Crisis In Texas

Halliburton, a large oil company based in Houston, Texas, is moving their headquarters to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. This move has become very controversial in the media and suspicion over taxes, spending, and Chief Executive Officer Dave Lesar’s decision to head the Dubai operation. With the article Halliburton Moves Its Headquarters Abroad, ABC News attacked the move by pointing out Dubai’s lower taxes and Halliburton’s $2.3 billion in profits last year. The article goes on to note that Halliburton served America’s troops spoiled food and contaminated water, while overcharging the government $2.7 billion in Iraq.

On Halliburton’s website, there is no mention or rebuttal of the claims made in reference to Iraq. Instead their article, Halliburton Opens Corporate Headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, focuses on “expanding its customer relations with national oil companies while concentrating more of the company’s investments and resources in growing its business in the Eastern Hemisphere”. The tone in the article is indifferent to the media’s concerns and tries to concentrate attention on information about growth and opportunities for the company. Halliburton’s response to the latest accusations of its practices is inadequate. Instead of addressing problems, Halliburton turns the story around to talk about growth for the North American oil industry. No new information is enclosed in their statement, and no reference or explanation is offered for the tax issues. In conclusion I think that Halliburton needs to more directly combat the attacks on their company and their country’s military.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Business/story?id=2942429&page=1

http://www.halliburton.com/default/main/halliburton/eng/news/source_files/news.jsp?newsurl=/default/main/halliburton/eng/news/source_files/press_release/2007/corpnws_031107.html

Daniel Bozkov Bio

Daniel Bozhkov is a Bulgarian-born, New York-based artist that will be creating unique water exhibit at the University of North Texas during the 2007 Waterways conference. For the past several years, Bozhkov has participated in projects that have focused attention on the connectivity of everything in nature. One of his most famous images is a portrait of Star Wars villain Darth Vader attempting to purify the Black Sea with a Brita filtration pitcher. This absurd visual is powerful because it blends humor and pop culture with the most controversial environmental issues today. The Black Sea, along with many other water sources is being polluted at an alarming rate. Preservation of these valuable resources is key, and Bozhkov’s artwork is helping people all over the world take notice.Resources:http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=410252

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bio

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has traveled the world, spreading awareness of water preservation and improving laws to protect the environment. He is credited with negotiating the New York City's watershed agreement and with several treaties in Latin America and Canada to secure traditional homelands. He helped turn the tide against the anti-environmental legislation created during the 104th Congress. After helping restore the Hudson River, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet.” This title, as well as his work with the Waterkeeper organizations around the world, makes Kennedy a key speaker at the 2007 Waterways conference.

Introduction to News Release

The 2007 Water Ways Conference, an event that will bring together scientists, philosophers, artists, and water specialists to discuss issues the world's water management and preservation, will be hosted at the University of North Texas on March 13-15. A speech by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other related events will be held in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building, located on the corner of Avenue C and West Mulberry (1704 W. Mulberry Street), UNT campus and is free and open to the public.