wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Africans opposing oil project

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8392 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Africans opposing oil project
GA04098
July 1, 2004

Africans opposing oil project

Delegate from Cameroun seeks PC(USA) aid in stopping pipeline

by Pat Cole

RICHMOND, July 1 - An ecumenical advisory delegate from Cameroun is attending
the General Assembly as part of an effort to draw international attention to
the "rising economic injustice and environmental destruction" caused by an
oil pipeline project in Central Africa.

The Rev. Dieudonnne Massi Gams, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church
of Cameroun, said his denomination and three other African churches hope
Reformed Christians around the world will support the effort to stop the
project.

They will present a declaration on the issue to World Alliance of Reformed
Churches during its July 30-Aug. 13 meeting in Accra, Ghana.

"If such a project is done in Africa, it must be done for the good of the
people, and should not destroy" the continent's natural resources, Gams said.

Human rights and environmental groups say the pipeline construction is
devastating farmlands, polluting water, diminishing rain forests and
threatening coastal fishing and tourism economies.

Gams said the Pygmy people, who depend on the forests for their livelihood,
are particularly vulnerable to environmental harm related to the
construction. Human rights groups charge that the oil companies' compensation
plans fail to take into account the special circumstances of these indigenous
people, who hold no legal rights to land.

The Chad Cameroun Oil and Pipeline Project is expected to carry as much as
225,000 barrels of oil per day from southern Chad to the Atlantic coast of
Cameroun. The $3.1 billion project, said to be the largest private investment
in Africa, is being developed by Exxon, Chevron and Petronas, the state oil
company of Malaysia.

Gams said the people of Chad and Cameroun have been promised that revenue
from the 665-mile pipeline will enable them to improve education and social
services and build roads, but the oil companies have not disclosed their
revenue payments and projections.

The declaration WARC will be asked to endorse asks the companies to reveal
all payments made to African governments and to observe "universally accepted
human rights" of workers and populations, security and the protection of the
environment.

The declaration asks Christians around the world to support African churches
as they "create opportunities to discuss issues of economic injustice and
environmental destruction in our region" and encourages Christians to
organize forums to raise awareness of the "economic and environmental issues
involved in the extractive industry sector."

Gams said the Christian community has a duty to speak out on the issue.

"One of the main goals of the gospel that the church has to preach is the
fullness of life in Jesus Christ," he said. "... We must respect the human
community and the life that God gives."

This story and many others may have photos, media, video clips that can be
found at http://www.pcusa.org/ga216/.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to
pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or
pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org

To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to
pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org