The carnival's almost over for oil giants as the South strikes back

[dArKeR]

For centuries, Bolivia made it easy for prospectors to mine, from the Spaniards who plundered gold to the tin barons of the 19th century to the multinational energy companies that flocked here in the 1990s to develop Latin America's second-largest natural gas deposits.

But like many energy-producing countries these days, Bolivia has pulled the welcome mat. With an angry population demanding a larger share of the benefits, and some groups even calling for outright expropriation, the government recently raised royalties and taxes to among the highest levels in Latin America.

It would appear to be an exceptional episode of revolutionary zeal translated into energy policy. But Bolivia is just the latest of several oil- and gas-rich countries in Latin America and beyond that are squeezing energy companies like never before.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2005/07/07/2003262548

[kestrel91316]

1. Good for Bolivia!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. To the oil companies

To the oil companies
Who bought politicians, even US presidents
And bent them to serve their own needs rather than
The needs of the people.

To the oil companies
Who fouled the air and water
And acted as if it was theirs to foul
And said "Who, us? You'd be nowhere without us
You couldn't drive your cars that you need to drive
To jobs that you hate hate so that you can pay your mortgage
Because if you didn't you'd be a homeless bum and your wife and kids won't love you --
Which they don't anyway.

To the oil companies
Who say they are the engine
That drives modern civilization to where?
Where does one who has no soul go? To what fiery pit?
To breathe smoke and fire and smell the fumes drink oily water
And bathe in filth, in sludge, to taste grime in all flesh that eaten.
To roll the rock of Sisyphus up the mountain day after day to be cut down season after season,
Year after year after year.

Ah, Lee Raymond, you cocksucker.
The world will be a much better place
When soulless, artificial persons are dead and buried
And sent to Hell.

And the lowly
Shall lead the holy
To salvation.