Chevron
Richmond Not Among Chevron’s Slated Cutbacks or Shutdowns
Yesterday, the Chevron Corporation quelled a range of rumors regarding where it would cut back on its operations and shut down refineries. In its Security Analyst meeting, Chevron announced that it will lay off 2,000 workers in its global downstream division, where gas is made and sold. Chevron also announced its intent to sell its refinery in Pembroke, Wales, and to solicit bids on downstream operations in Europe, the Carribbean, and Central America.
Chevron did not mention Richmond in its discussion of cutbacks–contrary to the fears of some when Chevron first announced it would be scaling back its operations and shutting down facilities.
Chevron derives most of its profit from pumping and selling crude oil, which allows the company to remain profitable–from its operations in regions like the Niger Delta–even when its marketing and refining operations take a hit.
Read more on this story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Chevron pollutes fresh water in Nigeri. Ads designed by Underground Ads
THE TRUE COST OF CHEVRON
TrueCostofChevron.com
JINN is one member of a large coalition of organizations who are standing up to hold Chevron accountable for its human rights abuses and environmental destruction in Nigeria and around the the world. In May of 2009 the True Cost of Chevron coalition released an alternative annual report and a parody ad campaign to enlighten shareholders about what the company does not talk about in their yearly report.
Chevron’s 2008 annual report is a glossy celebration of the company’s most profitable year in its history.
What Chevron’s annual report does not tell its shareholders is the true cost paid for those financial returns, or the global movement gaining voice and strength against Chevron’s abuses.
Thus, we, the communities and their allies who bear the consequences of Chevron’s operations, have prepared an alternative annual report of Chevron entitled “The True Cost of Chevron.” The report was released the day before the shareholder meeting on May 26, 2009.
Never before has one report brought together the information, stories, and struggles of communities from Angola, Burma, Canada, Chad, Cameroon, Ecuador, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines and across the United States directly impacted by, and in struggle against, Chevron’s operations.
Chevron refuses to clean up its mess in Nigeria. Ads designed by Underground Ads
Reports on Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria
Amnesty International: Nigeria Ten years on: Injustice and violence haunt the oil Delta
This report, written in 2005 shows the continued human rights abuses that continue to affect communities where Chevron and Shell operate in the Delta. Violence has only increased since 2005.
Chevron In Numbers:
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2nd largest oil company in the United States
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6th largest corporation in the world
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$32.5 million: David O’ Reilly, Chevron’s CEO total compensation including stock options in 2007 (according to Forbes.com)
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$23.9 billion Chevron’s 2008 record profits (compared to $18.7 billion in 2007 - a full 28% higher)
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$4.9 billion:Forth Quarter profit for 2008
Photo Credit: Kendra E. Thornbury for Sweet Crude
Bowoto v Chevron Litigation Background
On December 1, 2008 a San Francisco jury found Chevron not-liable in the shootings of unarmed activists protesting in 1998. However the case in now in appeal and the plaintiffs continue to seek justice for Chevron’s actions which included paying and transporting the Nigerian military to the oil platform where the protesters were conducting a peaceful sit-in. As a result of the military actions, two people were killed and several others wounded and tortured. Below is the background information regarding the case. To read what happened in court daily during the trial in the fall of 2008 visit the Bowoto v Chevron Trial Blog
Fact sheets on the case:
Bowoto v. Chevron Human Rights Litigation
When We Protested, They Shot Us
Chevron’s Misleading Public Statements
Dead Fish, Dead Trees, No Water to Drink
Chevron Keeps Questionable Company
Press Release from National Lawyers Guild:
Complaint Filed Against Former Dept. of Defense Lawyer William Haynes
Former Department of Defense General Counsel Recommended Torture, Harsh Interrogation Techniques
William Haynes at Senate Hearing in June 2008
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - March 16 - The National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NLGSF) is filing a complaint with the California State Bar today against former Department of Defense General Counsel William Haynes. The complaint against Haynes, who now works for the Chevron Corporation in San Ramon, states that he “breached his duty as a lawyer and advocated for harsh tactics amounting to torture in violation of U.S. and international law … advocacy that directly lead to detainee abuses at the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Grahib facilities.”
A copy of the complaint is available upon request or can be accessed at: http://www.nlgsf.org/committees/againsttorture.php. The complaint will be mailed to the State Bar Los Angeles office and hand-delivered to the State Bar Office in San Francisco, where there will be a 12:30 press conference.
Press Conference State Bar Office 180 Howard Street Monday, March 16, 12:30 PM
“We believe Mr. Haynes must be held accountable, just as any other lawyer would be,” said Carlos Villarreal, Executive Director of the NLGSF. “But we are filing this complaint today not out of motivation to harm Mr. Haynes, but to ensure that torture is again relegated to the status it had before the Bush Administration’s tenure, and that the harmful, sometimes deadly, and completely ineffective policy of torture is truly deterred.”
