Lawyers With Borders praises BP for exercising its right to spill oil into the ocean. "This spill is something to celebrate. It shows our human rights laws are working," said Lawyers With Borders Founder and Executive Director Brian J. Foley.
"Laws that would aim to prevent oil spills are a restriction on corporate rights. As corporations are people under our laws, these laws are therefore restrictions on human rights," Foley said. "BP has managed to exercise its human right, which shows a triumph for human rights laws," he added.
However, these very rights are endangered. "Many government officials will undoubtedly seek to create restrictive, strait-jacket-like laws calling for 'accountability,'" Foley said. "But," Foley explained, "imposing accountability at this point will only set human rights law back by several decades."
Foley also praised BP's "taking a stand for the right of all of us to spill oil or anything else we want into the so-called environment. BP's action is Gandhian, in a way," he said.
"Some people worry about what might happen if there is a big oil spill, and they dream up all sorts of hypotheticals about how the law might be used against oil companies," he said. "But BP took action where others only talked and is testing the legitimacy of those laws and undoubtedly will fight and defeat those laws by proving they are illegitimate," Foley said.
To critics who believe that the oil spill is harmful, Foley responded, "you are overlooking that BP, like all of us, has a right to make mistakes. As Shakespeare wrote, 'To err is human.' Accordingly, we have a human right to err."
"So let's all of us take a stand for human rights and support BP in what must be a tough but potentially productive time in its corporate history," Foley said.
Foley urged people to donate money to BP to help it continue "its sometimes lonely stand for human rights and to mitigate any negative impact on BP's profitability as a result of its principled and unselfish exercise of a human right."
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. Neither BP nor any other oil company has paid for or requested this Statement of Support; rather, Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject(s) of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Lawyers With Borders Praises Supreme Court Decision Granting Freedom to Corporations to Spend Money in Politics
Lawyers With Borders, a new non-governmental organization (NGO), praises the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. "Corporations now can compete on an even playing field against the individual," said Lawyers With Borders Founder and Executive Director Brian J. Foley.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on January 21 to strike down a law that proscribed corporations from using money to criticize candidates within 30 days of a primary election or within 60 days of a November general election. The purpose of the law was "purportedly to prevent big corporations from drowning out the little guy, something that never happens and never has happened in America," said Foley.
"Finally, the Supreme Court has stood up for corporate power and given corporations at least a fighting chance against the individual campaign donor. I thought I might never see this in my lifetime," Foley said.
But going forward, might corporations wield too much power in U.S. politics, or corrupt the process, as critics of the Court's ruling have claimed? "Ridiculous," Foley said. "Corporations are recognized as human beings in U.S. law. Therefore, they have human rights, which is what we [Lawyers With Borders] fight for. Moreover, people who complain about this should just incorporate themselves. The should be sure to retain a lawyer to do it," he said.
Holding a glass full of effervescent champagne, Foley said, "The [Supreme Court's] ruling frees corporations from their shackles. What this decision means is that, 145 years after the Civil War, we have finally ended slavery in America."
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. No corporation or other entity has paid for or requested this Statement of Support; rather, Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject(s) of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on January 21 to strike down a law that proscribed corporations from using money to criticize candidates within 30 days of a primary election or within 60 days of a November general election. The purpose of the law was "purportedly to prevent big corporations from drowning out the little guy, something that never happens and never has happened in America," said Foley.
"Finally, the Supreme Court has stood up for corporate power and given corporations at least a fighting chance against the individual campaign donor. I thought I might never see this in my lifetime," Foley said.
But going forward, might corporations wield too much power in U.S. politics, or corrupt the process, as critics of the Court's ruling have claimed? "Ridiculous," Foley said. "Corporations are recognized as human beings in U.S. law. Therefore, they have human rights, which is what we [Lawyers With Borders] fight for. Moreover, people who complain about this should just incorporate themselves. The should be sure to retain a lawyer to do it," he said.
Holding a glass full of effervescent champagne, Foley said, "The [Supreme Court's] ruling frees corporations from their shackles. What this decision means is that, 145 years after the Civil War, we have finally ended slavery in America."
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. No corporation or other entity has paid for or requested this Statement of Support; rather, Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject(s) of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Statement of Support: Escalation of U.S. Liberation of Afghanistan
3 December 2009
Lawyers With Borders praises President Obama for his strategy to send more troops to Afghanistan. "The U.S. has a human right to wage war, to see the fruits of its military budget," said Lawyers With Borders Founder and Executive Director Brian J. Foley. "So, too, do our corporations have a human right to profit from serving the U.S. military and arming it, and in reconstructing what the U.S. military rightfully destroys in Afghanistan."
Lawyers With Borders praises President Obama for his strategy to send more troops to Afghanistan. "The U.S. has a human right to wage war, to see the fruits of its military budget," said Lawyers With Borders Founder and Executive Director Brian J. Foley. "So, too, do our corporations have a human right to profit from serving the U.S. military and arming it, and in reconstructing what the U.S. military rightfully destroys in Afghanistan."
