BOYCOTT TOTAL OIL

TOTAL DENIAL- London Premier

2007-03-09T22:35:00.000Z

The groundbreaking film 'Total Denial' will be shown in London on Monday 26th March and Monday 28th March. Each showing starts at 6.30 and is £7 with proceeds going to Human Rights Watch.The film is a documentary following 15 villages who were used as slaves on Total's pipeline in Burma. They witnessed the relocation and rape before eventually bringing both Total and UNOCAL to Court. The documentary includes a collection of first hand testimonies collected at great risk to the film-makers own life. This is the London premier and the film-maker will be present at both showings.Full details at http://hrw.org/iff/2007/lo
ndon/films.html#total

Ken Saro-Wiwa: A true hero

2007-01-25T11:28:00.000Z

Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni human rights activist and writer, devoted his life the peaceful struggle against Royal Dutch Shell and their rape if Nigeria. Thousands of Ogoni people saw their farms and livelihoods destroyed throughout the 1990's by Shell's irresponsible oil drilling, gas-flaring and murder of protestors. The accumulation of Shells barbaric practice came when they set up Saro-Wiwa and eight of his comrades to be executed by the corrupt Nigerian government in 1995.

On 25th January Charles Lock will deliver a free lecture entitled: ‘The Legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa: Heroic Activism and Rotten English’ at Goldsmith's, University of London. For full details visit the 'upcoming talks page' or contact Goldsmiths at 020 7919 7436, or e-mail m.macdonald@gold.ac.uk. For a map and travel information please visit http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/

Ken Saro-Wiwa is a true hero and an inspiration to us all in the peaceful yet unyielding fight against barbaric, human-rights abusing oil giants. He provides hope to those who continue the struggle against Shell in Nigeria and against Total in Burma. This lecture is an event not to be missed.

Jails and Genocide-Behind the Spin (part 2)

2007-01-15T19:11:00.000Z

Burma is a land of many ethnic groups; Karen, Karreni, Shan, Arakan and Chin just to name a few. For years until the regime took power Burma was one of the most multicultural and tolerant countries on the planet. The Burman majority (mainly Buddhist) lived in relative peace alongside, Karen (mainly Christian), Rohingya (mainly Muslim), Indians (both Hindu and Sikh), Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indians amongst a multitude of others. However, since 1958 the military juntas in control have systematically destroyed any such harmony. From ejecting rich Anglo-Indians and seizing their assets to stripping the Rohingya people of any rights to marry or own property, the regime has made sure that ethnic minorities are treated as bad, or even worse than the Burman majority they persecute so brutally.

A particular venom has been saved for the Karen people; who the regime hate with such a passion that they have contributed a huge proportion of their resources to destroying the entire Karen civilisation. Hundreds of Karen villages have been bombed or shelled without warning[1] killing men, women and children or soldiers have simply arrived and told the entire population of the village to move into army-controlled areas or be shot on site[2]. Just last month the Tatmadaw (Burmese army) attacked the Northern Karen region, murdering 76 men, women and children, burning villages, burning rice fields and driving 25 000 Karen civilians in to hiding in the jungle where they suffer from malnutrition, starvation and disease[3]. Children are executed to prevent the Karen population growing whilst those suspected of being members of the Karen National Liberation Army (a small armed group which seeks to protect Karen villages from attacks) have been beheaded in public or simply tied to trees and beaten to death[4].

The sickening brutality of the Burmese army is unquestionable as these quotes from the Free Burma Rangers show:

“Saw Maw Keh carried his mother up the ridge out of the gully and into theclearing. The Burma Army soldiers waited until the Saw Maw Keh and hismother were in the cleared area, about 10-15 yards away from their positionbehind the logs, and then opened fire. The shock of having a line of troopsopen fire at point blank range must have been tremendous. Saw Maw Kehdropped his mother (we are not sure if she was shot off his back or fell).She cried out to him and as he turned to help her they both were shot dead.His daughter, 9-year-old Naw Eh Ywa Paw was shot though the back as she ranwith the rest of the people…The Burma Army waited ina prepared position to kill villagers. They waited until they were only 10yards away and opened fire on a man carrying his mother and as well as thefamilies and children behind him. What kind of people, what kind of systemcan do this? A depraved one.”[5]

This is just one incident, in the attack on one village, that has been replicated time and time again not just across the Karen region but throughout the villages or nearly every ethnic minority in Burma.

