Posted on 05/31/2002 10:59:40 AM PDT by Ms. AntiFeminazi
May 28, 2002 Galaxy Room Student Union, University of Texas
TESTIMONY OF CYRIL BOYNES, JR. SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, the CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY,(CORE)
Good Day, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today, I come before you to offer testimony on behalf of the Peoples and governments of the People's Republics of Chad and Cameroon with respect to their support for the Chad/Cameroon Pipeline Project. I have spent a lot of time in Cameroon over the past years and recently spent time with the United Nations Ambassadors of both countries in New York City. During that time they severally reaffirmed to me their respective country's need for and support of the Pipeline Project. The Chad Ambassador took a bold step and made a most touching gesture declaring me and CORE his advocates at this event because he could not be here.
My name is Cyril Boynes, Jr. I am Special Advisor for International Affairs, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). This year, on August 10-12, 2002, our organization is proudly celebrating 60 years of service to America. CORE played a vital and central leading role in the greatest socio-political victory in America's history-- the winning of the modern civil rights revolution. CORE paid a premium as members selflessly gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice, in winning the revolution that changed race relations in America forever. As we look at America today, particularly in areas of paramount importance - national security and world affairs - we can claim, with abiding satisfaction, our sacrifices were not in vain. America today is not the America of 1954.
Under the leadership of the Honorable Roy Innis, the National Chairman, CORE has broadened its involvement in the struggle of developing nations to attain the freedoms we fought for and cherish here in America.
THE PIPELINE
According to the World Bank Group president, James Wolfensohn, "the Chad/Cameroon project reflects an unprecedented collaborative effort between the Bank Group, the consortium of private companies (Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, Petronas) and the two governments".
In addition to financing, the package of support includes a "first of its kind" program to direct revenues to support economic and social development in the two countries. Chad is one of the world's poorest countries, landlocked, with less than 3% arable land, no permanent crops, and an external debt of $1 billion (US) against total annual revenues of $198 million.
When I met His Excellency Ambassador Monsieur Koumtog Laotegguelnodji recently at the Permanent Mission of Chad to the United Nations in New York, he immediately pointed out to me that he has to run the entire business of the Mission with a staff of three, including himself, because Chad could not afford a larger staff. It has the smallest staff among the member states of the UN. He stated that his country currently cannot afford to provide the minimum essential public service without outside help. "We are poor in Chad", he said. "We need the revenue from the oil. We want the pipeline very badly". He calculated that if the oil sold at only $15 per barrel, the revenue generated would be more than double the current GNP. In four years time the pipeline would increase annual government revenues by 45-50% a year over current levels. Ambassador Laotegguelnodji emphasized that the decision to move forward with the pipeline project was done with broadbased support of the people of Chad and Cameroon.
Ambassador Laotegguelnodji has the distinction of having served as the Executive Director of TOTCO, the Chad Oil and Transportation Company, the goverment agency repsonsible for the overall management of the Project. He personally requests that we represent him and his country here today as their advocate. The Ambassador strongly reiterated his country's unequivocal desire to have the pipeline completed according to the established timetable. He took time to outline conditions Chad has set on the private sponsor/investors with respect to revenue sharing, development, environmental protection and the indigenous people.
AS FOR CAMEROON, in addition to meeting with H.E. Ambassador Mchugong Ayafor in New York, I have traveled to Cameroon several times in the past few years. I can honestly say that "the man on the street" whether in Douala, the commercial capital, or Yaounde, the administrative capital, has expressed unbridled support for the pipeline. I was moved by the discussion I witnessed on the street corners about the pipeline by ordinary Cameroonians. These were young men and women, in their 20's, 30's, and 40's, many college educated. They are redundant, jobless, unemployed. They see the pipeline as the greatest promise on their now bleak horizon. I can never forget their enthusiasm for the pipeline, overshadowed only by their anquish and despair because of their current condition.