While working for the Department of Defense, Haynes ignored the serious concerns coming from all branches of the military and recommended in a memo to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, approval of certain harsh interrogation techniques, including removal of clothing, stress positions, and the use of dogs against detainees. The Senate Armed Services Committee has described the memo as “grossly deficient.”
“Powerful leaders can and do engage in illegal acts and inhumane treatment of others. These leaders often rely on lawyers and the legal system to give the appearance of legitimacy to an illegal agenda. Sadly, there always seems to be lawyers willing to do the bidding of powerful rulers,” said Sharon Adams, attorney member of the NLGSF. “The State Bar must uphold ethics and the rule of law, and repudiate Mr. Haynes’ actions.”
Haynes worked with other lawyers in the Bush administration who have yet to face consequences for their advocacy of torture and other wrongdoing, including former Justice Department lawyer and current UC Berkeley School of Law Professor John Yoo. “We are in a position where even members of the new administration are suggesting criminal charges against Bush officials for torture and other crimes are off the table since many of these officials relied on legal advice,” said Jim Lafferty, Executive Director of the National Lawyers Guild Office in Los Angeles. “If the lawyers are not held accountable for their misdeeds, then essentially high crimes with serious consequences have been committed but nobody is to blame.”
As a Registered in House Counsel for the Chevron Corporation, Haynes was not required to take the California Bar Exam but is also not able to appear in court or practice law beyond giving advice to Chevron. He is, however, required to “abide by all of the laws and rules that govern members of the State Bar of California,” according to California Rules of Court.
William “Jim” Haynes II: Hired last year as Chevron’s Chief General Counsel. Former job: General Counsel for the Pentagon. Haynes helped approve and craft the policy that allowed certain torture practices at Guantanamo Bay and throughout the American military including the use of dogs, making a detainee stand for long periods of time and forced nudity. Read More:
In June, Haynes testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee about interrogation practices that he approved and memos written on this issue, his most common answer: “I don’t specifically remember when I saw this.”
William Haynes at Senate Hearing in June 2008
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - March 16 - The National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NLGSF) is filing a complaint with the California State Bar today against former Department of Defense General Counsel William Haynes. The complaint against Haynes, who now works for the Chevron Corporation in San Ramon, states that he “breached his duty as a lawyer and advocated for harsh tactics amounting to torture in violation of U.S. and international law … advocacy that directly lead to detainee abuses at the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Grahib facilities.”
A copy of the complaint is available upon request or can be accessed at: http://www.nlgsf.org/committees/againsttorture.php. The complaint will be mailed to the State Bar Los Angeles office and hand-delivered to the State Bar Office in San Francisco, where there will be a 12:30 press conference.
Press Conference State Bar Office 180 Howard Street Monday, March 16, 12:30 PM
“We believe Mr. Haynes must be held accountable, just as any other lawyer would be,” said Carlos Villarreal, Executive Director of the NLGSF. “But we are filing this complaint today not out of motivation to harm Mr. Haynes, but to ensure that torture is again relegated to the status it had before the Bush Administration’s tenure, and that the harmful, sometimes deadly, and completely ineffective policy of torture is truly deterred.”
While working for the Department of Defense, Haynes ignored the serious concerns coming from all branches of the military and recommended in a memo to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, approval of certain harsh interrogation techniques, including removal of clothing, stress positions, and the use of dogs against detainees. The Senate Armed Services Committee has described the memo as “grossly deficient.”
“Powerful leaders can and do engage in illegal acts and inhumane treatment of others. These leaders often rely on lawyers and the legal system to give the appearance of legitimacy to an illegal agenda. Sadly, there always seems to be lawyers willing to do the bidding of powerful rulers,” said Sharon Adams, attorney member of the NLGSF. “The State Bar must uphold ethics and the rule of law, and repudiate Mr. Haynes’ actions.”
Haynes worked with other lawyers in the Bush administration who have yet to face consequences for their advocacy of torture and other wrongdoing, including former Justice Department lawyer and current UC Berkeley School of Law Professor John Yoo. “We are in a position where even members of the new administration are suggesting criminal charges against Bush officials for torture and other crimes are off the table since many of these officials relied on legal advice,” said Jim Lafferty, Executive Director of the National Lawyers Guild Office in Los Angeles. “If the lawyers are not held accountable for their misdeeds, then essentially high crimes with serious consequences have been committed but nobody is to blame.”
As a Registered in House Counsel for the Chevron Corporation, Haynes was not required to take the California Bar Exam but is also not able to appear in court or practice law beyond giving advice to Chevron. He is, however, required to “abide by all of the laws and rules that govern members of the State Bar of California,” according to California Rules of Court.
William “Jim” Haynes II: Hired last year as Chevron’s Chief General Counsel. Former job: General Counsel for the Pentagon. Haynes helped approve and craft the policy that allowed certain torture practices at Guantanamo Bay and throughout the American military including the use of dogs, making a detainee stand for long periods of time and forced nudity. Read More:
In June, Haynes testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee about interrogation practices that he approved and memos written on this issue, his most common answer: “I don’t specifically remember when I saw this.”