http://www.business-humanrights.org Tracking the positive and negative impact of over 3000 companies worldwide. en-gb Wed, 14 May 2008 14:58:55 +0100 Wed, 14 May 2008 14:58:55 +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/761853 Mineral-laden Venezuela on Thursday shut the door to new gold projects and threatened other mining and logging concessions...Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega said the South American country will not give permits for any open-pit mines...Citing ecological damage, Ortega said the government was also revising all its mining and timber concessions. [refers to Crystallex, Gold Reserve] Fri, 16 May 2008 22:26:46 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/761853 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/824343 [L]la CNCDH a mene a bien depuis pres de deux ans une reflexion collectiveCe travail a permis de preciser le champ de la responsabilite des entreprises en matiere de droits de l'homme, a la lumiere des travaux en cours dans le cadre des Nations Unies et des autres organisations internationales, ainsi que des initiatives volontaires des entreprises elles-memes...La CNCDH recommande en particulier au gouvernement francais de definir et mettre en oeuvre une strategie francaise sur la responsabilite des entreprises en matiere de droits de l'homme... Fri, 16 May 2008 21:55:27 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/824343 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/802532 [Anil] Bickramdass, 38, a mechanical technician, was killed at the ArcelorMittal steel mill...while repairing a fault on the equipment which he had shut down. While between two steel claws used to compact rolls of steel wire, the machine activated and Bickramdass died at once...President of the Steel Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago...called on the Labour Minister and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency to order an audit of the company, claiming that there were a series of accidents and near misses at the plant...ArcelorMittal has promised to investigate the incident and use the information to avoid a repeat. Fri, 16 May 2008 21:37:05 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/802532 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/955988 Four Nigerian villagers and an environmental group are demanding oil company Shell take responsibility for damage from oil leaks caused by its Nigerian subsidiary, lawyers said Wednesday. The letters...accuse the company of...improperly maintaining equipment and failing to clean up spills that devastated crops and fish farms in the Niger Delta... A Shell spokesman in Rotterdam, Andre Romeyn, said he had not yet seen the letters. Shell would need to study them before deciding whether to publicly respond, he said... The government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. owns 55 percent [of Shell Nigeria], Royal Dutch Shell has a 30 percent stake,...Total SA owns 10 percent, and Italy's Agip [part of Eni] owns 5 percent... In its annual sustainability report, due to be released this week, The Anglo-Dutch company said that last year it completed the cleanup of 61 oil spills out of 74 sites. Of the remaining 13, its workers had been blocked from eight by the communities, according to the report... Fri, 16 May 2008 18:47:14 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/955988 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/631487 No says Bart Slob, senior researcher at Dutch-based Somo and co-ordinator of GlobalCompactCritics.org. Yes, counters Georg Kell, executive head of the UN Global Compact. Fri, 16 May 2008 17:46:57 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/631487 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/570685 Responsibility for peace and security lies with governments. But companies have an important role to play, as their operations can both worsen conflict and help to build peace. The Global Compact Office has a long record of advocacy and engagement around these issues. Over the years, we have created a substantive body of resources to support participating companies in mitigating negative impacts in conflict-prone countries and enhancing their capacity to make a meaningful contribution to sustainable peace. Fri, 16 May 2008 17:31:32 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/570685 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/175237 Here you will find the Working Document "Child Labour and Corporate Social Responsibility - What should the European Union do?". This paper is written on behalf of the campaign "Stop Child labour - School is the best place to work". We are inviting you to comment on this Working Paper before the 2nd of June. We will then finalize and publish it on the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12th. Fri, 16 May 2008 17:01:10 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/175237 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/707677 Francisco Perez Cruz, de 45 anos, fue herido de bala...asi como...Anacleto Hernandez Salgado, quienes fueron agredidos por personas aun desconocidas...El hecho ocurrio en la zona de Mistruck lugar donde se construye el proyecto hidroelectrico YY por la empresa Enegicsa...Perez Cruz era el representante de un grupo de 80 familias mestizas que se disputan un area de seis mil manzanas de tierras en Mistruck con los indigenas mayangnas de Bonanza, y fue herido cuando se dirigia a una reunion convocada por directivos de la empresa para negociar con ambos grupos el conflicto por las tierras. La empresa energetica esta negociando comprar las tierras donde se construira la represa en el salto YY, que tendra una generacion de energia de 25 megavatios. Fri, 16 May 2008 16:57:02 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/707677 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/117381 Total has read the report published by EarthRights International...on the Yadana project in Myanmar. While we share ERI's desire to see living conditions improve for the people of Myanmar, we strongly repudiate the allegations made against the gas consortium as a result of ERI's wrongly linking the Yadana project and human rights abuses. It is unfortunate that ERI did not feel it necessary to contact us to discuss the situation relating to