Raymond M. Kristiansen
Joined: Mar 1, 2002
Posts: 132 (view all)
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Gender & Age: Male & 33
Country: Denmark
Province/State: Roskilde
City: Roskilde
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National means to Global change
December 28, 2003 - 03:23 AM
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Statoil, the Norwegian oil company partly owned by the Norwegian State, has been involved in a corruption scandal in Iran. Several oil companies from around the world have been involved in similar irregularities when it comes to doing business in other countries, where one example is how ChevronTexaco is put under scrutiny in the US over dealings in Kazakhstan.
It is a well-known fact that many of the oil-rich countries are spending their income in ways which do not profit the People. There is created a corrupt power elite in the country which exploits the lack of transparency in the country in order to enrich itself. This is problematic, but it is very hard for people in Norway, or Canada, or Afghanistan, to do something about the problems on a
global scale. However, we Can in most cases do something from our national perspective. Here in Norway, there is currently a signature campaign where we (my political party) ask Hydro and Statoil, the two main Norwegian oil
companies, to show more corporate responsability in Iran, a country which is not really doing that well in human rights for instance. The campaign has so far gotten almost 200 signatures, which is mostly from Norwegian members of the Liberal political movement. For fun, I will now try to translate the Norwegian text on that page into English.
<HR>
"To Staoil and Norwegian Hydro"
The signatures wish to ask the Norwegian oil companies Statoil and Norwegian Hydro to work actively for human rights in Iran.
Iran is governed by a regime who are violating basic human rights and are denying their people the freedom of speech. The country is considered one of the worst in the world when it comes to capital punishment (death sentences).
To operate in a country such as this requires that you try to influence the conditions in a positive direction. We do not believe that Iranian authorities are influenced in a positive direction just by the Presence of foreign companies. We therefore ask that Statoil and Norwegian ydro:
Discuss breaches on human rights with Iranian authorities, and express discontent with these.
Continue to educate it's personell in human rights issues.
Ensure that the projects they are involved in do not result in exploitations of the local population.
Are open about their work to better the situation in Iran, and are including this in their reports and economic papers.
*on the right of the page:*
Human rights need you!
To do something for the human rights is Liberal Youth's invitation to you for Christmas 2003.
Ethical Consumption
Many of the goods we usually buy are produced by people in the poorest part of the world. Liberal Youths want a fair world trade, and find it important that employers give their employees proper working conditions. Unfortunately many are denied acceptable wages, are denied to form Unions, and can lose their work without proper reasons. Liberal Youths request you to ask in the stores under
what conditions the goods are produced, and whether the producers can guarantee that they have given their workforce proper working conditions. More about this
you can find at this link and this one (especially about jeans).
Iran
Iran is today governed by a religious regime which limits the opportunities of the people to elect their own representants and express their opinion. Iran also
has a Justice system which discriminates women and who have severely brutal punishments. Iran is one of the three worst countries in the world regarding the use of death sentences (together with the USA and China). The Norwegian companies Staoil and Norwegian Hydro are both operating in Iran in order to make money on oil production. Liberal Youths do not support boycotts and we do not wish that the oil companies shall move out from Iran. But we are of the opinion that they should be required to make human rights work a part of its operations. Because of this we ask of you to sign a petition to the companies to do exactly
that.
<HR>
My approach is that if we all in our countries put pressure on Our Own Companies who are operating in China, Iran and other places where basic human rights are violated, then we have gained a lot. As consumers, we DO have a lot of
power. As Individuals who can express ourselves, we ALSO have a lot of power. By using the internet to share information and experiences, and cooperating with
others in more or less loose forms, we can help create an awareness, which is:
If we want global change, often we must start with the companies based in our own countries.
I am committed to continue to help put pressure on our Norwegian Oil companies. The situation is that Statoil Claims that its mere presence in Iran IS helping
Iran's human rights record. We do not think this is the case, and that is why this petition was made.
Personally I do not believe in boycots or economic sanctions either. If you want to create change in a different country (be that Iran, China, Israel, USA or the
Soviet Union of the past), then increasing the distance to the people of that country is NOT the way to go. Instead, we must have belief in the power of communication and dialogue.
My hope is that we, youths from around the world active here on Taking It Global, can share information about what is going on in our different countries.
If a company from my country is helping the government in your country to violate the human rights of your people, then Tell Me!
Together we CAN make a difference.
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