Yet the murder of children, the pre-meditated destruction of entire villages, the savage beatings and the beheadings have been willingly funded and endorsed by Total Oil for fourteen years. Here are just two examples of Total’s contribution to the genocide:

Money from Total ($130 million) paid for 30% of the MIG fighter planes[6] that the Burmese Army purchased from Russia and for use in attacks on Karen villages. This transaction took place in 2002 despite the fact that the Burmese army had been carrying out their genocide of the Karen for years.
Soldiers drove Karen villagers from their homes to make way for Total’s pipeline. This was done with the full knowledge of Total, Chief Executive Theirry Desmarest stated “Military presence in the region was reinforced to ensure protection of the area”

The facts are clear. Despite Total’s spin and talk of ‘positive engagement’ propagated by their PR department, Total are funding genocide. They money paid by the public at Total petrol stations is in turn paid to the Burmese regime for Burma’s oil (£200 000 000 per year)[7].This money is used for military planes and arms to continue their genocide of Burma’s ethnic minorities (Total spend 50% of their annual budget on the military despite having no external enemies[8] –it all goes towards their oppression and genocide.

Total may create a fancy PR site with pictures of smiling Burmese children to cover their tracks but they know where the money is going. When asked about the genocide they are silent, when asked to condemn the genocide they are silent, and they’ll be silent tonight while tens of thousands of Karen civilians hide out in a landmine filled jungle to protect their children from the soldiers who will rape and murder them –with guns and planes paid for by Total.

[1] Karen Human Rights Group
[2] Karen Human Rights Group
[3] Free Burma Rangers
[4] Free Burma Rangers
[5] Free Burma Rangers
[6] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’
[7] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’
[8] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’

Photo 1 from Karen Human Rights Group, Photos 2 and 3 from Free Burma Rangers.

Total are still abusing human rights.....but we are still here

2007-01-07T16:08:00.000Z

It may have been a year since our last update (sorry about that!!) but we haven't gone away. Total are still in Burma, still using barbaric guards to protect their slave-built pipeline and still providing the funds that the regime need to continue abusing and opressing the people of Burma. The genocide of the Karen people is ongoing, Burma's prisons are still crowded with political prisoners, democratically elected leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi is still under house arrest (4091 days now) and Total are still keeping the situation the same -all in the name of oil profits.

But as long as they carry on so will Students Against Total. We've spent the last year informing people, rasing awareness of the situation and lobbying Total both ont he ground and on the web. So get involved and get in touch by sending a message to studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

We'll never give up on the people of Burma -and we'll never give up the fight against Totalitarian Oil.

Total and the Environment (part 2)

2006-08-31T14:40:00.000Z

Erika is a name that has haunted Total since 1999 and has long been a symbol of Total’s complete disregard for the environment when in pursuit of profit.
In December 1999 the Erika tanker, commissioned by Total, split in two near the coast of France, spilling 10 million litres of oil into the ocean[1] , killing over 100 000 birds[2] (the biggest ever ecological disaster for Europe’s sea birds), destroying sea life and polluting over 500km of coast line[3].

Whilst civilians, soldiers, wildlife agencies and foreign aid flooded in to help save the birds and coastline, the finger of blame was pointed at Total for their appallingly lax safety standards.

An enquiry following the disaster revealed that Total was guilty of negligence in the vetting of the Erika, something that they were responsible for having commissioned the vessel to carry their oil. Lucien Bekourian, one of the commission’s experts, said the quality of Total's vetting was "clearly behind similar control processes in other companies". Bekourian said that Total used the Erika despite warnings about the quality of the ship.[4]

Total, in typical style responded with a weak claim that there were no international standards on vetting and they therefore did not bare responsibility.

The backlash revolved around a massive French-based campaign to boycott Total –the largest campaign of its sort before Total invested in Burma.
Environmentalists from France and further a field, many who had been involved in the enormous clean-up in the wake of Erika, criticised Total’s negligence and encouraged people not to buy from an oil company who wreaked such enormous devastation on Europe’s environment to save the money that would have been spent on vetting. Many still boycott Total as a result of the Erika atrocity, their resolve only strengthened by Total’s human rights abuses and environmental devastation in Burma.

Total failed to recover their reputation in France as just two years later their plant near Tolouse exploded killing 31 people, wounding 3000 and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Total were subsequently found guilt of neglect in storing dangerous chemicals at the site[5], a further illustration of Total’s utter neglect for both people and the environment; a character it has maintained across the world.