CORE believes that if the capacity on the part of the governments, other public institutions and civil society, with the view to ensuring their ability to assume full monitoring and relevant management roles, as related to the ancillary and spin-off benefits of the Project is sustained, then the concerns of the environmentalists and anti-development movement will be assuaged. All stakeholders must ensure that populations, especially along the pipeline, are not marginalized or adversely affected. They must indeed be the prime benefactors from the spin-off from investment.
As the International Advisory Group (IAG), a group of international experts established by the World Bank Group to monitor the Project, stated in their most recent report..."The...major challenge is to think (and plan) beyond direct economic benefits and capitalize on the short but intensive investment period to do more than satisfy legal requirements related to the project." Long term benefits that must be pursued are training, contractual procedures, permanent investments such as roads and bridges that will be built, health systems that will be put in place by the Project.
In conclusion, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) supports the Chad/Cameroon Pipeline Project. We believe that its completion will do more to eradicate poverty, improve health conditions and increase the opportunity for a better life not only for the people of Chad and Cameroon, but for the entire sub-region. The Project must be seen as an engine for the hitherto elusive economic development of these countries. Thank you.
This is the testimony that was rejected by the Climate Justice Summit's Mock Trial - ExxonMobil Crimes Against Humanity. For more background on this, see:
ECO RADICALS TO STORM DALLAS MAJOR FREEP PLANNED
The EcoRadicals testimony synopsis:
Chad/Cameroon, where they are both ruled by brutal regimes which have suppressed internal uprisings regarding the environmental and social consequences of the Exxon Mobil-led and World Bank-funded oil pipeline currently being built through the rainforest from Chad to Cameroon. We will hear the testimony of Ngarlejy Yorongar, a prominent member of the Chadian Parliament who was beaten and tortured for rightfully winning the last president election and a fervent opponent of the pipeline.
ECO RADICALS SHAMED IN DALLAS (After Freep Report)
Any typos, grammar faux pas, or other mistakes in this post are mine. Cyril provided me with a flawless copy.
Quite the mouthful.
As always they're too busy saving the planet and the animals to worry about the people of the world.
This testimony is great. Thanks for posting.
BREAKING THE (UABB) UNIVERSAL AFRICAN BEGGARS' BOWL! (Cyril Boynes, Jr. - CORE)
BREAKING THE (UABB) UNIVERSAL AFRICAN BEGGARS' BOWL! (Cyril Boynes, Jr. - CORE)
BREAKING THE (UABB) UNIVERSAL AFRICAN BEGGARS' BOWL! (Cyril Boynes, Jr. - CORE)
Leave it to the Left to supress the truth. I hope you can continue to expand your relationship with these men.
Quite the mouthful.
Thank goodness for copy and paste! lol.
Yes. On their website, before this event, they advertised the Mock Trial as "open to the public". When we arrived, they asked campus security to have us removed.
One thing I don't understand about these people, the leftists. How can they "stand" for anything when they don't think twice about lying? I cannot tell you how many lies we were told about the simplest of things at the demonstration. They lied about their names, who they represented, what their occupations were and a multitude of other basic life things. In the same sentence, they would contradict themselves with another lie regarding the same subject - their name, occupation, whatever. If there is no foundation (truth), what can they stand on, or stand for?
They are not defined by what they stand for, but what they oppose -- truth, freedom, justice and responsibility...
The leftists mock trial seems very similar to trials in certain European regimes of the 1930's (staged, evidence surpressed, public not allowed, etc)... I wonder what regimes they were .... Hint Hint (Think logos where pieces intersect each other)...
They stand for anything, any lie, any ideology, any religion, any regime, any practice, any behavior - anything that attacks core Western values.
By the way, if you need a little help getting to NYC, freepmail me.
Heh, one of our signs said, "Hitler held mock trials too. Nazis are our heros." with a green swastika.
And now I want to know where you get your energy cuz I need to borrow some, LOL!
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