http://www.business-humanrights.org Tracking the positive and negative impact of over 4000 companies worldwide. en-gb Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:45:12 +0100 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:45:12 +0100 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html Webfactory avery@business-humanrights.org avery@business-humanrights.org http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/297117 [W]hat is social enterprise and can a business have an ethical dimension? [Township Trades] in South Africagives poor people in a township the chance to develop new skillsThe business[trains] localsto make soap from natural ingredients, which is then sold at market stallsJonathan Bland, the SEC's [Social Enterprise Coalition] chief executive [said] "a social entrepreneur's main aim is to use the power of business to address social or environmental issues and use the profits generated to further these goals Howeverin developing countries, where wages are lowerthere is a danger that social entrepreneurs could be viewed as using the "ethical business" tag to reduce overheads[However] Mr Blandsaid "good working conditions, a fair wage, diverse workforce, and employee empowerment are the bedrock of the social enterprise business" [also refers to Elvis & Kresse Organisation, Divine Chocolate] Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:29:45 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/297117 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/482367 Next month, developers [Shukaku Inc.] will begin filling in Phnom Penh's Boeung Kak Lake...But residents remain concerned about their fateDespite exhaustive efforts by Post reporters to track down the developer for comment, no Phnom Penh office or contact number could be foundDavid Predof legal NGO Bridges Across Borders, said..."At the moment they're pressuring and intimidating people to move and to accept relocationThere's been no consultation and no information given to these people." [Deputy governor] Pa Socheat Vong said the company had made efforts to explain the situationbut that claims of eviction were meaningless because they were residing on state-owned land[However] Pa Nguon Teang, former executive director of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rightssaid many residents had a legal case for title to the land. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:54:52 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/482367 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/219766 El acoso sexual en el lugar de trabajo es un asunto que va mas alla de lo que resuelvan la victima y el victimario. La empresa donde se lleva a cabo el abuso es responsable legalmente de actuar de forma rapida y diligente...Esta es la leccion que dejo la resolucion reciente...de la Sala Segunda al condenar a la empresa Refrigeracion Industrial Beirute al pago de 350.000 por el dano moral que sufrio una exempleada. Ella fue hostigada por medio de correos electronicos por parte de un companero de trabajo. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:52:28 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/219766 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/267663 Luego de solicitar una entrevista con el secretario del Trabajo y Competitividad...los ex trabajadores de Johnson Controls le pidieron que asuma su responsabilidad...por los despidos injustificados que se han dado en la empresa. A decir de los ex trabajadores, un nuevo grupo de cinco personas fue cesado...entre ellas, empleadas que tuvieron a sus hijos recientemente...tambien se han dado casos de acoso sexual que seran denunciados ante las autoridades competentes...en junio pasado, 15 ex trabajadores...acusaron a la empresa de despedido injustificado...por lo que establecieron una demanda ante la Junta Federal de Conciliacion y Arbitraje (JFCA)... Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:32:42 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/267663 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/662311 A federal judgesaid there is sufficient evidence for a jury to decide whether Exxon should be held liable for the actions of Indonesian soldiers who, while guarding Exxon assets, allegedly beat, shot, tortured and raped villagers eight years ago. Exxon lawyersargue there is no evidence that the soldiers who reportedly injured the plaintiffs were the same guards assigned to protect gas fields. Exxon also disputes that it had control over the soldiers guarding Exxon facilities. U.S. District Judge Louis Oberdorfer of the District of Columbia concluded a jury must decide whether to hold Exxon accountable for the alleged actions of the soldiers. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:14:57 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/662311 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/853112 The health and environmental crisis in La Oroya, a central highland mining town dubbed Slow Chernobyl for the appalling environmental impact of contamination generated by a U.S.-run smelter [Doe Run, part of Renco], reached a new stage last week when record-breaking levels of sulfur dioxide were detected...[the] smelter and refinery complex has been spewing clouds of toxic lead, copper, zinc and sulfur dioxide-filled smoke for more than 80 years. In the valley...99 percent of children have dangerously high blood lead levels...According to Doe Run...it has invested over $132 million in environmental improvement projects...A January 2007 independent audit of their plant found they were meeting Peru's emissions standards. But an independent scientific study released...in November 2007 still found alarming lead concentrations...in comparison with international standards. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:30:55 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/853112 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/889735 The National Contact Point (NCP) considered the complaint...alleging that DAS Air (i) failed to apply due diligence when transporting minerals from Entebbe and Kigali, which had a reasonable probability of being sourced from the conflict zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and (ii) undertook flights between Entebbe airport and the conflict zone in Eastern DRC. These flights coincided with an illegal occupation of the area by the Ugandan military, during a period when the United Nations and NGO's recorded human rights abuses...The NCP upheld the allegations brought by Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) and concluded that DAS Air had failed to meet the requirements of the Guidelines. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:01:45 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/889735 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/425885 De acuerdo a una investigacion que sirvio de base a un duro informe de la Camara de DiputadosD&S y Cencosud...tienen acusaciones de maltrato a sus trabajadores...