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Statement of Support: The Right of Health Insurers and Bankruptcy Lawyers to Profit from Illness
1 December 2009
Lawyers With Borders, a new non-governmental organization (NGO), calls on the United States Congress to block any change to that nation’s health care system that could threaten the right of U.S. health insurance companies and bankruptcy lawyers to earn profits.
“The Senate’s failure to quash debate is cause for alarm,” according to Lawyers With Borders Executive Director Brian J. Foley.
Foley explained: “The insurance companies have reached a consensus on how to benefit from people’s illnesses, to alleviate the flow of money that otherwise would have gone directly to physicians or dangerously remained in patients’ pockets. This consensus remains at risk.”
Populist calls for health care reform that would impose medical care free of charge on all Americans who want it, regardless of their ability to pay or employment status, should be ignored, Foley said. “This populism would set a dangerous precedent of making health care into a so-called human right that could then be wielded like a club against health insurance companies and their shareholders. The human right of health insurance companies to earn profits is a more established human right [than health care],” he said.
Also at risk is the human right of bankruptcy lawyers “to earn fees from shepherding debtors and creditors through the bankruptcy process, a process that at its best ensures that creditors may recoup at least some money from the debtors,” Foley said.
“In fact, our bankruptcy court system will become underutilized if people are no longer losing their savings to pay for medical care. What will the lawyers who have worked so hard to master this area of law do to earn their livelihood?” he asked.
Foley cautioned that if Congress appears willing to violate these human rights, Lawyers With Borders plans a “stern and vigorous letter writing campaign.” Similar to Amnesty International letter writing campaigns that allow people to write to political prisoners, the Lawyers With Borders campaign “will empower the public to voice support and appreciation and solidarity and even to donate money to health insurance companies and bankruptcy lawyers to prevent or at least mitigate any pecuniary loss should the U.S. government arbitrarily and illegally attempt to deprive them of their rightfully earned money," Foley said.
"If we (Lawyers With Borders) can educate the public about these rights, then I hope we won't have to go so far (as to actually carry out the letter-writing campaign)," Foley said.
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. No health insurance company or other entity has paid for or requested this Statement of Support; rather, Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject(s) of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Lawyers With Borders, a new non-governmental organization (NGO), calls on the United States Congress to block any change to that nation’s health care system that could threaten the right of U.S. health insurance companies and bankruptcy lawyers to earn profits.
“The Senate’s failure to quash debate is cause for alarm,” according to Lawyers With Borders Executive Director Brian J. Foley.
Foley explained: “The insurance companies have reached a consensus on how to benefit from people’s illnesses, to alleviate the flow of money that otherwise would have gone directly to physicians or dangerously remained in patients’ pockets. This consensus remains at risk.”
Populist calls for health care reform that would impose medical care free of charge on all Americans who want it, regardless of their ability to pay or employment status, should be ignored, Foley said. “This populism would set a dangerous precedent of making health care into a so-called human right that could then be wielded like a club against health insurance companies and their shareholders. The human right of health insurance companies to earn profits is a more established human right [than health care],” he said.
Also at risk is the human right of bankruptcy lawyers “to earn fees from shepherding debtors and creditors through the bankruptcy process, a process that at its best ensures that creditors may recoup at least some money from the debtors,” Foley said.
“In fact, our bankruptcy court system will become underutilized if people are no longer losing their savings to pay for medical care. What will the lawyers who have worked so hard to master this area of law do to earn their livelihood?” he asked.
Foley cautioned that if Congress appears willing to violate these human rights, Lawyers With Borders plans a “stern and vigorous letter writing campaign.” Similar to Amnesty International letter writing campaigns that allow people to write to political prisoners, the Lawyers With Borders campaign “will empower the public to voice support and appreciation and solidarity and even to donate money to health insurance companies and bankruptcy lawyers to prevent or at least mitigate any pecuniary loss should the U.S. government arbitrarily and illegally attempt to deprive them of their rightfully earned money," Foley said.
"If we (Lawyers With Borders) can educate the public about these rights, then I hope we won't have to go so far (as to actually carry out the letter-writing campaign)," Foley said.
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. No health insurance company or other entity has paid for or requested this Statement of Support; rather, Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject(s) of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Statement of Support: The Right of Goldman Sachs Bankers to Pay Bonuses
18 November 2009
Lawyers With Borders calls on governments to recognize the right of Goldman Sachs bankers to pay themselves record-breaking bonuses without fear of government intervention or harassment by members of the public who have enabled those bonuses through their taxes.
The bankers are expected to receive the largest bonuses ever paid by the bank. According to British newspaper The Guardian,
“Goldman Sachs is currently on track to pay the biggest ever bonuses to its 31,700 employees after raking in profits at a rate of $35m (£21m) a day."
These massive profits and bonuses come a year after the bank was bailed out by taxpayer money. Since then, the bank has paid the money back and accordingly falls outside of President Obama's specific plan to limit pay at firms that have not yet paid back their bailout money.
“Not only has Goldman Sachs paid back the bailout money, but under applicable international human rights law, the Goldman Sachs bankers qualify as human beings,” according to Lawyers With Borders Executive Director Brian J. Foley. “They have a right to their money, as they earned it, and possession is nine tenths of the law. Therefore, their ability to keep the money is their human right, and it must be protected,” Foley said.
