BHP Billiton: Destroying the planet for profit
SP Newsletter No.210
BHP Billiton is the world’s largest resources company and the biggest company in Australia. It has over 100 operations in 25 nations across 6 continents. Last year it posted a record annual profit of $US13.42 billion!
BHP Billiton is also guilty of some of the world’s biggest environmental crimes. It produces 50 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution annually, equivalent to about 10 per cent of Australia’s entire emissions!
This multinational giant to this day has failed to set any targets for gross reductions to its greenhouse emissions. Instead of setting a target to reduce emissions BHP Billiton has set a target to reduce ‘energy intensity’ by 13 per cent by 2010. This would allow the company’s emissions to continue to INCREASE, so long as the company also continues to grow.
While the Socialist Party supports the need for people to make personal changes to their lives to reduce the effects of climate change, the main culprits in producing greenhouse gases are big companies like BHP Billiton. It has been estimated that the changes we make at the personal level would account for at best 20 per cent of the change required, while scientific estimates say the world needs a minimum of 80 per cent reduction.
As big business polluters like BHP Billiton are making massive profits, the priority should be for them to pay to solve the problem of global warming. BHP Billiton spends far more on its sophisticated public relations strategy to promote an ‘environmental friendly’ image rather than actually reducing its emissions. We are here to put the spotlight on BHP’s environmental record and call on governments to make big business pay for their crimes.
We need action!
Governments should immediately legislate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need a 60% reduction by 2020 and a 90% reduction by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). Companies like BHP should be forced by law to follow suit.
Penalties for companies that break the law should be increased and those that claim they can’t make profits by adhering to the targets to reduce emissions should be nationalised. If you can’t run a company without destroying the planet it should be handed over to the public.
We also need greater regulation to ensure safety and protection for our environment, and for those who work in these industries. Despite reported and continued uranium leaks at the Olympic dam mine, its currently being expanded without increased regulation. While recent figures continue to show that mining has the highest rate of deaths of any industry in the country, and indeed the world.
Any plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions needs to go side by side with a plan to phase out coal fired power stations and increase investment in renewable energy. We also need massive investment into our public transport system to make it more integrated, frequent and free.
Picket BHP Billiton!
As part of our campaigning in Melbourne the Socialist Party has decided to target one of Australia’ biggest environmental criminals – BHP Billiton.
The details of our first action are:
Picket BHP Billiton - Protest against the climate criminals!
Meet at BHP Billiton HQ, 4 - 6pm Friday May 2nd, 180 Lonsdale St City
On top of the Friday May 2nd action we also plan to picket their HQ on Friday May 30th and Friday June 27th which is the last day of school term. On this day we hope to hold the action for a bit longer from 2-6pm.
We are building for these actions through our high school and university connections but we are also calling on other environment and labour movement groups to join us with this protest.
Stay tuned to our website as we will publish the text of our new leaflet soon.
Contact our National Office if you would like to participate in the action or sponsor the protest.
Join the Socialist Party
If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.
We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
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Socialist Party regional activity-
Victoria
To find out more about SP in Melbourne contact Anthony on 0396399111.
New South Wales
To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 0297287727.
To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 0249681545.
Western Australia
To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia
To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact our National Office on 0396399111.
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http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/16italya.html
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http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/15italya.html
Egypt: Increasing tension in Egypt – the April 6th strike
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/16egypta.html
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The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). To contact or join the SP or the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.
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