On 1 April a special party took place: the celebration of the demise of various international conventions on pillage. Ahoy Me Hearties! Iraq has set the standard: we can now happily invade, pillage and privatise - no one will complain, they all want their share!
The party took place outside the offices of Windrush Communications, the British company responsible for organising the “Iraq Procurement Conferences”, conferences where fellow pirates meet up to share the spoils, or - as they put it - “realise the enormous trade and investment potential of Iraq”.
While 80 of us corporate pirates enjoyed the music of Rhythms of Resistance, and spectacles from the Theatre of War and other random artists, the Windrush employees decided to abandon ship for the day - so we had to do without them!
Order 39
On 4 April, the Corporate Pirates organised a public meeting - attended by around 50 people - to talk about the corporate invasion of Iraq, initiated by former Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq, Paul Bremer and, specifically, Order 39.
Authorised at the beginning of the occupation of Iraq in 2003, the Order changed Iraq's constitution to allow foreign companies to own Iraq's public assets and land, and have resulted in a process of mass privatisation.
This amounts to pillage - illegal under The Hague Regulations and the Geneva Convention.
The following day was also busy: a candlelit vigil at the Windrush offices in the morning and a creative forum in the evening, where 20 people enjoyed films and discussion on the subject of corporate activity in Iraq.
The week ended on 5 April with a farewell protest at the Windrush offices.
More piratin' around?
If you're looking for more piratin' around, the “Iraq Petroleum Conference” and the “Iraqi Gas and Oil Conference” - both taking place at the end of June - might be good places to find us!
Arrrrrr!