[1] BBC News
[2] Society for the Study and Protection of Nature (Brittaney)
[3] BBC News
[4] Asia Times
[5] Asia Times

Jails and Genocide-Behind the Spin (Part 1)

2006-08-24T14:05:00.000Z

Total’s presence in Burma is shrouded in corporate lingo; ‘socio economic programmes’, ‘ethical guidelines’ and ‘constructive engagement’.
But take away the corporate spin and take a look at what Total are really funding. Every year Total give over £200 000 000 ($450 000 000) to the Burmese regime in return for Burma’s oil[1]. Where does this go? Generally not on health (on which the regime spend just 19p per person each year, or 0.3% of their GDP-the lowest in the world[2]), most likely not on primary education (which isn’t available to 60% of children[3]) and almost certainly not on universities (the regime have closed down the majority of these). In fact the money isn’t really going to the people of Burma at all; 43% of children suffer from malnutrition and one in ten children die before their 5th birthday.
So let us take a look at where the majority of the regimes spending (coming foremost from Total) goes; on their prisons and on their genocide.
Currently 1183 political prisoners languish in Burma’s jails[4] where they are routinely tortured by the regime, who use the following methods:

Piercing of skin
Electric shocks (including to breast and genitals)
Solitary confinement (in pitch black)
Rape of men and women (by guards and trained dogs)
Beatings
Whippings
Forcing prisoners to sleep in their own excretion
Forcing prisoners to crawl on nails or glass
Burning skin and eyes
Rubbing skin off with iron bars
Kicking
Tying up
Strangling
Shackling[5]

Since 1988 126 democracy activists have been tortured to death in Burma’s jails. These people are imprisoned purely for their beliefs or for speaking out against the regime; many are reporters, one is a 4 year old girl, the youngest political prisoner in the world imprisoned because her father is a democracy activist[6].

As the regime spends such a large proportion of it’s income on arresting, detaining, torturing and executing democracy activists (and their families) and Total is the largest supplier of funds to the regime it is indisputable that much of the money Total pays them (coming from those filling up and Total petrol stations around the world) is used in Burma’s barbaric prison and torture system.

Total knows the situation –they know that their money is likely spent on the torture, rape and murder of political prisoners (aged four to eighty) in Burma’s notorious jails; yet they have never once made any objections. We call on Total to:

Request none of it’s money paid to the regime is spent on detention, jails or torture
Use it’s influence and the largest foreign investor in Burma and largest supplier of funds to the regime and condemn the prison and torture situation, call on the regime to reform the system and ensure nobody is arrested or jailed for opposition to Total’s pipeline

What can we do?

So far Total has never condemned the torture it funds or even attempted to make a difference, but with public pressure we can change that:

Please click ‘Add a Comment’ and sign your name in support of this request to Total
Please also e-mail Total at holding.myanmar-contact-internet@total.com or Total’s PR man at Jean-Francois.LASSALLE@total.com with this request (please send us copies of your e-mail and any replies at studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.com)

Thank you

[Part 2 will focus on Total’s funds being used in the genocide of the Karen people and the persecution of other ethnic groups]

[1] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’
[2] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’
[3] Burma Campaign UK Report ‘Total Oil- Fuelling the Oppression in Burma’
[4] Human Rights Watch
[5] List from AAPP report ‘The Darkness we see’
[6] Indo-Burma News

Students Against Total

Totalitarian Oil http://totalitarian-oil.blogspot.com

studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

Human Rights Abuses in Burma (part 7)

2006-08-19T19:13:00.000Z

Conclusion-since the military takeover in 1962 Burma has suffered the worst human rights abuses in the world. From oppressions and restrictions to open genocide the regime has brutalised Burma’s people at a growing rate. Furthermore, the regimes position remains protected by foreign investment and subsequent lack of international intervention. Despite the human rights situation deteriorating however success of human rights groups is growing. The United States Campaign for Burma has succeeded in pressuring the US government to impose unilateral sanctions, an action mirrored by the government of Norway. Significant investors have withdrawn from Burma, with Total Oil the largest remaining foreign investor and coming under increasing pressure.
Since Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Czech Republic President Václav Havel submitted a document outlining the need for UN intervention in early 2006 the Security Council has held it’s first ever discussion regarding Burma-an enormous step forward. Pressure from both politicians and the public is mounting on the UN to intervene and groups such as Burma Campaign UK are growing in support. There is still much to be done, however, to save the sixty million people of Burma from some of the worst abuses humankind has ever seen.

[Photo] Karen Human Rights Group

Become a Cyber Activist!