human rights in the pipeline corridor. If it had done so, serious errors of fact, mix-ups and guilt-by-association allusions would have been avoided...Total will continue its operations in Myanmar which help to improve living standards there. Fri, 16 May 2008 12:38:00 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/117381 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/223816 Los casos de abusos laborales parecen no tener fin. Esta vez un grupo de trabajadores del Grupo AJE...recibio ayer una carta de predespido, luego de que hace dos semanas reactivaran el sindicato de trabajadores...pues este habia quedado practicamente descompuesto hace tres anos cuando 21 de sus integrantes fueron despedidos por sindicalizarse. La empresa no reconocio al nuevo sindicato y comenzo a trasladar a los principales dirigentes de la fabrica de Huachipa...hacia otras fabricas...Carlos Velarde, jefe de Relaciones Publicas del Grupo AJE senalo que la empresa desconoce la existencia del sindicato. Y senalo los argumentos de las cartas de despido: faltas graves al mentirle a la empresa al momento de crear el sindicato e injuriar a la compania. Fri, 16 May 2008 12:06:26 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/223816 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/325896 Andrew Mackinlay: A predecessor Committee did a report on private security companies some years ago and we were also promised some legislation through a Green Paper. A Green Paper was published but nothing has happened. I would like your general views on the issueKate Allen: We are very concerned about the situation of private military and security companiesAmnesty would like to see is that private military and security contractors could be brought to justice in the UK for the crimes that they commit abroad, and for there to be complete transparency and oversight over the activities of these companiesTom Porteous:[T]hese companies tend to operate in places of weak governance and conflict where, if they or their employees commit abuses, they can get away with impunity. [refers to Blackwater, Dyncorp] Fri, 16 May 2008 12:05:30 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/325896 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/733001 As concerns of a global hunger crises mount, IBM and researchers at the University of Washington today launched a new program to develop stronger strains of rice that could produce crops with larger and more nutritious yields. With the processing power of 167 teraflops, equivalent to the world's Top 3 supercomputer, IBM's World Community Grid will harness the unused and donated power from nearly one million individual PCs in a new initiative -- "Nutritious Rice for the World" project -- that will study rice at the atomic level and then combine it with traditional cross breeding techniques used by farmers throughout history. The project can be completed in less than two years as compared to over 200 years using more conventional computer systems. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:16:24 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/733001 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/717779 [Report on development projects by Anvil Mining in partnership with UK Department for Intl. Development (DFID), seen as "groundbreaking" by DFID. Includes criticism of DFID partnership due to concerns about Anvil's alleged complicity with Congolese military in human rights abuses at Kilwa, with eyewitness testimony regarding killings. Also includes statements by Anvil Mining.] Fri, 16 May 2008 00:09:18 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/717779 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/276180 Companies operating in high-risk zones, such as wars and areas of widespread violence, are increasingly facing court actions as the web of liability in this area expands. Consequently, companies, their board members, executives or employees face an increased risk of being held accountable for corporate and individual actions. International Alert and the Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies are launching the Red Flags initiative alerting companies to the risks they face when operating in areas where serious human rights buses occur. On the panel: John Ruggie...[,] Edward Bickham [Anglo-American]...Mark Taylor [Fafo]...Dan Smith [International Alert]...Friday 23 May 2008...Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London... Thu, 15 May 2008 17:55:22 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/276180 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/693935 ...India's remote Dongria Kondh tribe is claiming [Vedanta] will destroy them forever if it goes ahead with plans to mine their sacred mountain. Dongria Kondh spokesman Jitu Jakesika gave a message today to Vedanta's shareholders: ...We will become beggars if the company destroys our mountain and our forest so that they can make money.' Vedanta claim that they are investing in tribal development, but Mr Jakesika said, 'We don't want any money from this company, we don't want anything from them. We cannot give them our mountain, it is our life.' India's Supreme Court is deciding whether to permit Vedanta's subsidiary, Sterlite, to mine bauxite on the summit of the Dongria Kondh's sacred mountain, Niyamgiri, in the state of Orissa. Thu, 15 May 2008 17:41:33 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/693935 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/817700 The Walvis Bay Corridor HIV/Aids Help Desk published a 'Guide to the Workplace Policy' yesterdayon how to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the workplace environment to support and protect infected employees, andprevent thedisease from spreadingIt covers issues of confidentiality, testing, screening and counseling, employee benefits, and the promotion of safe working environments. Thu, 15 May 2008 16:49:23 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/817700 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/427672 Ecologistas en Accion aseguroque la Consejeria de Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad de Madrid ha autorizado a una fabrica de arcilla [propiedad del grupo frances Saint-Gobain]a continuar su actividad durante cinco anos, "a pesarde quela empresa incumple la normativa