By Margaret Thompson & María Suárez Toro

The controversy over oil development in Costa Rica is not an isolated case, but reflects a global struggle between the corporate oil industry who are determined to expand their search for nonrenewable energy sources such as oil, and local populations in the Global South whose lands are confiscated and destroyed in this search, but with few benefits in return.  And the powerful oil lobby poured millions of dollars into the presidential campaign of their strong ally George W. Bush, whose recent "energy plan" calls for expanded use of coal, oil and nuclear power, but cuts spending on research and development of alternative renewable energy sources.
 

The United States has 4% of the world's population using 25% of the world's energy.  But Vice President Cheney, a former oil executive, was recently quoted as saying that "Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy."    Likewise, recently President George Bush's spokesman Ari Fleischer was asked whether Americans needed to "correct their lifestyles" to solve what the administration calls an "energy crisis" in the United States.

"Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy."  (U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, a former oil executive)

"Yes to the alternatives, no to the oil"--A protest sign in Talamanca advocating alternative energy resources

"That's a big no," Fleischer replied. "The President believes that it's an American way of life, and that it should be the goal of policy makers to protect the American way of life. The American way of life is a blessed one." Such disdain for energy conservation and expansion of nonrenewable energy output contradicts calls by a growing number of scientists who say that fuel combustion levels must be cut in order to avoid climatic disaster.  Six years ago, 2,700 scientific experts appointed by their governments to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommended a 60% reduction in fuel combustion, and an increased emphasis on alternative energy sources.

FIRE talked with Alicia Casas of OilWatch/Costa Rica about their work developing an international network of resistance to oil industry expansion including in Costa Rica, and the need to develop sustainable energy sources.  She also described various oil development projects now underway in other Central American countries:

Rejection of Expanded Oil Development in U.S. May Create Greater Pressure on Costa Rica
The Bush Administration has proposed expanding oil development in the United States including Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge, the Great Lakes in the Midwest, and offshore near California and also Florida.  But each proposal has received strong opposition from environmental and citizens' groups, as well as many policymakers.  The debate over drilling in Alaska is still underway, but protests over expanded marine exploitation near Florida by the President's brother, Governor Jeb Bush, forced the administration to cut back on its proposal. 

Emily Yozell, an attorney and activist noted that the people of the United States rejected these proposals because they feared the environmental contamination from further oil exploitation.  But Emily posed the question that many are debating about: "Does that mean that these US oil companies will be more fervently going south of the border in search of oil?"   She also noted that in many countries, some of the highest poverty levels are evident in the areas where oil is being exploited, contrary to claims of great local economic benefits by oil companies:

Emily talked to FIRE about the ongoing power struggle between transnational corporations who are expanding their search for natural resources and growing grassroots movements of local people who are determined to challenge the multinational powers who attempt to undermine local government control:
 

"We see the possibility in Costa Rica of being a leader in saying 'No!' and insisting that people have a right to participate and decide what model of development is in the interests of the local communities."

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