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Home | The Socialist 16 - 22 Feb 2006 | Join the Socialist Party The real cost of BP mega-profitsOIL GIANT British Petroleum (BP) made £11 billion in annual profits in 2005, 25% up on the year before. But that record-breaking surplus would become an £18 billion loss if you start calculating the firm's damage to the environment, says Britain's Treasury! BP operations are responsible for 6% of the total world output of greenhouse gas emissions. The Treasury worked out that paying these costs - £29 billion in environmental charges - would totally wipe out BP's profits. As reported last week, Coventry Socialist Party councillor Dave Nellist was invited onto a nationwide radio show to comment on BP's rival Shell who made nearly £13 million profit during 2005. The oil giants' windfall, Dave pointed out, was made on the back of record fuel prices caused by such factors as global greenhouse gas emissions and wars and insecurity. Now, the Treasury figures back his claims up. Dave Nellist proposed bringing Shell, BP and other globally exploiting and polluting energy companies into democratic public ownership so society could plan its energy needs. Unfortunately, the Treasury (proprietor Gordon 'Privatiser' Brown) is not likely to agree with Dave's solution to the problem! ID Cards: 'Creeping compulsion' and grovelling MPs The real cost of BP mega-profits Universities and the arms trade Haitian poor rebel at suspected poll-rigging Socialist Party Conference 2006 New Labour attacks sick & disabled Keep fighting Labour's Education Bill Labour's pro-business policies punished 40 years after 'Cathy Come Home': The housing scandal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month Striking postal workers build support Marching for jobs and services
Home | The Socialist 16 - 22 Feb 2006 | Join the Socialist Party |
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