#file_1# It is said that if you toss a frog into a boiling pot of water, there is a good chance that the frog will hop out to save itself. But if you put that same frog into a cool pot of water, place the pot over a flame, and heat the water, the frog will sit in the water until it is gradually cooked. Over many generations, the control that humans once held over US corporations has been gradually co-opted by other humans who exploit the corporate entity for their own personal gain. Ironically, it can be argued that this gradual process has evolved so far in the United States that the corporate entity now rules over humans, even over those people who seek to exploit the corporate entity for their own gain.

This reversal of control is not due merely to the influence of consolidated wealth held by corporations, or even the cultural domination exercised through control of the commercial mass media. This reversal of control has been institutionalized by laws and judicial decisions. The most popularized instance of this was the1886 US Supreme Court case that recognized corporations as "persons." No longer were humans simply bestowing “privileges” on US corporations, humans were codifying constitutional “rights.” As "persons" in the eyes of the US Constitution, corporations have secured many other constitutional rights, such as protections against surprise inspections to assess worker health and safety conditions, protections from discrimination as in the case when a town tried unsuccessfully to prevent a big box store from locating within its jurisdiction, asserting a First Amendment right to political free speech thereby overturning a state law that would have limited corporate spending on political referenda, and asserting the right not to speak thereby overturning a Vermont law that would have required labeling of products containing bovine growth hormones. These "legal" rights, combined with corporation's immortality and near-omnipresence in the case of transnational corporations, represent powers that far exceed those held by mere mortals.

As noted above, this shift in control from humans to corporations evolved so gradually in the United States that most people, like the cooking frog, are unaware of this transition. But what does this have to do with Iraq and the February 24 Day of Protest? Many of these powers and “rights” that have been secured by corporations in the United States have not yet been woven into the legal fabric of other sovereign nations. The quiet war being waged in Iraq is the one in which these corporate rights are being locked into place.

In a nutshell, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), which currently runs Iraq, is issuing formal orders to change the rules regarding foreign ownership of Iraqi banks, privatization of Iraqi state companies, opening the boarders to international trade with devastating effect on domestic industrial and agricultural businesses, giving away resource extraction rights, and allowing foreign corporations to expropriate all of their profits from Iraq. A number of experts are questioning these actions under international law. British Attorney General Goldsmith has informed Prime Minister Tony Blair that, “the imposition of major structural economic reforms would not be authorized by international law.” Juliet Blanch, with the law firm Norton Rose, says that some of the CPA orders are “in breach of international law and are likely not enforceable,” because they directly contradict Iraq’s Constitution. However if Iraq’s next government ratifies the CPA’s orders, those orders will become permanent.

The unstable social order and urgent need for basic services will create huge pressures on the new Iraqi government to take decisive action. The current insiders will offer the new Iraqi leaders the CPA's legal economic framework as a clear plan, which is already in place. Insiders will argue that foreign companies have the resources and operational capacity to move quickly. Members of the new Iraqi government will be told that if they want to attract foreign investment to rebuild the country, Iraq’s corporate laws will need to be “modernized” to give legal assurances that reduce business risk. The new government will hear all of the “free trade” arguments to justify permanent changes to Iraq's trade laws. We can be certain that "legal experts" will seek to weave esoteric clauses into Iraq's constitutional fabric, which will translate into new corporate rights.

Current insiders are positioned to give the new desperate Iraqi government an action plan. This must be challenged by offering an alternative action plan. An alternative plan should be founded on putting ordinary worker’s rights above corporate rights. The power of corporations should be harnessed for the general welfare, not for the profit of a few insiders. As Naomi Klein has said, “It’s too late to stop the war, but it’s not too late to deny Iraq’s invaders the myriad economic prizes they went to war to collect in the first place.” As a small step in this direction, United for Peace and Justice has called for February 24 to be an International Day of Protest to End the Corporate Invasion of Iraq and Support Iraqi Workers’ Rights. Actions are being planned in over 23 locations across the country.

Local actions to raise public awareness are planned for Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; and Frederick, MD soon to be headquarters of Bechtel National.

February 24 Activities in the DC/Baltimore Area:

Frederick, MD: On February 24, people will gather at 12-noon in the parking lot located at the corner of East 4th and Market Streets for mid-day street theater and informational fliering throughout downtown Frederick. People will gather at 4pm in the parking lot of the Westview Promenade Shopping Center near Starbucks (intersection of Buckeystown Pike and Crestwood Blvd) for a march to Bechtel and to bid farewell to employees as they get off of work. People are encouraged to bring signs, banners, costumes, your voices and your festive spirits! Contact: Matt Warfield shame-AT-gofairtrade.net

Baltimore: "From Baghdad to Baltimore" On Tuesday, February 24, people will gather from 12pm to 1:00pm at the McKeldin Square, Corner of Pratt & Light St. This is a rally to protest big corporations profiteering from war and support worker's rights in Iraq. This rally will have skits, speakers, and a prayer for peace. The organizer is Communities for Peace and Justice. Click Here for Flier

Washington DC: On February 24, 11:30 am-2:00 pm, DC local unions and anti-war groups will gather at MacPherson Square 15th and K streets, NW Washington to protest Halliburton, Bechtel, and the other corporations profiting from the war in Iraq, and to show support for Iraqi workers. Contacts: Gael Murphy gael-AT-codepinkalert.org 202 393 5016, and Pat Elder elder-AT-chesapeake.org 202 302 5548. Sponsors include, Black Voices for Peace, CODEPINK, USLAW, DC Anti-War Network, DC Labor Committee for Peace & Justice, Mobilization for Global Justice and Grassroots Peace Network (National Network to End the War Against Iraq).

Web Links:

United for Social Justice

Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD)

Nation Article by Naomi Klein, Nov. 24, 2003