http://www.business-humanrights.org Tracking the positive and negative impact of over 4000 companies worldwide. en-gb Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:44 +0100 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:44 +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/864801 Last year, a wonderful organization called Men's Resources International was considering a gender violence training in Rwanda and we offered to pay for three coffee farmers to participate... Our idea was that if the trainings were a success and useful in the eyes of the farmers, then we would fund a full training for farmers from COOPAC, the cooperative we purchase from... After the training, I received a letter signed by the farmers stating that the work was life changing, and asking me to make it available to more farmers in Rwanda... So, over a long weekend in September...MRI facilitated an experiential workshop for fifteen men and fifteen women from COOPAC, exploring gender-based violence in their lives... Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:57:33 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/864801 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/178183 Des militants de Greenpeace se sont menottes au volant de voitures allemandes samedi au Mondial de l'Automobile pour protester contre les constructeurs allemands qu'ils accusent de "saboter la legislation sur le CO2 des voitures"... Une cinquantaine d'activistes ont pris part a la manifestation sur les stands Audi [partie de Volkswagen], Volkswagen, Mercedes [partie de Daimler] et BMW... Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:24:33 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/178183 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/610106 The Sun...[has] forced coffee giant Starbucks to stop pouring precious water away. Our exposure yesterday of the firm's crackpot policy of keeping taps running continually at its shops sparked outrage and headlines worldwide... [Green] campaigners and hygiene inspectors slammed the company, which finally agreed to turn off the taps after crisis meetings yesterday. A spokeswoman said: We are working as a priority on alternative solutions. We recognize the opportunity exists to reduce our water usage.... Starbucks ordered staff to keep the taps running yesterday while experts advise them on an alternative system. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:35:05 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/610106 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/554355 A U.S. court saidEcuador's government did not have to enter arbitration with Chevron Corp over an estimated liability of up to $16 billion stemming from oil waste pits in the Amazon rainforest. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Chevron's claim that Ecuador must submit to arbitration over who was responsible for any environmental damage to be "without merit". In an ongoing suit in Ecuador, locals charge that Chevron's Texaco unit damaged their health by dumping billions of gallons of oil-laden water. Texacodenies its operations affected the health of Amazon communities. The company argues it was released from liability because it paidfor an environmental clean-up in the 1990s, and blames Petroecuador for much of the pollution. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:01:48 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/554355 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/486762 En aout, le Centre de Ressources du Travail et des Droits de l'Homme...a demande a trois compagnies israeliennes de repondre a un rapport d'une organisation israelienne non-gouvernementale qui protestait contre le traitement fait aux travailleurs palestiniens dans les parcs industriels des colonies de Cisjordanie...Parmi les entreprises dont les pratiques de travail ont ete critiquees dans le rapport de Kav LaOved se trouve la Royalnight, une manufacture de textile appartenant a Royalife...Les parures de draps, dessus de lit, couvertures matelassees et les oreillers decoratifs de Royalnight sont exportes et commercialises aux Etats-Unis et en Europe. Selon...Kav LaOved, les travailleurs palestiniens...doivent travailler dans des conditions sanitaires et de securite miserables dans l'usine textile de Royalnight...Royalnight a repondu..."Toutes ces plaintes ne sont pas correctes..."...La tres mauvaise situation economique fait que beaucoup de Palestiniens soient forces de chercher du travail dans les colonies illegales israeliennes, ou ils sont vulnerables a l'exploitation....[mentionne egalement Barkan Wineries] Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:12:46 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/486762 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/726466 Business people and federal government representatives including the Brazilian First Lady, Marisa Leticia met on Wednesday (Sept. 18) to discuss strategies for fighting child sexual exploitation...the Chairperson of the Brazilian Communications Enterprise (EBC), Ms. Teresa Crunivel, together with a representative of Rede Globo, undertook the commitment of broadcasting educational campaigns on television in relation to the theme. It was also agreed a comprehensive use of companies' websites not only to promote World Congress III but also to provide explanations on the theme and details of awareness-raising corporate initiatives... explained the Under-Secretary for the Promotion of the Rights of the Child and Adolescent at the Special Secretariat for Human Rights (SEDH), Ms. Carmen Oliveira. The event was attended by around 53 business figures. [also refers to Vale] Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:40 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/726466 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/457161 Ethix is a leading consulting firm helping institutional investors and asset managers to integrate environmental, social and governance issues into the investment process...and provides company research and screening according to a number of different criteria...Ethix analysts Weidacher and Fruchart talk[:]...What are the guiding principles for screening companies?...[We use] existing initiatives and guidelines...UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines...the Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations...UN resolutions...Regarding the Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, there are a number of UN resolutions that address the situation...Therefore, we assess companies that provide infrastructure. We also look at companies that supply mechanised vehicles to destroy Palestinian homes...Veolia and Alstom...participate in the light rail project in Jerusalem...The light rail runs also in East Jerusalem, which is occupied territory. So Veolia and Alstom's involvement in this project does not meet international standards...The Israeli light rail on occupied Palestinian land is a violation of international law...Let us be clear that the construction of the light rail in West Jerusalem is not disputed. If the companies withdraw from the light rail project in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, it would in that case no longer be involved in an offence of UN resolutions. