The pipeline was built with slave labor, forced into servitude by the Burmese military. The original pipeline partner, Unocal, was sued by EarthRights International for the use of slave labor. As soon as the suit was settled out of court, Chevron bought Unocal.

Chevron’s role in propping up the brutal regime in Burma is clear. Rice served on the Chevron board of directors for a decade. She even had a Chevron oil tanker named after her. While she served on the board, Chevron was sued for involvement in the killing of nonviolent protesters in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Like the Burmese, Nigerians suffer political repression and pollution where oil and gas are extracted and they live in dire poverty. The protests in Burma were actually triggered by a government-imposed increase in fuel prices.

Great clip. Puts the pieces together. Thanks

*No wonder* all we've gotten is polished/velvet-gloved condemnation of the unfolding tragedy without any action.

Unocal was also the company negotiating with the Taliban to build a pipeline through Afghanistan prior to 9/11.

The oil industry knows no shame.

Oil barons court Taliban in Texas

This is the reason no one listens to our government, plus we have our own overwhelming issues with slave laborers.

Great info thanks for clipping it. This is very important stuff for people to understand and care about before we will ever have any real change.