People's Democracy

Worldwide Movement Necessary Against The US Oil Politics

AN appeal for a worldwide movement against the continued US attempts to clamp down absolute control over the oil resources of Middle East countries was made by Dr M K Pandhe.  Dr Pandhe who is the president of the International Energy and Mines Organisation (IEMO) was addressing a meeting of the executive bureau of the organisation at Haldia.

Dr M K Pandhe said that a united global movement was necessary to resist the encroaching aims of US imperialism that received assistance from countries like Great Britain.  Dr Pandhe repeatedly stressed on the US plans to build up a worldwide control over the globe’s oil and energy resources, and he said that this move must be frustrated by a united movement.

The two-day bureau meeting (which raised the slogan: ‘right to energy; energy for all people’) discussed among other things, the burgeoning workers’ movements worldwide against privatisation of the oil and energy industries; it also shed light on the need to build up joint and united movements of the TU’s.  The IEMO, Dr Pandhe disclosed, has membership strength of forty lakh worldwide.

In the international meet on energy that was held following the bureau meeting, several important issues came and these were:

•  In the task of energy transfer from the developed to the developing nations, financial constraints must be considered and appropriate steps taken

• Disinvestment and privatisation in the energy sector must be resisted and at all costs

• More investment is necessary in the power sector in the developing and poor countries

• Pressure must be created for the reduction in the pr9ces of mineral oil since the high price level pushes up the electricity costs

The meeting was strident in its condemnation of and opposition to US imperialism.

The meeting also resolved to strengthen the movement and to spread the message of the IEMO worldwide and build up closer cooperation among the TU’s working in the oil, mining and energy sectors.

The conference expressed its concern about global warming; it also debated and discussed the notion of alternative energy sources.

A series of international conferences have been planned.  Secretary of the IEMO, Alain Simon of France disclosed that a conference looking into the problems and demands of mining workers would be held in England in 2006.

An oil sector conference would be held in Russia the same year.  The French and the Russian units of the IEMO will look after the work of coordination of the TU’s across the globe working in the oil and energy sector.

Dr M K Pandhe later said that the oil MNC’s must channelise a portion of its profits for the benefit of the developing countries.  There should also be a mechanism whereby developing countries like India with huge oil requirements is able to purchase oil and concessional rates. (B P)