Windrush Communications are a British company who organise the Iraq Procurement Conferences . These conferences are where foreign companies get together and discuss the privatisation of Iraq's assets (see Corporate Watch Newsletter December 2004).
The decisions made by conferences like Iraq Procurement conferences, facilitated by Windrush Communications determine the living standards and opportunities for Iraqis for generations to come. They will determine who will survive, who will prosper and who will profit.
Already protests have taken place based at Windrush's offices in Old St, London. Last year two activists disrupted one of the Iraq Procurement Conferences and, in what was believed to be a politically motivated decision to stop Windrush getting bad publicity, charges were dropped. Last month four activists laid siege to Windrush's offices while a lively protest got support from local office workers.
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/11/301892.html
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302836.html
LIST OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN IRAQ
-- compiled by Voices in the Wilderness UK (www.voicesuk.org/) Aegis Defence Services Limited Private "security" company headed by Col Tim Spicer, the key figure in the Sandline arms to Africa affair. Recently won the contract 'for security on all major Iraqi government projects following the June 30 handover' (Daily Telegraph, 29 May 2004), awarded by the US Government and worth $293 million.
Address: 118 Piccadilly London W1J 7NW.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/mercenery.htm
Amec Amec's joint venture with the US-based Fluor has been awarded three contracts - in the sewage, water and electricity sectors - worth up to $1.6bn.
Address: 65 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5HF.
See www.voices.netuxo.co.uk/library/letter_may2004.html#Amec
Bechtel. Closely linked to the Bush administration, Bechtel has thus-far received several billion dollars worth of contracts - most recently garnering a $1.8bn contract to repair Iraq's infrastructure.
Address: 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6, 8DP; Pilgrim Street Office, 11 Pilgrim Street, London, EC4V 6RN; and Chadwick House, Warrington Road Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6AE.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/boomtime_for_bechtel.htm
De La Rue Landed a massive contract to print notes for the new central bank of Iraq after the occupying forces decided to scrap the old currency. Recently announced pre-tax profits of £58.7mn. Address: De La Rue House, Jays Close, Viables, Basingstoke, RG22 4BS.
Foster Wheeler Energy Limited Awarded the 'Oil Sector Program Management Office (SPMO) support contract in Iraq by the U.S. Department of Defense'earlier this year, worth $6.8mn.
Address: Shinfield Park, Reading, Berkshire RG2 9FW
See www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/36123.html
Halliburton US Vice-President Dick Cheney's former company has thus far received over $9bn worth of contracts as a result of the invasion and occupation, despite becoming immersed in multiple scandals involving bribery, corruption and overcharging.
Address: Halliburton and it's subsidiaries have almost 30 offices around the country, mainly in Scotland (www.halliburton.com/ofc_loc/location_search.jsp?USA=0&;rgn=EU&cnt= United%20Kingdom) but also in Leatherhead in Surrey.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/haliburton/haliburton.htm
HSBC Together with Standard Chartered (1 Aldermanbury Sq, London) one of the three foreign banks to have been granted a licence to operate in Iraq. HSBC also owns 46.5% of the British Arab Commercial Bank which is looking to collect $100 million from Iraq.
Address: branches across the country (list available at www.hsbc.co.uk). Head office at HSBC Holdings plc, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ
See www.mtcp.co.uk/debtcollector/dgb.php
MerchantBridge Corporate finance. In January was appointed lead adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals for their lease of industrial factories programme.
Address: 6 Eaton Gate, SW1W 9BJ.
Other UK-based private security companies AmourGroup, 25 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6LD
Control Risks Group, 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H OHW
Global Risk Strategies, 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD;
ICP Group Ltd, 2 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DQ
AKE Limited, Mortimer House, Holmer Road, Hereford HR4 9TA
Genric, Hereford House, East Street, Hereford, UK HR1 2LU
Olive Security, 2 Charles Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 5DB. See http://travel.state.gov/ iraq_securitycompanies.html for more info.
Shell Oil Recently announced that it 'intends "to establish a material and enduring presence in Iraq" in an attempt to rebuild the firm's depleted reserves and foster the long term future of the country's energy sector' (Guardian, 4 May). "We are interested in building a long term relationship with Iraqis", a spokesman told the paper.