europea sobre incineracion de residuos y de que se estan emitiendo altos niveles de sustancias toxicas cancerigenas". La organizacion ecologistasenal[o]que las emisiones de la planta "podrian estar incidiendo en la salud de las personas del entorno, con varios casos recientes de cancer infantil[L]a Consejeria de Medio Ambienteconfirm[o]que la fabricacumple no solo con la normativa espanola sobre esta materia, "sino tambien la europea Thu, 15 May 2008 16:44:18 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/427672 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/983371 Human rights and corporate accountability international workshop - 30 May 2008, organized by: The Adam Smith Research Foundation, The Centre for Applied Ethics and Legal Philosophy, and the Department of Accounting and Finance.... The outcomes of the workshop will provide the basis for a long term research agenda on Human Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of Glasgow. Thu, 15 May 2008 16:24:41 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/983371 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/528997 Aramark employeesprotest[ed] what they describe as low wages, unaffordable health insurance and off-the-clock work assignmentsThe SEIU [Service Employees International Union] is seeking a nationwide card check neutrality agreement, which typically allows a union to organize workers at specific sites...But negotiations have been "going horribly," said Dan Schlademan...for SEIU...Elena Chavezsaid she and her co-workers can't afford to buy Aramark's health insuranceConditions are rough, too[S]he starts working at 5 a.m. but often doesn't get a lunch break until after 2 p.m[Other Aramark employees] said they're forced to work off the clock"We're not aware of any issues like what you describe, and they would be completely against our policy and training for our managers," according to [Aramark spokeswoman]"We'd encourage any employees with these complaints to contact us directly so that we can investigate the situation." Thu, 15 May 2008 12:02:51 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/528997 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/880185 Un equipo del OET [Observatorio de las Empresas Trasnacionales] estuvo enla localidad de Dock SudAlli se encuentra el Polo Petroquimico de Dock Sud, uno de los mas importantes del pais...La situacion socio-ambiental en el lugar es extremadamente grave, yuna de las mayores causantes de contaminacion es la empresa ShellEn este contexto, elOET se encuentra trabajando para presentar ante la OCDE la denuncia sobre la responsabilidad de esta empresa en los problemas que afectan gravemente el ambiente y la salud de los habitantes. [La empresa afirma que sus sistemas ambientales superan por mucho los requisitos legales vigentes]. Thu, 15 May 2008 10:12:46 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/880185 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/889245 In particular, we welcome the recognition of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. It requires the performance of due diligence, which is not just a passive or reactive process. The responsibility to respect and its due diligence component form a very useful baseline for any business wishing to engage on human rights. Moving forward, it would be helpful to clarify under what circumstances companies might have more extensive responsibilities in order to respect human rights... Wed, 14 May 2008 19:48:10 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/889245 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/506847 BBVA y la Organizacion de Estados iberoamericanos para la Educacion, la Ciencia y la Cultura (OEI) han firmado un acuerdo para mejorar la educacion de la poblacion infantil en America Latina. El proyecto, denominado, "La Primera Infancia en Iberoamerica", esta destinado a mejorar la atencion, la cobertura social y la educacion de la poblacion infantil en la region. BBVA aportara 576.000 euros en los proximos cuatro anos para la elaboracion de esta iniciativa. Wed, 14 May 2008 16:18:26 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/506847 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/988655 [We] welcome the third report of Professor John Ruggie, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on business and human rights. This report, Protect, Respect and Remedy: A framework for Business and Human Rights, presents a well-constructed and clearly articulated framework for addressing business and human rights. Together with the extensive work behind it, the report has significantly advanced the debate on business and human rights. Wed, 14 May 2008 15:54:55 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/988655 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/683204 Further to the potential macro pressure, the next question is on what is being done by individual companies that have a presence in Myanmar? In the mix of companies operating or investing in the country many take no consideration of the human rights abuses, but a few have issued statements arguing they can make a difference to civilian lives through their investment, jobs and community development projects. Arguably it is the companies on the ground that have the greatest responsibility to provide support...[refers to companies providing some form of support: Total, Exotissimo, PTT, Chevron, Lonely Planet, Abercrombie & Kent, Asia TransPacific Journeys, Google, Microsoft, Intrepid Travel] Wed, 14 May 2008 15:24:44 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/683204 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/948562 The lives of more than 5 million children in developing countries could be saved if the super-rich and multinational firms paid their fair share in taxes, according to a leading British charity... The charity estimates that governments in the poorest countries are being cheated out of at least $160 billion (R1.2 trillion) a year in tax revenues... Christian Aid director Daleep Mukarji said: "We predict that illegal trade-related tax evasion alone will be responsible for the deaths of 5.6 million children under the age of five between 2000 and 2015. That's almost 1 000 a day." Wed, 14 May 2008 14:58:55 +0100 http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/948562