Richard Cabrera Files Fraudulent Report: Chevron Claim

The "Richard Cabrera Report" is the basis for the much-used number "$16 billion" as the cost of Ecuador's lawsuit against Chevron. Now, Chevron representatives hammered this claim for the following reasons:

1. Cabrera manipulated and altered findings to justify false conclusions, including backdating photos;

2. He presented no evidence of pollution by Texaco Petroleum, erroneously assigning $1.4 billion in remediation costs to pits he did not visit and do not exist;

3. He presented no evidence to support cancer claims - neither identifying a single individual nor including a single medical report;

4. He did not take a single drinking water sample to establish contamination, yet he assigned $428 million in damages to be paid to improve Ecuador's potable water system;

5. Plaintiffs helped Cabrera compile the report, accompanying and assisting him on field trips, influencing the content of his report by providing him methodological tools such as questionable surveys and pre-written reports to use as report exhibits;

Item number 5 is key, because it's another example of how the government of Ecuador has been assisting the lawsuit against Chevron. Finding evidence to support this claim has been hard but this is one more item.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez Signs Agreements For Natural Gas Joint Venture

This is from Petroleum World:

Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Petroleumworld.com, Sept 22, 2008

Venezuela signed various agreements Friday on the Delta Caribbean offshore natural gas blocks and Mariscal Sucre LGN Gas (CIGMA) project, located in Guiria, Sucre State with foreign oil companies from the U.S., Asia and the Middle East that will guaranty the gas resources needed to develop the CIGMA venture.

President Hugo Chavez and officials from PDVSA, signed various memorandum of understanding agreements for joint-ventures companies that will produce gas in two trains in the CIGMA LNG Project and offshore exploration agreements that will produce gas to be pipe for LNG trains in the CIGMA LNG project.

The joint ventures involves a first LNG train producing 4,7 millions of tons from the CIGMA project with Deltana platform gas, with an expected investment of USD $6.4 millions. In this venture, PDVSA with a 60% stake will work with Galp Energy with 15%, Chevron with 10%; Qatar Petroleum 10%, and Japanese companies Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsui & Co.with 5%. The train is expected operational in 2013.

The second train will also produce 4,7 millions of tons and PDVSA with 60% is to work with Portugal's Galp with 15% stake, Mitsubishi and Mitsui 5%, as well as Itochu 10% and Argentina's Enarsa 10%. An investment of USD$ 5.2 millions is expected and the train will also be operational in 2013.

The memorandum of understanding for the exploration for gas in the two areas awarded, La Blanquilla and La Tortuga with and investment expected of USD$ 5.7 millions, was sign to form a joint venture with PDVSA that will hold a 60% stake, Russia's Gazprom will own 15%, Italy's Eni will participate with 10%; Malaysia's Petronas, will hold 10%; and Portugal's EDP, will control 5%.

Blanquilla and Tortuga areas are located in the Caribbean sea around 60 nautical miles North and West respectively of the island of Margarita, just off the Venezuelan coast. The exploration of these blocks is expected to cost USD$700 million.

The gas to be produce in this blocks is to supply natural gas to a CIGMA liquefaction plant and petrochemical complex and would require an investment of roughly USD$19 billion.

Venezuela said it has proven natural gas reserves of 180 trillion cubic feet, and potential reserves an additional 166 trillion cubic feet, half of that located in off-shore fields.

The CIGMA gas initially would seek to supply the needs of the local economy, and the rest will be exported to markets in Japan, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said during the ceremony.

Story by Elio Ohep, editor of Petroleumworld
Petroleumworld 19 09 08

Obama's Comprehensive Energy Plan

Barack Obama's energy plan will provide meaningful short-term relief for our families and make a historic investment in alternative energy development that will create millions of new jobs, keep the cost of energy affordable and secure our energy independence once and for all. This is the sort of leadership the current generation of Americans needs - and demands - from our elected officials.

Learn more about Obama's comprehensive energy plan at: http://www.NewEnergyForAmerica.com

The Columbus Dispatch Ad Watch said the RNC was "Stretching the Truth":

While Obama is offering real solutions for America's energy future, the Republican National Committee recently released a false, negative ad attacking Barack Obama on energy.

"The commercial accurately points out that McCain favors temporarily lifting the federal gasoline tax, which Obama opposes. Nearly every reputable economist says lifting the gas tax would save motorists nickels and dimes and not produce one new gallon of gasoline."

"The commercial also accurately points out that McCain favors drilling off the coasts of California and Florida, while Obama does not. But many economists are not convinced that oil exploration off the coasts would dramatically reduce gasoline prices any time soon. Instead, oil prices have risen because demand has outpaced production worldwide. The commercial does not mention that McCain once opposed offshore exploration. And it probably is no accident that the commercial is being aired in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin rather than Florida and California."

"VERDICT: 'Stretching The Truth'" [Columbus Dispatch 7/7]

It's all part of Obama's unified view of the way energy affects our economy, our environment and climate, and our national security interests. He's advocating a much more pro-active leadership approach to science than the Republican party has prioritized in recent memory. At a glance, Obama wants to:

• Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Invest in a Clean Energy Future
• Support Next Generation Biofuels
• Set America on Path to Oil Independence
• Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
• Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change

Barack Obama introduced a bold new plan that brought Republicans and Democrats, CAFE supporters and long-time opponents together in support of legislation that will gradually increase fuel economy standards and offer what the New York Times editorial page called "real as opposed to hypothetical results." That's the sort of change that works for America and the world.

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