2006-08-15T17:39:00.000Z

In the six months since Students Against Total was formed we’ve enjoyed many successes: protests have been held, hundreds of signatures collected and huge amounts of awareness raised. Our ‘Free Burma’ banner has appeared (alongside several Students Against Total activists) in Burma Campaign News, hung from Total signs and photographed by the Burmese regime from inside their London embassy.
But alongside this we have experienced tremendous success right here –on the internet. Our site has reached hundreds more people, is visited by those concerned about Total’s human rights abuses every day and is monitored by Total themselves. Our videos on video websites have received hundreds of hits and above this we have been linked to by many excellent campaigns who share our concerns about the human rights abuses in Burma and by multinationals worldwide (see our friends and links section!)
But we want to take this further –we want YOU to become a cyber-activist against Total’s human rights abuses. There are limitless ways to do this which can take as little as an hour and will have an enormous impact. You might want to leaflet your campus and take some photos, stick a poster up in your local Total station and send us the pictures, write a report about Burma or Total or send a letter or e-mail to Total and send it to us with their reply.
Whatever you choose to do send it to us at studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.com and we’ll publish it. Hundreds of people will see your work and you’ll make a real difference to Burma and the world. Cyber activism is the newest and one of the most effective ways of taking the fight to human rights abusing multinationals.
So don’t wait- do it today! Hand out some leaflets, take some photos, write a report and do your bit to stand up against Total and their human rights abuses.
We need you, and you can make a difference.

Students Against Total
Totalitarian Oil http://totalitarian-oil.blogspot.com
studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

Total and the Environment (part 1)

2006-08-12T12:11:00.000Z

Total are notorious for their human rights abuses; from Burma to the Democratic Republic of Congo Total are happy to be responsible for rape, torture, murder and genocide as long as they get the oil.

But it doesn’t stop here; Total are also responsible for appalling crimes against the environment. Environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth have joined the international coalition against Total and environmentalists worldwide have campaigned for years against Total’s destruction of our planet. It’s not surprising also that Total’s environmental and human rights abuses are closely linked. By destroying the environment Total are destroying the lives of the people who live there and depend on it for food, work and materials.

Take Nigeria for example; here Total extract millions of dollars worth of oil every day. In extracting the oil, natural gas is also produced as a by-product; but instead of building a sustainable plant to collect and liquefy the gas to be used in the future Total takes the cheap option and engages in the notorious act of gas flaring. Total’s plants simply burn off the gas–creating huge flames and releasing poisonous fumes twenty four hours per day. Here Total is both devastating the environment and the lives of the Nigerian people. Children have grown up never knowing a dark night thanks to Total’s enormous gas flares lighting up the sky without pause.Che Ibegwura lives in Erema, an Egi community in Rivers State, Nigeria long devastated by Total’s gas flares. He stated:

"For many years, we have been living with continuous flaring of gas from Total...Our farmlands have been polluted. We labour hard to plant but little comes out. Our roofs are corroded. Our air is polluted. Our children are sick. Even the rainwater we drink is contaminated with black soot from the gas flares. We cannot continue with this suffering. We need to take legal action to protect ourselves, our children and our future."

This one story is shared by thousands across Africa from Nigeria to Sudan as a result of Total’s environmental devastation ruining the continent, the country and the lives of those who live under Total’s refineries and flares without ever seeing the benefits of the oil taken from under them.

Remembering 8/8/88

2006-08-09T14:59:00.000Z

Yesterday thousands of democracy and human rights protesters across the world gathered at Burmese embassies to commemorate the thousands who were massacred while peacefully protesting for democracy and human rights in Burma on 8/8/88 and to protest against the regime's ongoing oppression, torture and genocide.
In London over a hundred demonstrators from many different groups including Burmese Democracy Movement Association UK, Burma Campaign UK, Buddhists for Peace, Women of Burma UK and Christian Solidarity Worldwide along with NLD members and supporters marched to the embassy (stained with red paint representing the blood of those who died) where they laid a reef in memory of those massacred by the regime, made speeches and peacefully, but incredibly loudly protested for over an hour.

Amongst the sadness, the pride and the defiance it was worth remembering that while so many gave such an amazing show of solidarity with the Burmese people and held such a sucessful protest against the regime, many people were unknowingly funding the regime by filling up at Total stations across the country. Please continue to spread the word about Total funding and perpetrating human rights abuses in Burma and continue to support the boycott, for those who died on 8/8/88, for those who continue to languish under the regime, for Burma.

Students Against Total
Totalitarian-oil.blogspot.com
studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

Gearing up for 8th August

2006-08-03T17:24:00.000Z

On 8th August thousands of Burmese democracy and human rights activists around the world will descend on their nearest Burmese embassy in memory of the thousands of democracy activists who were slaughtered on 8/8/88 in Burma and in protest at the regimes continuing opression of the country (see here for details of the London protest or visit the BDMA UK site).

In preparation for the day Students Against Total activists and supporters set out to support BDMA UK in publicising the London protest by postering local notice boards. During this came one of Students Against Total's finest hours -when two activists managed to convince a Total employee to allow us to place a poster in the Total petrol station:

Neither the Total bosses nor the Burmese regime would be too happy to find out that this Total station is now publicising a protest against Total's friend and business partner!

You can join the thousands across the world protesting for democracy by finding out the details of you nearest 8/8/88 commemoration protest -click here for details of the London protest or here for a list of Burma Campaigns around the world to find one in your country.

