While 'knowing my enemy' at the weekend I happened on this advert in The Telegraph placed by Total, the oil and gas company. As you can see the imagery chosen is the usual untrammelled wilderness, this time it includes a rustic shack offering warm refuge to the weary traveller. The message appears to be that Total will sensitively explore one inhospitable environment to bring life-giving warmth to another.

Is it just coincidence that Total is running an attractive looking advert about all it's doing to keep us snuggly this winter just as Burma happens to be in the news? Total is accused of helping to prop up the hideous military junta we've been hearing so much about this week. You can read about their alleged complicity in the use of forced labour here and here. But wait! If Total left Burma it would be so much worse for the people: "If we decided to leave, we would immediately be replaced by another company who might not apply the same social or ethical standards." Ah! Nothing to do with the profits they'd lose from no longer being able to exploit the resources of the country then? What they actually mean is that China would be in like a shot. Their tagline is: "Our energy is your energy". Their cynicism leaves me cold at night. Go to the Burma Campaign website for more information.