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BP's con-tract of the century
A six month SpinWatch investigation by journalist Michael Gillard has revealed a potential scandal developing around BP’s "Con-Tract of the Century" - the building of the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, one of the most strategically important construction projects in the modern world. Gillard identified four issues concerning the design, funding and political control of the pipeline.
- There is a major design flaw on the pipeline that could lead to an environmental disaster;
- BP improperly secured a $2.6 billion loan to build the 1,000 mile pipeline, despite the design flaws;
- BP misled a British parliamentary inquiry about the pipeline’s safety;
- New Labour’s proximity to BP has undermined its regulatory responsibilities;
The SpinWatch investigation also exclusively reveals breaking news that the bank consortium led by Italy’s largest bank, Banca Intesa, has pulled out over concerns about safety flaws and reputation risk. You can read the full SpinWatch version by following the link below.Contact SpinWatch on info@spinwatch.org
LINKSFull Spinwatch version
Last modified: Monday, December 6, 2004
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
Miscellany
Human rights group says Ukraine coverage is biased
New report on media ownership
IndyMedia seizure: the facts
Campaign, WACC join the wave of protest in support of IndyMedia
Wanted: Views on the future of local television
Another world is possible
CPBF adds its voice to IFJ protest
Without Comment 1
Without Comment 2
Whistleblowers get organised
Obituary: Paul Foot
Broadcasting: the European dimension
NUJ launches PR guidelines
Toxic Sludge
1979, trade unions and journalism
Silvio Berlusconi: Television, Power and Patrimony by Paul Ginsborg, Verso £16.00
Support the European Social Forum
Free Press - 115
Free Press 116 - complete contents
FBI seizes hard drives of Indymedia server in the UK
IFJ Condemns Israeli Twists and Turns of Justice as Banned British Journalist is Forced to Return Home
CPBF Condemns "Bizarre Judgement" in Ewa Case
Ewa Wins Appeal - Still Detained
Privacy and accountability
The Sun and Hillsborough
Media Monitor: Ronald Reagan and Commemorative Amnesia
Russia: Clamping Down on Independent Media
Doing Its Job?
Mordechai appeals restrictions
Paul Foot
