They just got a different tool to use than we do: They kill innocent lives to achieve objectives. That's what they do. And they're good. They get on the TV screens and they get people to ask questions about, well, you know, this, that or the other. I mean, they're able to kind of say to people: Don't come and bother us, because we will kill you. Bush - Joint News Conference with Blair - 28 July '06

Monday, November 28, 2005

BP, Shell, Exxon - Here's a thing...

xinhuanet: Venezuela's state oil company to push new "social production" model

Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) will use loans and contracts to promote a new business model called "social production", Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told Venezuelan radio and television on Sunday.

Under the scheme, companies will fund social programs, share profits with workers and use some of their profits to help create more companies that work in the same way, said the oil minister atthe weekly "Hello, President" show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The PDVSA said in a statement published on its website that it would invest 100 million US dollars in the plan.

Chavez said that the new businesses would remain private property, but would work in a "collective" style.

"Capital itself is not bad," said Chavez. "What is bad is capitalism ... when capital is concentrated in the hands of the fewand used to exploit the rest."

The social model would discontinue the US model, which "asks usto abandon our industrial and development polices so they can invade us with their products," said Chavez, who frequently criticizes the United States.

Soaring oil prices have boosted the income of both the PDVSA and Venezuela as a whole. Chavez has used the money to offer cheapfuel to his neighboring states and finance related grand energy projects. Link