Total in the DRC

2006-08-02T20:24:00.000Z

This week the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo went to the polls for the first time ever. For years the country has been wrecked with civil conflict, regional conflict and local conflict in what some have described as ‘Africa’s World War’. Since refugees escaping the Rwandan genocide began the flood across the border in 1994 the conflict has claimed the lives of over 10 000 people while over a million more have been driven from their homes.
So whilst the DCR is in the news this week its worth taking a look back at the conflict that has ravaged the country for so long; and its no surprise that amongst some of the worst human rights abuses of the last decade Total shows up. Congolese officials including General Denis Sassou Nguesso and arms dealer Jacques Monsieur revealed that Total had been supplying the arms money during the fighting in return for oil revnues. In response to the revelations Total’s man Jacques de Naurois made a statement in which he declared:
"Whatever the French foreign policy towards Africa was, [Total] was only concerned with oil"
This statement may have actually done more harm to Total than good as it reveals the truth- Total has only ever been concerned with oil and this is the reason why, just as they happily provide money to the genocide of the Karen people, they happily provided money to fuel one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 1990’s. As long as they get the oil Total just don’t care.

JOIN US IN LONDON ON AUGUST 8TH TO PROTEST IN MEMORY OF THE BURMESE PROTESTORS SLAUGHTERED ON 8/8/88 BY THE BURMESE REGIME NOW FUNDED BY TOTAL.

Art Against Total

2006-07-31T21:30:00.000Z

Char; an extremely talented human rights and democracy activist drew this brilliant picture from the Students Against Total protest on the last International Day of Action Against Total.

Protest for Burmese democracy and Human Rights on August 8th

REMEMBER 8/8/88

2006-07-30T09:35:00.000Z

On 8th August 1988 (8888) tens thousands of people across Burma rose up in peaceful demonstration against the military regime. Monks, Students, Civil Servants, Workers, Lawyers, Men, Women, Children all marched through the streets in defiance of the military brutality and demanding democracy.
They were massacred.
The regime ordered it's soldiers to fire into the crowds. As people lay dead and dying the regimes men forced many protestors back into lakes where they drowned whilst being fired upon by the soldiers. It was the bloodiest day in Burma's history and the thousands of deaths that day made it even worse than the Tianmen Square massacre in China a year later.
Eighteen years on the regime is still in place -supported by Total Oil.
Total invested in the regime knowing full well the atrocities committed in 1988; supplying the funds that the military thugs need to keep their grip on power.
In 2003 at Depying there was another massacre; using weapons bought with Totals money.
Furthermore hundreds of protestors from 8888 still languish in Burma's jails, beaten, tortured and sexually abused. Total has never mentioned them or asked for their release but has paid the regime the money needed to keep the barbaric prisons running.

This year on August 8th thousands of people around the world will march in remembrance of the heroes who gave their lives for democracy and in defiance of the regime who continues to oppress Burma eighteen years after it indiscriminately slaughtered innocent citizens.

There will be a protest march and rally in London including members of Burmese Democratic Movement Association UK, Burma Campaign UK and Amnesty International.

CLICK HERE FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS

We urge everyone who can to turn out and remember the heroes of 1988, and while you do remember that it is Total who happily continues to put money into the pocket of the very regime who butchered thousands of Burmese people -and continue to do so today.

Human Rigths Abuses in Burma (part 6)

2006-07-12T20:18:00.000Z

Slave Labor and Child Soldiers-Burma’s industry is state controlled and often run on slave labor; usually using ethnic minorities or political prisoners. Since the regimes takeover in 1962 the use of Burmese children being used to build roads has been notorious. The United Nations International Labor Organization has accused the regime of a 'crime against humanity' for its systematic use of forced labor, used by the regime “to encourage private investment in infrastructure development, public sector works and tourism projects”. [1] The use of slave labor in any circumstances is barbaric but in its use by a government in the 21st century the horrific nature of slavery is exemplified. Even foreign investment in the country relies on forced labor; in 2005 Total Oil paid six villagers the equivalent of €3 million in order for them to withdraw from their long running court case accusing Total of forcing them to work on their Yanda pipeline. This action by Total is indicative that they were aware the court case would not find verdict in their favor and would compromise the ongoing use of forced labor on their pipeline. Due to large presence of forced labor in both the tourism and investment sectors in Burma the NLD has called on all supporters of democracy to boycott both.
As well as widespread slavery the Burmese regime are responsible for the highest number of child soldiers in the world; currently standing at 70 000 [2]. Children as young as 11 are picked up from market places and bus stops, taken from their families, regularly beaten and threatened with physical punishment if they try to escape. They are then forced to commit human rights abuses against civilian and engage in combat against ethnic militia and Thai insurgents.
"Burma's army preys on children, using threats, intimidation and often violence to force young boys to become soldiers. To be a boy in Burma today means facing the constant risk of being picked up off the street, forced to commit atrocities against villagers, and never seeing your family again."
International law recognizes the recruitment of any child under the age of fifteen as a war crime and the UN General Assembly prohibits the forced recruitment or the engaging in combat of any child under eighteen; a clear reason why the regime has not yet signed the Rights of the Child Protocol. [3]

[1] Burma Campaign UK
[2] Nation Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (in exile)
[3] Human Rights Watch

Students Against Total

2006-07-06T14:10:00.001Z

Who are Students Against Total?