[Uno] de los temas puestos en tela de juicio es el trabajo de los empaquetadores, en muchos casos ninos y jovenes menores de edadEn [el estudio, incluido en el informe aprobado por la Camara de Diputados] se enumeran casos de panaderos que deben trabajar en la noche encerrados con llave, el acto de desnudar cajeras ante la sospecha de un posible robo, prohibir a las cajeras ir al bano en dias peak de ventasinfracciones al cumplimiento de la jornada laboral y humillacionesA ello se suman denuncias por despidos masivos de empleados sindicalizados y mobbing. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:35:57 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/425885 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/175271 UK company Afrimex breached the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises by purchasing minerals from a war-torn region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the British government has found. In a final statement published today, the British government upheld the majority of the allegations contained in the 2007 complaint by Global Witness...The UK National Contact Point (NCP)...affirmed that Afrimex initiated demand for minerals from a conflict zone and used suppliers who had made payments to [rebel group] RCD-Goma. It concluded that Afrimex had failed to contribute to sustainable development in the region and to respect human rights. The NCP also stated that Afrimex applied insufficient due diligence to the supply chain, sourcing minerals from mines that used child and forced labour. [also refers to SOCOMI] Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:29:34 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/175271 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/965272 Ethical Consumer has released a new report on the social and environmental records of 29 car brands. With so much of the press about cars concentrating on emissions of individual vehicles little attention is paid to car manufacturers' impact on human rights, or even overall environmental performance. Peugeot Citroen and Proton emerge as the top companies for corporate responsibility. Each gains an 'ethiscore' of 8.5, rated on social, ethical and environmental performance.... By contrast Toyota, regularly lauded in green circles..., scored a poor 3.5, third from the bottom of the rating table. [also refers to VW (Volkswagen)] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:23:16 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/965272 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/330687 Citi announced today it has entered into a five year contract with ACCION Texas to purchase up to $30 million in micro enterprise loans. The innovative transaction marks a first for the U.S. microfinance industry that both institutions believe will change the perception of microfinance in the U.S. and at the same time give ACCION Texas the capital it needs to expand. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:16:54 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/330687 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/564384 Analysis of 96 women executive directors over a six-year period found that they earned a total of 257,000 a year on average. Their male equivalents, however, took home 316,000 - 19 per cent more. The research by Exeter University also showed that male directors had the potential to earn bigger bonuses. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:51:41 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/564384 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/953992 New York and 11 other states are suing federal environmental regulators over greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries, the New York attorney general's office said on Monday. The suit...charges that the Environmental Protection Agency violated the federal Clean Air Act by refusing to issue standards, known as new source performance standards, for controlling global warming pollution emissions from oil refineries. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:51:16 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/953992 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/996913 This Global Report provides a global overview of the application and realization of universal principles and rights concerning freedom of association and collective bargaining in a year which makes the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, and the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:29:05 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/996913 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/140399 [The] Good Practice Guidance on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria provides mining and metals company managers with practical information for disease management. Aimed at managers and health practitioners, the Guidance seeks to increase their understanding of the individual diseases, and also their interactions, in a non-technical way. It stresses the need for an integrated approach to the three diseasesA systematic management process is described, comprising nine generic steps to determine the type and level of intervention required for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria culminating, where appropriate, in the implementation of a health program with associated monitoring and evaluation... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:44:57 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/140399 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/362441 Victims of human trafficking and their survivors filed suit on August 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the District of California against a prominent U.S. military contractor, Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc. (KBR), and its Jordanian subcontractor, Daoud & Partners (Daoud)...The trafficking victims include 13 Nepali men who were taken to Iraq against their will to provide menial labor at a United States military facility. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:59:49 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/362441 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/590511 El gerente de la empresa constructora Cidenbol Carr Srl, Rene Canelas Guzman fue detenido preventivamentepor el delito de trata y traficode mas de 300 personas que fueron enviadas a Rusia para trabajar como albanilesLa fiscal de la parte acusadoramanifesto que las...personas no contaban con alimentacion, trabajo ni el sueldo que les prometio Canelas...Senalo que las personas en Rusia se encuentran encerradas en una casa vieja en la que por habitacion duermen entre 10 y 12 personas y no cuentan con...servicios medicos. Los bolivianos fueron reclutados y una vez que llegan a Rusia les quitan su pasaporte..., dijo la fiscal...las personas tampoco reciben el sueldo...que les prometio la empresa Cidenbol... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:37:52 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/590511 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/687329 Est-il possible de conjuguer activite miniere avec respect de l'environnement et protection des interets des communautes locales ? La question est posee par des organisations de la societe civile camerounaise a l'approche du lancement, en 2009, de l'exploitation d'un gigantesque gisement de cobalt et de nickel pres de Lomie, a l'Est du Cameroun... Le niveau d'exigence de la loi qui oblige les societes a realiser une "etude d'impact environnemental et social" avant le lancement de tout projet d'exploitation est "insuffisant", deplore ainsi Valery Nodem, du Reseau de lutte contre la faim (Relufa)... Samuel Nguiffo, du Centre pour l'environnement et le developpement (CED)...souligne que] l'argent qui doit revenir aux communes et aux populations riveraines est systematiquement detourne. [mentionne Geovic, Hydromine, Sundance Resources, C & K Mining, African Aura] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:53:52 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/687329 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/237360 Reporters sans frontieres ecrit a...Google, contrainte de reveler l'identite d'un blogueur en Inde... Depuis le mois de fevrier 2008, la succursale indienne de Google est poursuivie par l'entreprise locale de construction Gremach en raison de la publication d'articles juges diffamatoires sur un blog heberge par la plateforme Blogger.com de Google. Le 15 aout, la Cour supreme de Bombay a ordonne a Google India Private Ltd de reveler l'identite de l'auteur de ces articles, surnomme Toxic Writer... ...Nous demandons aux dirigeants de Google de ne pas de plier a la loi locale et de faire appel de la decision devant la Cour Supreme de Bombay, a declare l'organisation. [mentionne egalement Yahoo] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:02:00 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/237360 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/191682 The body which regulates gangmasters says it has uncovered record numbers of workers being abused. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has taken away more than 20 licences already this year - nearly as many as in the whole of 2007. So what happens when a farm discovers its seasonal work force is being mistreated by a labour provider?Allpress Farmsgrows leeks for Produce World, which supplies Sainsbury's... [T]hey used a gangmaster...But they had no idea that European Labour Services (ELS) was abusing its workers... In April, the Gangmasters Licensing Authoritystripped ELS of its licence... "We were shocked by the allegations that were made," said Andrew Burgess, a director at Produce World... "We came up with a plan together with Sainsbury's to directly employ the workers to make sure they had proper housing and were paid a fair wage." Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:41:31 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/191682 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/372389 l'occasion de la Semaine Mondiale de l'Eau de Stockholm, Borealis [joint venture de International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi & OMV]...et Uponor...ont annonce une initiative commune visant a appliquer pour la premiere fois le concept de l'empreinte en eau aux applications de production de plastique... L'initiative entend etudier la consommation d'eau dans l'ensemble de la chaine de valeur de l'industrie du plastique, de l'extraction des matieres premieres au systeme complet installe dans une habitation. [mentionne egalement Borouge (joint venture de Borealis & Abu Dhabi National Oil Company)] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:35:02 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/372389 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/774160 Lawmakers should consider enacting new legislation that would enable Canadian companies to be sued domestically in superior court for alleged complicity in human rights violations abroad, says Supreme Court of Canada Justice Ian Binnie. The judge said that Canada and many other nations have signed on to international treaties and conventions that guarantee various labour and human rights, yet most have not created fora to air and legally determine complaints that domestic companies have aided and abetted human rights abuses... Calling the [US] Alien Tort Claims Act a very effective mechanism, Justice Binnie suggested if that legislation were replicated in more countries, there would be more avenues whereby companies could clear their names of allegations made against them, or complainants could obtain redress, depending on what the evidence shows.... His comments anticipate the thrust of a soon-to-be released [International Commission of Jurists] report on Corporate Complicity in International Crimes... [refers to Talisman] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:34:57 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/774160 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/703667 Anglo American is pleased to announce a substantial commitment to invest $92 million in local communities and biodiversity projects in Brazil, following the completion of the transaction to acquire a controlling shareholding in the Minas-Rio iron ore project and the Amapa iron ore system...[The] invest[ment]...[will happen] over a 10-year period from 2009. Anglo American will use its leading Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT) process...Anglo American aims to work in partnership with community organisations, NGOs and relevant government agencies. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:17 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/703667 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/815303 Italian film 'Birdwatchers'highlights the plight of the Guarani-Kaiowa Indians in Brazil, whose lands are being destroyed to produce biofuels for cars and other vehicles...Guarani actor Ambrosio Vilhava...says he hopes the film will result in the legal recognition of their land. 'This is what I most hope for: land and justice.'...In the last 70 years, the Guarani have lost much of their land to cattle ranchers and sugar cane and soya planters, often in brutal evictions...Brazil has been one of the world's leading biofuels producers for decades...Much of the sugar cane from which the ethanol is produced is grown on the land previously occupied by the Guarani's forests. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:49:21 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/815303 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/837214 Is 167 a lot or a little? That's the number of companies around the world that have adopted a formal policy statement explicitly referring to human rights, according to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC.) That stat includes over half of the UK's FTSE 100 - but only a sliver of the Fortune 500, and a miniscule percentage of all companies worldwide. Mary Robinson...is actively encouraging companies to join the 167. This December marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an "ideal opportunity" to adopt a human rights policy. [also refers to Goldcorp] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:45:12 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/837214