductory medic training designed to give you practical skills to take care of yourself and your friends in the streets and wherever you might end up.

Sunday, March 16
10 AM - 4 PM
Station 40
3030B 16th St. (at Mission)

You should come wearing clothes you can get dirty and move around quickly in.

Suggested donation $10

Led by a medic from the UK Actionmedics (www.actionmedics.org.uk)