Address: outlets around the country; corporate headquarters are Shell Centre (SE1 7NA)
See www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1208882,00.html
www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/oil_gas/shell/shell1.htmlhell1.html
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/11/301892.html
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302836.html
Take Action
The Stop the Pillage of Iraq Campaign is now calling for five days of protest, starting on Friday the 1st April with a Pro Plunder Party, a teach-in/NVDA workshop on the saturday, continuing with actions from Monday the 4th to Thursday the 7th. The campaign hopes different groups will organise activities on each of the days -- from a mock trial for Windrush or a noise protest.
The contact email for people wanting to be involved or updated is stopthepillage@yahoo.com
LIST OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN IRAQ
-- compiled by Voices in the Wilderness UK (www.voicesuk.org/) Aegis Defence Services Limited Private "security" company headed by Col Tim Spicer, the key figure in the Sandline arms to Africa affair. Recently won the contract 'for security on all major Iraqi government projects following the June 30 handover' (Daily Telegraph, 29 May 2004), awarded by the US Government and worth $293 million.
Address: 118 Piccadilly London W1J 7NW.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/mercenery.htm
Amec Amec's joint venture with the US-based Fluor has been awarded three contracts - in the sewage, water and electricity sectors - worth up to $1.6bn.
Address: 65 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5HF.
See www.voices.netuxo.co.uk/library/letter_may2004.html#Amec
Bechtel. Closely linked to the Bush administration, Bechtel has thus-far received several billion dollars worth of contracts - most recently garnering a $1.8bn contract to repair Iraq's infrastructure.
Address: 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6, 8DP; Pilgrim Street Office, 11 Pilgrim Street, London, EC4V 6RN; and Chadwick House, Warrington Road Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6AE.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/boomtime_for_bechtel.htm
De La Rue Landed a massive contract to print notes for the new central bank of Iraq after the occupying forces decided to scrap the old currency. Recently announced pre-tax profits of £58.7mn. Address: De La Rue House, Jays Close, Viables, Basingstoke, RG22 4BS.
Foster Wheeler Energy Limited Awarded the 'Oil Sector Program Management Office (SPMO) support contract in Iraq by the U.S. Department of Defense'earlier this year, worth $6.8mn.
Address: Shinfield Park, Reading, Berkshire RG2 9FW
See www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/36123.html
Halliburton US Vice-President Dick Cheney's former company has thus far received over $9bn worth of contracts as a result of the invasion and occupation, despite becoming immersed in multiple scandals involving bribery, corruption and overcharging.
Address: Halliburton and it's subsidiaries have almost 30 offices around the country, mainly in Scotland (www.halliburton.com/ofc_loc/location_search.jsp?USA=0&;rgn=EU&cnt= United%20Kingdom) but also in Leatherhead in Surrey.
See www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/haliburton/haliburton.htm
HSBC Together with Standard Chartered (1 Aldermanbury Sq, London) one of the three foreign banks to have been granted a licence to operate in Iraq. HSBC also owns 46.5% of the British Arab Commercial Bank which is looking to collect $100 million from Iraq.
Address: branches across the country (list available at www.hsbc.co.uk). Head office at HSBC Holdings plc, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ
See www.mtcp.co.uk/debtcollector/dgb.php
MerchantBridge Corporate finance. In January was appointed lead adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals for their lease of industrial factories programme.
Address: 6 Eaton Gate, SW1W 9BJ.
Other UK-based private security companies AmourGroup, 25 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6LD
Control Risks Group, 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H OHW
Global Risk Strategies, 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD;
ICP Group Ltd, 2 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DQ
AKE Limited, Mortimer House, Holmer Road, Hereford HR4 9TA
Genric, Hereford House, East Street, Hereford, UK HR1 2LU
Olive Security, 2 Charles Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 5DB. See http://travel.state.gov/ iraq_securitycompanies.html for more info.
Shell Oil Recently announced that it 'intends "to establish a material and enduring presence in Iraq" in an attempt to rebuild the firm's depleted reserves and foster the long term future of the country's energy sector' (Guardian, 4 May). "We are interested in building a long term relationship with Iraqis", a spokesman told the paper.
Address: outlets around the country; corporate headquarters are Shell Centre (SE1 7NA)
See www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1208882,00.html
www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/oil_gas/shell/shell1.htmlhell1.html