Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the US and UK governments, with help from transnational oil companies and the International Monetary Fund, have been laying the ground for the corporate takeover of Iraq's oil. Now, with a new law allowing foreign companies to take long-term control of Iraqi oil production likely to be passed in May, only massive public pressure - in Iraq and around the world - can stop Big Oil from cashing in on Iraq's suffering.

BEYOND PLUNDER

BP has been at the forefront of efforts to gain access to Iraq's oil. In 2003 and 2004, successive BP executives left to work as oil advisers to the occupation authorities in Iraq, paid for by the UK government. One of these advisers wrote a 'Code of Practice' for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, which called for multinational companies to play the major role in developing Iraq's oil, and for the Ministry's policies to be compatible with those of BP.

Since 2003, BP has also been one of six major oil companies working through a lobbying organisation called the International Tax and Investment Centre (ITIC) to push controversial Production Sharing Agreements in Iraq. The ITIC will host a meeting next month between the Iraqi government, BP, and other oil compaines (see [2] below) to start initial discussions over long-term contracts. The rip-off of Iraq's oil is entering a crucial phase.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO STOP THEM

Join us from 10.30am on Thursday to stand up in solidarity with Iraqis and tell BP's employees and shareholders we know what's going on. If the oil law passes in Iraq, we will have 12-18 months to prevent the signing of contracts that will hijack Iraq's oil reserves. Join us to tell BP: Hands Off Iraqi Oil.

GETTING TO EXCEL

* Getting to the Docklands is far easier than you might think - indeed, thousands of corporate types do it every day.
* From central London, get the Jubilee Line to Canning Town, then take the DLR to Custom House. The Excel centre is right next to Custom House station.
* Trains from Tower Gateway go direct to Custom House for ExCeL. Trains from Bank on the DLR change at Westferry for a Beckton bound train.
* When travelling from Lewisham take a Stratford train and change at Poplar for a Beckton bound train. Alternatively take the first Bank train and change at Westferry.