Urgent action… Urgent action… Urgent action…

Comedian Mark Thomas and MEP Jean Lambert protest at the Department for International Development about public money going to BP's pipeline [Friends of the Earth]

Friends of the Earth built a 'pipeline' from the offices of the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development to BP, in London, June 2003 [Friends of the Earth]

BP has now formally asked for funding from the World Bank (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for its controversial new Caspian oil pipeline. This means there are just days before their decision is made. The banks call this 120 days the ‘public consultation period’ – so we all get a chance let them know what we think of the BTC pipeline.

The only thing which stands between Big Oil getting your money and setting a precedent against funding these types of projects is YOU!

5 urgent steps to stop YOUR money going to BIG OIL:

1. Write letters to the potential funders: the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Contact: Jean Lemierre, President, EBRD, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN and cc to J
ohn Kerby, UK Executive Director at the same address. John Kerby can also be emailed [email protected]
You can find suggested text here.

Also write to James Wolfensohn, President, World Bank, 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20433 U.S.A.
You can find suggested text here.

If you have time, please write your own letter, making the points that are most important to you - although use our suggested text as a guide if you want to. The more individual your letter, the more effective...

2. Write to your MP (and persuade three of your mates to do the same). Request that your MP send a letter of concern to Baroness Amos at the Department for International Development (DFID). Also request a meeting with your MP – this needs to be a hot political issue! If just five people in every constituency request a meeting, the pressure will really start to tell… You can find suggested text here.

Write to your MP at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

To find out the name of your MP, go to http://www.parliament.uk/faq/members_faq_page2.cfm#mem1

You can also Fax your MP here.

If you want to, say how long you have lived in the constituency, or any other local or relevant details.

3. Bring public consultation to the institutions! Join in the days of action to mark the months of the 120 day period:

• Monday July 14th - Pipeline Protest at DFID. A section of pipeline covered with thousands of protest letters will be presented to DFID. Meet outside DFID's offices, Palace Street, London SW1. For info contact [email protected] or call 020 75661673
  
  
  
• Monday August 11th, Oxford Rising Tide demonstration in London. For further information contact [email protected] or call 01865 241097 web: www.risingtide.org.uk
  
  
  
• Friday September 26th at midday - the Baku Ceyhan Campaign and People & Planet will hold a demonstration at the EBRD, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN. Contact [email protected] or 01865 200550 or People & Planet on 01865 245678 for more details.
  

4. We need to reach thousands of people to build a groundswell of public opposition to this human rights and environmental disaster – so please help organise a public meeting in your area. We can send speakers. Call 01865 200550 or email [email protected].

5. Find out what else you can do..