Cautioned Foley: "Any foolish, undemocratic, populist efforts by governments to violate the bankers’ rights will be met with a stern and vigorous letter writing campaign initiated by Lawyers With Borders.”
Similar to Amnesty International letter writing campaigns that allow people to write to political prisoners, the Lawyers With Borders campaign “will empower the public to voice support and appreciation and solidarity and to donate money to Goldman Sachs employees to prevent or at least mitigate any pecuniary loss should governments arbitrarily and illegally attempt to deprive the bankers of their money," Foley said.
This Statement of Support is the first such statement by Lawyers With Borders, a new non-governmental organization (NGO).
"If we (Lawyers With Borders) can educate the public about bankers' rights, then I hope we won't have to go so far (as to actually carry out the letter-writing campaign)," Foley said.
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. Goldman Sachs has not paid for or requested this Statement of Support; Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Lawyers With Borders calls on governments to recognize the right of Goldman Sachs bankers to pay themselves record-breaking bonuses without fear of government intervention or harassment by members of the public who have enabled those bonuses through their taxes.
The bankers are expected to receive the largest bonuses ever paid by the bank. According to British newspaper The Guardian,
“Goldman Sachs is currently on track to pay the biggest ever bonuses to its 31,700 employees after raking in profits at a rate of $35m (£21m) a day."
These massive profits and bonuses come a year after the bank was bailed out by taxpayer money. Since then, the bank has paid the money back and accordingly falls outside of President Obama's specific plan to limit pay at firms that have not yet paid back their bailout money.
“Not only has Goldman Sachs paid back the bailout money, but under applicable international human rights law, the Goldman Sachs bankers qualify as human beings,” according to Lawyers With Borders Executive Director Brian J. Foley. “They have a right to their money, as they earned it, and possession is nine tenths of the law. Therefore, their ability to keep the money is their human right, and it must be protected,” Foley said.
Cautioned Foley: "Any foolish, undemocratic, populist efforts by governments to violate the bankers’ rights will be met with a stern and vigorous letter writing campaign initiated by Lawyers With Borders.”
Similar to Amnesty International letter writing campaigns that allow people to write to political prisoners, the Lawyers With Borders campaign “will empower the public to voice support and appreciation and solidarity and to donate money to Goldman Sachs employees to prevent or at least mitigate any pecuniary loss should governments arbitrarily and illegally attempt to deprive the bankers of their money," Foley said.
This Statement of Support is the first such statement by Lawyers With Borders, a new non-governmental organization (NGO).
"If we (Lawyers With Borders) can educate the public about bankers' rights, then I hope we won't have to go so far (as to actually carry out the letter-writing campaign)," Foley said.
LAWYERS WITH BORDERS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) modeled after Doctors Without Borders, except that its members are juris doctors, not medical doctors, and Lawyers With Borders does not help people without regard to borders, travel distance, or other jurisdictional issues, or for free. Goldman Sachs has not paid for or requested this Statement of Support; Lawyers With Borders issues such Statements in hope that the subject of the Statement will retain Lawyers With Borders and pay for the campaign.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Welcome to Lawyers WITH Borders
Greetings! I'm Brian J. Foley, Founder and Executive Director of Lawyers With Borders, the world's foremost for-profit charitable/political action group for lawyers. We are an NGO similar to Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres), except that we are not medical doctors (we are juris doctors), and we do not conceive of ourselves as helping people without regard to borders or jurisdictional boundaries (we don't go very far to help people).
At Lawyers With Borders, our vision is that lawyers should participate, albeit in a limited way, in some of the important social justice issues worldwide, for a fee. We do not believe in working for free, anywhere, or at anytime, or in any jurisdiction. Because you get what you pay for. Therefore, because we want to represent clients and advocate causes zealously and not in the way that people who are not paid and lack incentive will most likely represent clients or advocate for causes, we will not work for anything less than our normal fees. We make this principled sacrifice for the client and for the causes for which we advocate.
In addition to our paid representations, advocacy, and lobbying, we will issue statements and position papers on important international and domestic social justice and commercial issues, here on our website.
We're Lawyers With Borders - lawyers with a purpose who won't help just anyone.
Contact: lawyerswithborders - at - gmail dot - com
At Lawyers With Borders, our vision is that lawyers should participate, albeit in a limited way, in some of the important social justice issues worldwide, for a fee. We do not believe in working for free, anywhere, or at anytime, or in any jurisdiction. Because you get what you pay for. Therefore, because we want to represent clients and advocate causes zealously and not in the way that people who are not paid and lack incentive will most likely represent clients or advocate for causes, we will not work for anything less than our normal fees. We make this principled sacrifice for the client and for the causes for which we advocate.
In addition to our paid representations, advocacy, and lobbying, we will issue statements and position papers on important international and domestic social justice and commercial issues, here on our website.
We're Lawyers With Borders - lawyers with a purpose who won't help just anyone.
Contact: lawyerswithborders - at - gmail dot - com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