Students Against Total is a pressure group made up of students opposed to Total Oil funding and committing human rights abuses in Burma. We aim to put pressure on Total to withdraw from Burma.

Why Total?

The human rights abuses committed by the Burmese regime are amongst the worst in the world. The regime has violated every human right through means from systematic ethnic cleansing to torture of political prisoners to destruction of all free press. Total Oil is by far the main supplier of funds to the regime and has never even raised any concerns about the human rights abuses they are funding. Furthermore Total are actively involved in human rights abuses themselves -the soldiers they employ to guard their pipeline have raped children and looted homes whilst the pipeline itself has been constructed through slave labor.

What about other oil companies-aren't they all as bad?

Students Against Total do not deny the human rights abuses of other oil companies such as Shell in Nigeria, Texaco in Burma and BP in Tibet and many members are involved in other campaigns as well as campaigns to clean up the oil industry as a whole. The human rights abuses committed by Total are however, still amonst the worst in the world and also an issue that till recently has not received fair attention. A consumer boycott of Total can force Total to leave Burma; leading to a situation where Total can become an ethical choice. Forcing Total to leave Burma will also have a knock-on affect on other oil companies to clear up their own human rights abuses. We also encourage people to look at oil companies on balance- choices such as Jet are certainly more ethical than Total.

How is Students Against Total Structured?

Students Against Total is made up of groups of students at schools, colleges and universities. To start up your own Students Against Total group e-mail us at studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

What actions does Students Against Total take?

Students Agaisnt Total seeks to achieve our goals through the following means:
Raising awareness about Total's human rights abuses through publicity campaigns -such as leaflet distribution
Rallying support on the internet through running the Boycott Total Oil website
Informing drivers about the human rights abuses that filling up at Total will fund by holding demonstrations at Total garages
Taking part in large national protests organized by groups such as Burma Campaign UK and Burmese Democratic Movement Association UK

What are the political or religious affiliations of Students Against Total?

Students Against Total is an independent group. We do however support other pressure groups for human rights in Burma such as BCUK and BDMA, as well as many of our members also supporting other movements for corporate accountability and development such as Baby Milk Action and the Trade Justice Movement.

Students Against Total is not formally associated to any political party but supports Aung Sann Suu Kyi and the National League of Democracy -the Burmese party for democracy. On our protests you can always spot several of our members proudly wearing NLD arm-bands.

Students Against Total support freedom of belief and have members from many different faiths and none.

Join Students Against Total today by sending an e-mail to studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

Enemies of the Burmese Revolution

2006-07-03T21:32:00.000Z

Last month underground democracy activists in Burma published and secretly distributed a list entitled Enemies of the Burmese Revolution . It contains the names of the five hundred and sixty eight individuals doing the most to stand in the way of democracy and freedom in Burma.

Alongside brutal dictator General Then Shwe, Regime thug U Tun Min Latt-renowned for beating political prisoners to death, Chinese dictator Hu Jianto and democracy-activist-turned-government-agent Dr. Zarni were a few more familiar faces:

Jean-Paul Vettier was Total's President of Refining and Marketing up to this year; from his comfy office in Paris he oversaw Total's investment in Burma coordinating Total's support for the regime, the employment of raping and looting soldiers and the systematic destruction of Burma's environment as well as the use of slave labor which, of course, 'never happened'

Also featured on this list is Michel Bénézit who took over from Vettier this year. He inherited Vettier's healthy wage-packet and continued the devastation of lives and country. Significantly Bénézit featured in Total's decision to pay off six villagers who had them in court for Total using them as slave labor on the Yadana pipeline. Total claimed that the villagers had never been used as slaves but decided to pay them anyway on the condition that they dropped the country case (suspicious??) -who says he doesn't earn his money?

