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Article

29 Aug 2002

Author:
Paul Brown, Guardian [UK]

US blocks move to give powers to those threatened by multinationals: Poor countries seek redress over firms' damage

The United States is blocking human, environmental and freedom of information rights from being enshrined in the earth summit's plan of action in order to protect multinational companies from litigation and protests by the poor. The EU and developing countries such as Thailand, Uganda and Indonesia believe that giving communities the right to take on companies that pollute their environment and damage their health is fundamental to the aims of the summit.