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:37:37 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/457161 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/977047 Starbucks Corp. has settled a National Labor Relations Board complaint with an employee who said he was fired this summer for promoting union activityErik Formanclaimed he was fired for encouraging workers to join the Industrial Workers of the World unionStarbucks then reversed its decision and hired Forman back in August, saying the initial firing was "ill-considered." Starbucks, though, said Forman's firing had nothing to do with his activity in the union. "We view this settlement of the NLRB charge as confirming the steps we already took to make things right in this situation," Starbucks said in a statement...Under the terms of the settlement, Starbucks will post a notice in Forman's store for 60 days informing workers they have a right to unionize under federal law Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:30:14 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/977047 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/335187 72 current and former female employees who became pregnant while working at Bloomberg LPclaim the company discriminated against them by decreasing their pay, demoting them, and excluding them from other employment opportunities after they became pregnantThe EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] filed suit against the company last year72 have joined the class and that number could riseA call for comment from Mr. Bloomberg was not returned. A spokesperson for Bloomberg LP said that the company could not comment on the details of the suit but added "we're confident that once all of the facts emerge, they will demonstrate that the claims are without merit." Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:29:05 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/335187 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/344736 South Africa's biggest miners union said on Wednesday 5,000 members would stay away from work at AngloGold Ashanti's TauTona mine on Thursday to mark the death of a colleague who died last week. The NUM has been putting pressure on mining companies to take action to prevent workers' deaths. Since last year, when a miner dies, union members at the mine stop work for one day to mark the death and to urge the company to improve safety. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:27:31 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/344736 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/498036 Yesterday, Judge Kimba Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York set a trial date of February 9, 2009 for a human rights and racketeering case against the Royal Dutch Shell company (Shell) and the head of its Nigerian operation, Brian Anderson. The case was first filed in 1996. The judge rejected Shell's attempt to file additional legal motions to postpone a trial date...Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum and Wiwa v. Anderson are two lawsuits filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and co-counsel from EarthRights International on behalf of relatives of murdered activists who were fighting for human rights and environmental justice in Nigeria...The defendants are charged with complicity in human rights abuses against the Ogoni people in Nigeria, including summary execution, crimes against humanity, torture, inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrest, wrongful death, assault and battery, and infliction of emotional distress. The cases were brought under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) and the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA). Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:54:04 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/498036 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/851627 El retraso en la ejecucion de la Autorizacion Ambiental Integrada de[la fabrica de Fertiberia en Huelva] y otra de la empresa Foretha provocado que la Comision Europea inicie un procedimiento de infraccion contra Espana. Europa acusa al Estado de permitir que estas dos instalaciones esten desarrollando su actividad "sin disponer de una Autorizacion Ambiental Integrada (AAI) emitida en el plazo fijado", explico ayer el comisario de Medio Ambiente...La AAI es un certificado obligatorio por la legislacion europea que impone limites de emisiones (atmosfera, aguas, ruidos, residuos, suelos...) para cada instalacionFuentes de Greenpeaceapuntan a que, de verificarse las irregularidades, podria darse una sancion economica. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:51:19 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/851627 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/205576 On Saturday 1 November [2008] the LCIL [Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge] will be hosting a seminar on corporate complicity in human rights violations...The seminar is free and is open to attendance by representatives from multinational corporations as well as civil society and academics. In order to register for the seminar please contact Miss Vuyelwa Kuuya vk264@cam.ac.uk or 01223 748988 by the 14th of October, places are limited. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:32:38 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/205576 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/182511 The Steering Committee for the human rights impact assessment (HRIA) of Goldcorp Inc.'s operations in Guatemala announced today the selection of On Common Ground Consultants to conduct the Assessment and International Alert to serve as the peer reviewer. The Steering Committee also announced that it has established a website on which documents relevant to the Assessment are posted (www.hria-guatemala.com). It will be regularly updated throughout the Assessment process. The Steering Committee directing the assessment process is made up of a company representative, a representative of investor groups and a Guatemalan representative. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:13:39 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/182511 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/833848 In its global quest for commodities, China relies on laborers -- from hand diggers in Katanga to iron ore miners in Peru -- who work in unsafe, unsanitary and sometimes lethal conditions. [refers to Gecamines, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, Chambishi Nonferrous Mines, Shougang, CNPC, Congo Dong Fang, Katanga Mining, South China Mining, Feza Mining, Congolaise des Mines et de Developpement (part of Gecamines), DGI Intl, Cota Mining, Societe pour le Traitement du Terril de Lubumbashi (STL - joint venture OM Group, Forrest Group & Gecamines) - includes comments by companies] Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:43:51 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/833848 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/107069 The Foreign Office has written to Lloyd's of London chairman Lord Levene to outline its disapproval that Lloyd's brokers are trading with the Burmese military dictatorship. The letter has forced Levene to write to the insurance market's managing agents last week 'urging them to consider' their involvement with the repressive regimeLloyd's has historically been involved in Burma, despite international boycotts. Its syndicates reinsure the junta's aviation and shipping interestsWithout Lloyd's, campaigners believe the repressive regime would be in economic turmoil. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:25:36 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/107069 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/482713 The governmental Human Rights Commission (HRC) has intervened in the case of Indian workers who were thrown out of their accommodation by their sponsor for complaining to the Indian Embassy about their working conditions. This is a serious violation of local labor laws for which we have to take immediate action since the victims do not have food and shelter for their daily upkeep, said an official...He added that Human Rights Commission President Turki Al-Sudairy wrote a letter to Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi calling for action against the company...The HRC has also written to the owner of the company seeking an explanation...The workers claim their passports and other important documents have not been given to them by their sponsor...Nobody from the contracting company, meanwhile, picked up the phone when Arab News called to get its response. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:52:16 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/482713 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/861634 Le programme TOURpact.GC a ete lance par le Pacte mondial des Nations Unies et par l'OMT [Organisation mondiale du tourisme] a l'occasion de la celebration officielle de la Journee mondiale du tourisme [le 27 septembre 2008]...Il s'agit d'un mecanisme volontaire pour fournir un cadre a la responsabilite sociale de l'entreprise, ouvert aux societes, aux associations et aux autres acteurs du tourisme qui sont Membres affilies de l'OMT. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:36:38 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/861634 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/907865 Dix entreprises privees ont [recu les Prix mondiaux des affaires et du developpement ou WBDA - World Business and Development Awards] pour leur contribution a l'amelioration des conditions de vie des groupes les plus defavorises du globe... Les initiatives telles que les WBDA et l'Appel a l'action des entreprises visent a sensibiliser la communaute des affaires aux OMD [objectifs du millenaire pour le developpement]. [Laureates des WBDA 2008 : 3K&A, Diageo, Endesa, Haygrove, Olam Nigeria, Safaricom, Sistema Ser, Smart Communications, Syngenta, ZMQ Software Systems. Fait aussi reference a Yara, Ericsson] Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:12:04 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/907865 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/147082 Businesses must change their attitude to environmental issues if the tide of ecological decline is to be halted. That was the message from Valli Moosa, president of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, opening the World Conservation Congress...The 10-day IUCN congress in Barcelona will debate global environmental problems and potential solutions...Every business, he said, should include at least one non-executive director with a working knowledge of environmental issues... Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:02:45 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/147082 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/283019 Dans un rapport intitule de maniere explicite Rupture de confiance , le Citizen Lab [institut canadien] ...affirme que la plate-forme chinoise de Skype [filiale d'eBay], qui est produite en commun avec le groupe hongkongais Tom.com, surveille les echanges de textes entre internautes...et garde en memoire sur des serveurs situes en Chine tous ceux qui contiennent des mots cles...[ayant] trait a toute forme d'opposition au pouvoir du parti communiste chinois, a la secte Falungong ou a l'independance de Taiwan. [fait aussi reference a Google, Yahoo] Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/283019 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/546628 IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the International Labour Organization today launched the Better Work Vietnam program to improve working conditions for more than 700,000 workers in the Vietnamese apparel industry and boost the international competitiveness of the sector...Gap Inc. is one of several international buyers that are supporters of the program. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:22:45 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/546628 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/309050 El propietario y gerente de la empresa constructora Cidenbol Carr SRL, Rene Canelas, acusado por los delitos de estafa agravada, trata de seres humanos y trafico de migrantes a Rusia, fue remitido al penal de maxima seguridad de El Abra...Canelas fue liberado el 4 de octubre por orden de la jueza Vivian Enriquez, pero de inmediato fue aprehendido nuevamente. Enriquez, ahora de vacaciones, debera enfrentar una demanda penal por prevaricato y otra por corrupcion...Asimismo, la jueza Sonia Coca...dispuso que se ponga a conocimiento del Tribunal de Honor del Colegio de Abogados, la conducta antietica... de uno de los abogados de Canelas, Marcelo Rodriguez. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:10:02 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/309050 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/222404 Ericsson will raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals in the telecommunications industry in collaboration with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and previously United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:25:42 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/222404 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/534162 In August, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre...asked three Israeli companies to respond to a report by an Israeli non-governmental organization that protested the treatment of Palestinian workers at West Bank settlement industrial parks...Amongst the companies whose labor practices were criticized in the Kav LaOved report was Royalnight, a textile manufacturer owned by Royalife...Royalnight's sheet sets, bed skirts, quilted blankets, and decorated pillows are exported to and marketed in the United States and Europe. According to Kav LaOved...Palestinian workers...have to work under poor health and safety conditions at Royalnight's textile plant...Royalife replied..."All complaints are not correct..."...The dire economic situation means more Palestinians are forced to seek work in Israel's illegal settlements, where they are vulnerable to exploitation. [also refers to Barkan Wineries] Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:44 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/534162