Next up is Mr. O. Greiner, listed for his work as Total's CEO in the Netherlands. Mr. O Greiner apparently isn't important enough to have his photo published on Total's website but is certainly significant enough to appear in Enemies of the Burmese Revolution for his collaboration in some of the worst human rights abuses on the planet

Finally is our old friend Jean-François Lassalle. A known visitor to this site, Mr. Lassalle has been listed as an enemy of Burmese democracy for his work as Total's spin doctor- fronting elaborate claims over Total's decision to pay off six former slaves who had them in court and over the girl who was gang-raped by Burmese soldiers guarding the Yadana pipeline-an incident Mr. Lassalle cleverly dismissed by claiming an 'investigation' had proved the rape never happened but failing to provide any details of the investigation (including whose investigation it was!) or proof that it had even ever been carried out. He also lead Total's damage limitation missions when the international coalition led by Burma Campaign UK stepped up the heat last year.

The man who raped Burma....and the man who can save Burma

2006-06-13T22:10:00.000Z

For eleven years Thierry Desmarest (shown here) has run Total and in this time has turned it into the largest supporter of the military regime in Burma. Under him Total has:

>Provided the regime with nearly $450million

>Paid the Burmese army to patrol their pipeline despite stating “Total was well aware that the Army's presence in the region could have negative consequences for villages in the area.”

>Used forced labour of men, women and children on its pipeline

>Consistently turned a blind eye to the rapes, looting and murders carried out by the soldiers it employed

>Financially encouraged the French government to block any EU action against the military dictatorship

>Not once condemned the genocide of the Karen people, the torture of political prisoners, the use of rape as a weapon or the detention of Burmese democracy leaders including the democratically elected leader of the country Aung Sung Suu Kyi, despite providing the majority of the regimes funding

But all this can change. Next year Desmarest will step down to be replaced by this man- Christophe de Margerie. The man who declared "We have to go where the oil and gas is, though not at any cost", will become the new Chief Executive Officer of Total and will have the opportunity to: withdraw from Burma in order to end the company’s support for the regime, deter future foreign investment in Burma thereby cutting revenue to the regime and open the way to a French foreign policy that no longer undermines Burma’s pro-democracy movement.

We call on Mr. de Margerie to keep to his word and accept that genocide, oppression, slavery and rape is to high a cost for Burma’s oil and gas. Mr. de Margerie quite literally hold the future of the people of Burma in his hands-by his statement he has proved that he knows what it right- and we call on him to have the courage to act upon his words.

Contact Us

2006-06-06T22:35:00.000Z

If you have any questions, comments, would like advice on protests or actions, or just want to drop us a line you can e-mail us at studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for your support

Human Rights Abuses in Burma (part 5)

2006-06-06T22:04:00.000Z

Neglect of the people-The SDPC, as the only military dictatorship in today’s world, has very little, if any, expertise in running a country and instead concentrates both its efforts and resources on suppressing the Burmese people and carrying out ethnic cleansing against minorities. This distribution of resources is a human rights abuse in itself; the regime currently spends 50% of its budget on the military and just 2% on health an education combined[1]. Economic mismanagement has left 75% of Burma’s population below the poverty line living on less than 60p per day. Infant mortality rate currently stands at 76 deaths per 100 live births whilst the under-five mortality rate stands at 107 deaths per 1000 live births; one of the worst situations in South-East Asia. The regime has done nothing to counter this and has made no attempts to provide clean water and agriculture to once-prosperous areas now suffering from malnutrition and Cholera. In fact, the regime is actively hindering the situation. Whilst 60 000 people, 1.3% of the population is now infected with an ever more out of control HIV/AIDS epidemic[2] the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has been forced to pull out of Burma. The Global Fund left on the basis that restriction imposed on their activity by the regime had left their aims impossible and arguably a waste of resources. Aid workers are not allowed to leave Rangoon without three weeks notice and even then areas of ‘military operations’ such as the genocide in the Karen region are off limits. Although UNAIDS and Medicines Sans Frontiers still have clinics in Burma, helping the people neglected by the regime, both are restricted especially in the limitation imposed on medical staff coming in from abroad. The regime has deemed all aid work an “interference”, leaving the remaining projects in danger of being forced to pull out.[3] After the 2005 Tsunami the regime refused to let in aid workers and put the number of dead at 300 despite UN estimates in the thousands.
This highlights the regimes disgraceful neglect of the people, and concentration on oppression and maintaining control whilst the country is racked by disease, poverty and malnutrition.

[1] Burma Campaign UK
[2]National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (in exile)
[3] BBC World News-Asia Pacific

Where is the truth?

2006-05-30T16:27:00.000Z

It has been over a week since we published, and directly sent our open letter to Total. A letter not asking Total to pull out of Burma, cut funding to the regime or change anything: simply asking them to condem the onoging genocide of the Karen people.

We have had no reply.

Why? Because it would put Total in a bad spot-they are directly funding the genocide (for example, Total's first payment to the regime was used to buy military arcraft to attack the Karen region). Total cannot condem something that they are funding even if women are being raped, children shot and peoplebeheaded or beaten to death. Even if 16 000 people have been driven from their homes and thousands more are dead.

