Feminists take on UNOCAL.The oil giant UNOCAL UNOCAL Union Oil of California (corporate name) , long attacked for its ties to Burma's military regime, now faces criticism from women's groups over its plan to build a pipeline through Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. In June and July, members of the Feminist Majority led protests in Brea and E1 Segundo, California, Houston, and Washington, D.C. "If UNOCAL is uncomfortable, it should be," says Kathy Spillar, co-founder of the Feminist Majority. "The more Americans learn about the Taliban's horrific treatment of women and girls, the more outraged they will become at the idea of an American oil company doing business there." The Taliban regime took control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on September 27, 1996, instituting a series of repressive measures against women and girls. Women cannot work, attend school, leave home without the burqa (a garment that covers the body from head to toe), or appear in public unattended by a male relative (a major obstacle for thousands of women who lost their male relatives during years of brutal civil war). Medical care is almost nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non since female doctors cannot practice and male doctors cannot examine women. Women have been beaten, maimed maim tr.v. maimed, maim·ing, maims 1. To disable or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body. See Synonyms at batter1. 2. , and killed for minor infractions. One elderly woman was beaten with a metal cable and had her leg broken because her ankle was inadvertently showing. Other infractions include wearing shoes that make noise or laughing in public. UNOCAL is a majority stakeholder in a consortium that hopes to construct a gas and oil pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan. The Taliban would receive $50 to $100 million per year in revenue from the pipeline, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. The Washington Post. But UNOCAL spokesperson and manager of public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Barry Lane Barry Lane (born June 21, 1960) is an English professional golfer. Lane was born in Hayes, Middlesex. He turned professional in 1976 and first played on the European Tour in 1982. says there is no unilateral agreement with the Taliban, and UNOCAL does not have a contract with the regime. UNOCAL claims the pipeline is a low-priority project. Lane says the feminists see the company as "the target of the day." The Feminist Majority plans more demonstrations this fall. And it is planning to petition Dan Lungren Daniel Edward (Dan) Lungren (born September 22, 1946), is a Republican of the United States House of Representatives representing California's 3rd congressional district (see map), located in the suburbs of Sacramento where he has served since 2005. , California's attorney general and the Republican gubernatorial candidate, to initiate legal action to revoke UNOCAL's corporate charter. For more information, contact The Feminist Majority, 8105 West Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Or call (213) 651-0495. |
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