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Revision as of 18:36, 24 May 2005 by 82.110.178.52 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Total, the globalized French oil company, is a leading multinational energy company with operations in more than 130 countries. Together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, Total is the fourth largest publicly-traded oil and gas integrated company in the world. Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and international crude oil and product trading. Total is also a large-scale chemicals manufacturer. The current Chief Executive Officer of Total Oil is Thierry Desmarest.
Operations
- oil and natural gas exploration and production
- gas and power
- refining and marketing TOTAL and Elf brands of petroleum
- fuel
- chemicals
Current Issues
Although Total does maintain a socially responsible investment program, there has been recent controversy over its corporate involvement in Burma (also known as Myanmar) despite recent European Union sanctions on new investment in the country due to its poor human rights record. Democratic activists have accused Total of propping up that country's brutal military junta.
These activist groups, which include Europe's largest Burma lobbying group, Burma Campaign UK, point out that Total is currently involved in a joint venture with the military regime developing an offshore gas field in the Andaman Sea. The gas is exported to Thailand through a pipeline that travels 65 kilometres through Burma. Total is one of the biggest foreign investors in Burma.
Total has been taken to court by six Burmese people who were used as forced labour in the preparation of Total’s pipeline in Burma.
At a recent meeting of the company's small shareholders in France, activist groups called for Total to cease its operations inside Burma, but the company has refused to budge on the issue, despite urging from activists and independent financial advisors.
Among the allegations against the Burmese government, or SPDC, are the widespread use of forced labor, systematic rape as a weapon of war, forced relocation of ethnic minorities such as the Karen, Shan, and many others, and frequent use of torture and summary executions against political prisoners and dissidents. The regime benefits from Total's investment and thus, Total's involvement in Burma is a major factor propping up the regime and perpetuating its brutal and illegitimate rule.
External Links
Burma Campaign UK's Total Oil campaign
Total Oil corporate homepage