So the easiest thing for Total to do is ignore our letter, ignore the beheadings, the rape, the burnings -to ignore the genocide.

And Total are used to ignoring the truth. In 2003 a 14 year old girl was raped by 16 soldiers employed by Total to guard their pipeline. Total have done nothing about it.

On 9th November 2005 Totals Vice Chief Executive of PR stated in an e-mail:

"I have received your mail relating a story on which we are currently gathering information. This case however doesn't appear to be as straight forward as you describe. Whatever the results of our investigation, I will personally keep you posted. "

On 22nd November 2005 Totals Vice Chief Executive of PR stated in an e-mail:

"I will respond to [your inquiry] when I get the results of the investigation I previously mentioned about the rape of the 14 year old girl." -note that he appears to accept that the girl was raped

On 19th April 2005 Totals Vice Chief Executive of PR enied that the girl was ever raped:

"Following the investigation into these allegations, I can assure you that the case you drew to my attention was based on a totally unfounded rumour. The girl in question was never raped. This doesn't mean to say that such a thing could never happen, but I am happy to say that in this instance, there was no such incident."

Since then he has failed to answer any questions about this 'investigation' -Who did it involve? were external investigators called in? Will the results be published? Who conducted the 'investigation?

If an investigation did take place why are these questions not being answered? Did the investigation even take place? Why is such a massive issue [a young girl being gang raped by soldiers guarding Total's pipeline] being ignored by Total?

All we want is answers. All we want is details of the investigation. All we want is the truth.

And right now Total isn't giving it.

AN OPEN LETTER TO TOTAL

2006-05-17T10:38:00.000Z

17th May 2006

To all Total Executives,
As you will already know the regime in control of Burma has, this month begun its worst onslaught against the Karen people since 1997. Already 15 000 people have been driven from their villages where the regimes soldiers have murdered civilians, raped women, taken slaves, destroyed rice fields and burnt homes. Landmines have already been laid along the Thai boarder by the regime, maiming anybody trying to escape. Reports have already emerged of children just weeks old being carried through mine fields, civilians being beheaded by the regimes soldiers and of one man tied to a tree and beaten to death while the people of the village were forced to watch. Thousands of Karen people are hiding in the jungles of Burma with no food, water or medical supplies, their villages having been burnt to the ground and their harvest destroyed by the regime.

Total Oil is the regime's biggest supplier of funds and yet has kept silent on these atrocities. We are calling upon you to publicly condemn the genocide of the Karen people and ask the regime to call a halt to the onslaught. Total may claim to not be involved in politics but by paying the regime is directly funding the genocide of the Karen people.

It is time to publicly condemn the genocide and call for it to stop.

International Day of Action Report

2006-05-12T19:04:00.000Z

TOTAL Oil is funding a regime that is slaughtering its own population...Shareholders must hold the directors to account, and make it clear the company must pull out of Burma. Shareholder dividends from TOTAL Oil are being paid for in the blood of Burma’s people.”

Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK on the International Day of Action Against Total

All around the world today, to coincide with Total's AGM, Total Headquaters and petrol stations were surrounded by pro-democracy and human rights protesters calling for Total to leave Burma. Protests took place in many coutnries including UK, France, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands. Here are a few photos from the Students Against Total Protest in Guildford:

Well done to everyone involved across the world!!!

FREE BURMA!!

Protest photos

2006-05-07T10:45:00.000Z

On Wednesday evening as the regime stepped up their genocide with the money provided by Total a small (but loud!) group of students descended on a Total station just outside Guildford to distribute leaflets and let people know what they were funding by filling up at Total.
The students stayed throughout rush hour and had great sucess in spreading the word about Total to would-be-customers, rallying support and collecting signatures for the Burma Campaign UK petition.

Click on a photo to enlarge:

The same group had previously held a demonstration outside another Guildford station on the last Internation Day of Action Against Total on Febuary 3rd:

Click here to watch The Students Against Total Video

Well done to all involved and good luck to all planning protest on the International Day of Action on May 12th.

If you are interested in joining protests in the Guildford area, finding advice on holding your own protests or wanting to share photos of your protests, e-mail studentsagainsttotal@hotmail.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST TOTAL

2006-05-01T18:10:00.000Z

12th May 2006

'Stand up and be counted for those MURDERED BY TOTAL'

Protests will take part at Total stations and offices across the world

Please take part!

The london protest will take place at

Total Oil HQ
33 Cavendish Square, London W1G OPW.
12.30-1.30pm.
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.

If you are outside the UK you can find out if there is a protest in your country at http://www.burmcampaign.org.uk/links

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE