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NEW (recent additions to this section; top item is most recent addition)

FOOD: WHO Meets With Industry Executives On Healthier Diets - The World Health Organization met last week with senior executives from the food industry to develop a global strategy to encourage healthier diets and increased physical activity in the fight against chronic diseases that result in 59 percent of the 56.5 million annual deaths worldwide. (UN Wire, 12 May 2003)

Abuse and Physical Violence against Workers in the North! [Haiti] - The May First Batay Ouvriye Union Federation loudly denounces the barbaric treatment undergone by the labourers of the Northern Brewery (“Brasserie du Nord”) in Cap-Haitien on 22 April 2003. (Batay Ouvriye Union Federation, 23 Apr. 2003)

Religious Shareholders to Challenge PepsiCo To Report Effect of AIDS in Africa Operations - Coalition's Resolution Asks Company for Report on Business Impact of AIDS - Concerned PepsiCo shareholders today announced their sponsorship of a proxy resolution asking the soft drink industry giant to report on how it plans to deal with the business and employee impact of the AIDS pandemic in Africa. (MMA, 24 Apr. 2003)

Oxfam: Kraft Foods Refutes Accountability and Shows Lack of Leadership in Addressing Global Coffee Crisis Affecting 25 Million Coffee Farmers (Oxfam America, 22 Apr. 2003)

Pollution from small industry up in Canada, US - Industrial pollution in the United States and Canada dropped 4 percent from 1998 to 2000, but a 32 percent surge in toxic emissions from smaller facilities has researchers worried, according to a new study published...The smaller facilities studied include a cross-section of industry, scattered across communities in both countries, and ranging from metal fabricators to food processing plants to lumber mills. (Robert Melnbardis, Reuters, 22 Apr. 2003)

Coca-Cola karma: irony in advertising? -...Today, the Coca-Cola Company is holding its annual shareholders’ meeting. One participant will be William Mendoza...the President of the National Food Industry Workers’ Union in his hometown of Barrancabermeja...Paramilitary groups have killed seven employees of Coca-Cola bottlers – all union members – in Colombia since 1990. Mendoza claims that he is among 65 union members who have received death threats from paramilitary groups. (Rick Stern, Montana Kaimin [USA], 16 Apr. 2003)

Partial victory for Coca-Cola workers -...On March 31, US District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez ruled that a group of Colombian plaintiffs can move forward with cases brought under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) for human rights violations committed by paramilitaries in Colombia on behalf of two Colombian Coca-Cola bottling companies: Panamco and Bebidas y Alimentos. (New Colombia News Agency, 10 Apr. 2003)

Human rights, salary at issue for Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola should...use its influence in Colombia to encourage greater protections of human rights. These were just a few of the more controversial proposals members of the Atlanta company's board of directors fielded from some of the 400 shareholders gathered here Wednesday for Coke's annual meeting...Perhaps the most controversial proposal concerned allegations that the company's plant managers used paramilitary groups to intimidate and kill eight union organizers at a bottling plant in Barrancabermeja, Colombia...Coke denies that it is in any way responsible...Richard Shaw of the AFL-CIO implored the company to take a more active role in helping protect the union organizers. Deval Partrick, Coke's general counsel, said the company has gone as far as providing security for Colombian individuals being threatened. (David Kaplan, Houston Chronicle, 17 Apr. 2003)

Standards and guidelines:

Ethical Trading Initiative

Websites:

Associated British Foods: Ethical Procurement - ABF seeks to develop relationships with supplier companies consistent with the basic principles as set out above, and specifically with respect to human rights and conditions of employment. Where supplier audits show shortcomings in any of these areas we will strive to encourage a programme of improvement leading to compliance. (Associated British Foods)

Banana Link: Working for sustainable production and trade in bananas

CokeWatch.org: a website designed to keep an eye on The Coca-Cola Company

Companies (Banana Link: "working for sustainable production and trade in bananas")

Company Policies for EEO [Equal Employment Opportunities] in Food, Beverages and Tobacco Manufacturing (International Labour Organization)

FoodFirst: Institute for Food and Development Policy

Fruits & Vegetables: Child Labor (Co-op America's Sweatshops.org)

GAIN: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

Genetic Engineering (Greenpeace)

Genetic Engineering (Sierra Club)

Industry Watch: Food (Washington Post)

Integrity in Science: The Integrity in Science project seeks to safeguard science and the public welfare from the corruptive effects of industry’s influence (Integrity in Science, a project of The Center for Science in the Public Interest)

Pilot project: Southern Africa Business and Gender Initiative [companies participating: ABSA, SAB-Beer Divisions, Vodacom, Toyota, Old Mutual] (Resource Centre for the Social Dimensions of Business Practice)

Statements by business people about general corporate social responsibility:

Kenneth Mason, President, Quaker Oats (USA)

Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairman of Johnnic, Times Media and South African Breweries (South Africa)

Coca-Cola: case in U.S. court regarding the company's conduct in Colombia:

Coca-Cola; Case in U.S. court regarding the company's alleged racial discrimination against employees in USA:

Other materials:

2003:

FOOD: WHO Meets With Industry Executives On Healthier Diets - The World Health Organization met last week with senior executives from the food industry to develop a global strategy to encourage healthier diets and increased physical activity in the fight against chronic diseases that result in 59 percent of the 56.5 million annual deaths worldwide. (UN Wire, 12 May 2003)

Religious Shareholders to Challenge PepsiCo To Report Effect of AIDS in Africa Operations - Coalition's Resolution Asks Company for Report on Business Impact of AIDS - Concerned PepsiCo shareholders today announced their sponsorship of a proxy resolution asking the soft drink industry giant to report on how it plans to deal with the business and employee impact of the AIDS pandemic in Africa. (MMA, 24 Apr. 2003)

Abuse and Physical Violence against Workers in the North! [Haiti] - The May First Batay Ouvriye Union Federation loudly denounces the barbaric treatment undergone by the labourers of the Northern Brewery (“Brasserie du Nord”) in Cap-Haitien on 22 April 2003. (Batay Ouvriye Union Federation, 23 Apr. 2003)

Oxfam: Kraft Foods Refutes Accountability and Shows Lack of Leadership in Addressing Global Coffee Crisis Affecting 25 Million Coffee Farmers (Oxfam America, 22 Apr. 2003)

Pollution from small industry up in Canada, US - Industrial pollution in the United States and Canada dropped 4 percent from 1998 to 2000, but a 32 percent surge in toxic emissions from smaller facilities has researchers worried, according to a new study published...The smaller facilities studied include a cross-section of industry, scattered across communities in both countries, and ranging from metal fabricators to food processing plants to lumber mills. (Robert Melnbardis, Reuters, 22 Apr. 2003)

Human rights, salary at issue for Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola should...use its influence in Colombia to encourage greater protections of human rights. These were just a few of the more controversial proposals members of the Atlanta company's board of directors fielded from some of the 400 shareholders gathered here Wednesday for Coke's annual meeting...Perhaps the most controversial proposal concerned allegations that the company's plant managers used paramilitary groups to intimidate and kill eight union organizers at a bottling plant in Barrancabermeja, Colombia...Coke denies that it is in any way responsible...Richard Shaw of the AFL-CIO implored the company to take a more active role in helping protect the union organizers. Deval Partrick, Coke's general counsel, said the company has gone as far as providing security for Colombian individuals being threatened. (David Kaplan, Houston Chronicle, 17 Apr. 2003)

Coca-Cola karma: irony in advertising? -...Today, the Coca-Cola Company is holding its annual shareholders’ meeting. One participant will be William Mendoza...the President of the National Food Industry Workers’ Union in his hometown of Barrancabermeja...Paramilitary groups have killed seven employees of Coca-Cola bottlers – all union members – in Colombia since 1990. Mendoza claims that he is among 65 union members who have received death threats from paramilitary groups. (Rick Stern, Montana Kaimin [USA], 16 Apr. 2003)

Partial victory for Coca-Cola workers -...On March 31, US District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez ruled that a group of Colombian plaintiffs can move forward with cases brought under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) for human rights violations committed by paramilitaries in Colombia on behalf of two Colombian Coca-Cola bottling companies: Panamco and Bebidas y Alimentos. (New Colombia News Agency, 10 Apr. 2003)

Lethal factory blaze in China - At least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a food-processing factory [Qingdao Chia Tai company] in China's eastern province of Shandong. (BBC News, 7 Apr. 2003)

They provide for education what the government cannot give: Private sector support [Philippines] - The Coca-Cola Foundation, for instance, has its Little Red Schoolhouse. Pilipinas Shell Foundation is constructing school facilities such as teachers' quarters and libraries. (Constantino C. Tejero, Philippines Inquirer, 5 Apr. 2003)

When Lightning Strikes: Portfolio 21 Applies The Natural Step's Sustainability Theories - Portfolio 21 applies environmental screens based on the principles of the Natural Step, which promotes sustainability. [refers to Electrolux, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Horizon Organic] (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 3 Apr. 2003)

PepsiCo Shareowners Will Address the Business Risks of Water Scarcity - The SEC is requiring PepsiCo's to allow its shareowners to vote on a resolution regarding the business risks of water scarcity...Concern about water supplies is seeping to investors who own stock in companies that use large amounts of water. A group of PepsiCo shareowners have filed a resolution asking the company to report on the business risk of water use throughout its supply chain. The resolution also asks the company to disclose its "current policies and procedures for mitigating the impact of operations on local communities in areas of water scarcity." (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 2 Apr. 2003)

Coke bottler faces death suit - A US court has ruled that Coca-Cola's main Latin American bottler can stand trial for allegedly hiring right-wing paramilitaries to kill and intimidate union leaders in Colombia...Panamerican Beverages (Panamco), Coca-Cola's main bottler in Latin America of which it owns about 25%, and Colombian bottler Bebidas y Alimentos now face a trial. But District Judge Jose E Martinez in Miami excluded the Atlanta-based drinks giant Coca-Cola and its Colombian unit because its bottling agreement did not give it "explicit control" over labour issues in Colombia. (Stefan Armbruster, BBC News, 2 Apr. 2003)

Multinationals tighten grip on bottled water - Switzerland’s Nestlé is one firm set on expanding its share of the world’s bottled water market. But critics say that by tapping sources of fresh water, multinationals are squeezing local communities and monopolising what should be a public good. [refers also to Danone, Coca Cola, Pepsico] (Samantha Tonkin, swissinfo, 28 Mar. 2003)

Clif Bar [producer of energy bars] Forms Wind-Farm Partnership to Offset CO2 Footprint [USA] - Clif Bar Inc. has announced it is supporting the construction of the first large-scale Native American-owned wind farm to offset the carbon dioxide generated by the energy used in its offices, manufacturing, and business travel during 2002...The company joins Stonyfield Farm, The Timberland Company, Ben & Jerry's, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and other companies in sponsoring the project. (GreenBiz.com, 26 Mar. 2003)

Judge: Tyson Foods immigration case going to jury [USA] -...A Tyson personnel manager Thursday disputed earlier testimony, saying there was no 9-year-old working at a Missouri poultry plant.  Ahrazue Wilt, the company's complex human resources manager in Sedalia, agreed with earlier testimony that a 14-year-old Hispanic worker was injured on the job at the plant.  Wilt said a subsequent U.S. Department of Labor investigation found "about five" underage workers. (Bill Poovey, Associated Press, 21 Mar. 2003)

EU wants to simplify limits on pesticide residues - The European Commission plans to set maximum residue levels for pesticides used by farmers across the 15-nation bloc, part of its programme to raise food safety standards for European consumers, it said. (Reuters, 17 Mar. 2003) 

Alcoa Honors 16 Suppliers of Recycled Beverage Containers - Alcoa’s Rigid Packaging Unit has recognized 16 companies with its UBC Supplier Quality Awards for shipments of outstanding quality used beverage containers (UBCs) in 2002. (GreenBiz.com, 17 Mar. 2003)

"I Feel Disgusted" [USA] - Alleged death threats and sexual abuse of immigrants at a North Haven factory [Chef Solutions factory that makes and freezes dough for bread baked at, among other places, Subway and Shaw's] -...Alexander says the sexual harassment stopped in 2001, after six years, when she and her sisters hired a lawyer...the workers have taken their complaint national, distributing leaflets at the ticket counters of Lufthansa airlines, the factory's parent company. [includes excerpts from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Chef Solutions' North Haven factory; also refers to a racial discrimination complaint against the same company] (Paul Bass, New Haven Advocate, 13 Mar. 2003)

Charter for voluntary pollution control [India] - The Ministry of Environment and Forests and industrial sector are all set to enter into a partnership on voluntary pollution control by releasing a charter on Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection in New Delhi on March 13...The 17 major polluting industries identified for preparatory approach towards pollution control are: cement, aluminium, thermal power plants, oil refineries, pesticides, iron and steel, pulp and paper, copper and zinc, distilleries, sugar, petrochemicals, dye and dye intermediates, caustic soda, pharmaceuticals, tanneries and fertilizer industry. (The Hindu, 10 Mar. 2003)

Activists targeting UI deal with Coke [USA] - The University of Illinois' exclusive beverage contract with Coca-Cola is under scrutiny from activists who say Coke bottling plants in Colombia have links to anti-union violence. (Julie Wurth, News-Gazette, 7 Mar. 2003)

Global Meeting of Coca-Cola Workers: Delegates Vow To Continue Fight for Worker Rights -...Participants heard reports of union rights violations in Colombia where union representatives had been arbitrarily fired following the signing of a collective agreement at the Coca-Cola bottler in Carepa, Urabá. Participants also heard about repeated union busting in Pakistan and, in response to an attack on fundamental union rights by the local bottler at the Moscow Coca-Cola plant, participants adopted a solidarity resolution in support of the IUF’s affiliate in Russia and its members at Coca-Cola...The second day’s discussion included presentations by David Schilling of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and John Wilson of the Christian Brothers Investment Services who described their efforts to use shareholder pressure to push Coca Cola to respect human rights throughout the company’s system. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 6 Mar. 2003)

Damned if you do… - Social responsibility is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to some companies, says Stephen W. Stanton -...Should McDonald’s be commended for making warm meals both convenient and affordable for even the poorest people in many nations? Alternatively, should the golden arches be torn down for making the United States among the fattest nations in the world, triggering heart disease, diabetes and premature deaths of many Americans?...Ben & Jerry’s is often cited as the model of socially responsible management...However, unlike McDonald’s, Ben & Jerry’s does not make food products with any redeeming nutritional value (Stephen W. Stanton, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 4 Mar. 2003)

When does protest work? Leading campaigners and experts told The Observer what made campaigning effective - and how companies needed to ensure that corporate accountability was not simply a PR exercise if they wanted to protect their brands and reputations. [refers to Shell, ExxonMobil/Esso, Nestle, Unity Trust Bank, Co-operative Bank, Cobbetts solicitors, Enron, Rio Tinto] (Lola Okolosie, Observer [UK], 2 Mar. 2003)

new book: Buying into the Environment Experiences, Opportunities and Potential for Eco-procurement -...Many initiatives have been undertaken in OECD countries, most successfully in Japan and Denmark where green public purchasing has been proven to be workable and highly effective, while, in other countries, city municipalities have successfully pioneered the development of sophisticated public environmental purchasing policies...The book, organised under the auspices of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) analyses national approaches already tested, and provides in-depth surveys on the pioneer cities such as Hamburg, Malmö and Zürich...The most relevant product groups for eco-procurement such as construction, transport, energy, information technology, furniture and food. are also analysed. (Edited by Christoph Erdmenger, International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives, Mar. 2003)

Lagos Pupils Get Nutritional Supplement [Nigeria] - Lagos State Goverment, in conjunction with UNESCO and the West African Milk Company (WAMCO), embarked on the programme...The programme is designed to provide milk twice a week. (Yemi Akinsuyi, This Day [Nigeria], 28 Feb. 2003)

Fired ConAgra Worker Wins Race Case [USA] - A line supervisor at an Arkansas poultry processing plant has won a jury verdict of more than $14 million on claims that his firing after 32 years of employment was racially motivated. (Nick Upmeyer, National Law Journal, 26 Feb. 2003)

Retail therapy - Awareness of how and where goods are produced has soared - and so has the fair trade movement -...Now there are more than 100 products, ranging from tea, coffee and bananas to sugar, wine, honey, fruits, juices, snacks and biscuits, chilli peppers and meat. Coming next are fair trade clothes and textiles, and fair trade footballs...To go truly mainstream, though, fair trade must occupy more than a remote shelf in a supermarket. There are the first signs that that is happening as the Co-op and Safeway supermarkets start their own fair trade lines. (John Vidal, Guardian [UK], 26 Feb. 2003)

PepsiCo in India – leading the “cola race to the bottom”? Growing union repression and intense pressure from management on the remaining unionised Pepsi bottling plants is the clear picture that emerges from a recent IUF study of PepsiCo bottling operation in India. Incidents at PepsiCo plants in India include police being invited in by the company management to physically beat up unionised workers and constant threats of dismissal when workers start the process of organizing a union in the many plants where unions currently do not exist or where they want to exercise bargaining rights where they do. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 14 Feb. 2003)

Consumers call on the World Health Organisation NOT to seek industry funding for its food standards work (Consumers International, 11 Feb. 2003)

Kraft criticised over coffee policy [UK] - A Gloucestershire company is being accused of making excessive profits at the expense of farmers in the developing world. The charity Oxfam says Cheltenham-based Kraft Foods is making billions in profits around the world, particularly from its coffee products, while farmers are facing bankruptcy. (BBC News, 4 Feb. 2003)

Can't say fairer than that - Once a minority cause, Fairtrade is now becoming mainstream, writes Simon Caulkin [refers to Nestlé, Cafédirect, Co-op supermarket] (Simon Caulkin, Observer [UK], 2 Feb. 2003)

Letter To The Editor (and Responses) featuring Paul Hawken and Amy Domini [debate on socially-responsible investment; refers to labour, environmental, health & other social issues; refers to Chiquita, McDonald's, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Horizon Organic, Coca-Cola]  (GreenMoneyJournal.com, Feb./Mar. 2003)

WHO to meet beverage company representatives to discuss health-related alcohol issues - World Health Organization (WHO) will host a meeting with selected alcohol beverage company representatives in Geneva on February 12, 2003 to exchange views on the impact of alcohol on global health. (World Health Organization, 31 Jan. 2003)

WHO: U.N. Agency Rejects Charges Of Food Industry Infiltration - The World Health Organization rejected allegations yesterday in the London Guardian that its policies on diet and nutrition were unduly influenced by the food industry, saying it welcomed open debate with all stakeholders and had strengthened its procedures against covert lobbying. (UN Wire, 10 Jan. 2003)

2002:

EEOC, SoBe, and PepsiCo settle sexual harassment suit for $1.79 million [USA] - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit for $1.79 million against Norwalk, Conn.- based South Beach Beverage Company, Inc. (SoBe), a division of PepsiCo, Inc. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 23 Dec. 2002)

Boycott Coke to press for action on HIV - CUPE is joining an international coalition of activists in a boycott of all Coca-Cola products. The action is aimed at getting the company to pay for HIV drugs and treatment for workers in Africa living with HIV among the 100,000 people who bottle and distribute Coke – not just the company’s so-called ’direct workforce’ of 1500 people. (CUPE - Canadian Union of Public Employees, 10 Dec. 2002)

Activists to petition UM [University of Montana] to end Coca-Cola contract [USA] - University of Montana students and community members will ask UM officials Thursday to end the school’s exclusive contract with Coca-Cola. The request is the result of Coca-Cola workers and union leaders being killed in Colombia, according to a release from three human rights organizations. (Donna Syvertson, The Missoulian [USA], 5 Dec. 2002)

RODDICK: It's the Real Thing -- Thievery and Corruption [India] -...Coca-Cola is anything but a savior to the indigenous people (Adivasis) and members of the oppressed castes (Dalits) around Kerala. To them, Coca-Cola Corp. is a thief operating with impunity, polluting their land, killing their crops, stealing their water and then selling it back to them as fizzy sugar drinks, and ironically, bottled water. (Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, AlterNet, 25 Nov. 2002)

What can corporate responsibility do in the fight against poverty in Africa? Maya Forstater looks at what business can be realistically expected to contribute to African development and outlines some specific examples of corporate engagement to date...DaimlerChrysler: making cars out of Sisal [South Africa, Brazil]...Divine Chocolate: Bringing farmers to market [Day Chocolate Company; The Body Shop; Ghana]...The Woodlands 2000 Trust [tree farming in Kenya]...South African Breweries...Coca-Cola: measuring the business contribution to economic development [Morocco, South Africa]...Supporting SME development: Richards Bay Minerals [South Africa] (Maya Forstater, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 11 Nov. 2002)

Investing in Africa, challenges and initiatives - Alex Blyth looks at the principal issues around western business investment in Africa and some of the companies that are attempting to improve their impact on the landscape and people of the continent [refers to Environment: TotalFinaElf in Nigeria; Palabora Mining Company (49% owned by Rio Tinto) in South Africa; Anglo American; DeBeers; Water & sanitation: Suez in Morocco & South Africa; Thames Water in Tanzania & South Africa; Education: ChevronTexaco in Nigeria; Old Mutual in South Africa; Barclays Africa; Economic development: Richards Bay Minerals (50% owned by Rio Tinto) in South Africa; HIV/AIDS:  Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland; DaimlerChrysler in South Africa; Coca-Cola]  (Alex Blyth, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 11 Nov. 2002)

Job Exposure Linked to Many Cases of Lung Disease - Nearly 1 in 5 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)...can be attributed to on-the-job exposures, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...The investigators found that COPD was twice as common in blue-collar industries such as rubber, plastic, and leather manufacturing; utilities; office building services; textile mill products manufacturing; the armed forces; and food products manufacturing than in white-collar industries...As for specific jobs, the risk was elevated in freight, stock and material handlers, records processing and distribution clerks (which includes mail handlers); sales; transportation-related occupations; machine operators; construction trades and waitresses. (Keith Mulvihill, Reuters, 31 Oct. 2002)

Six Businesses Vie for Top Sustainability Prize - The World Resources Institute has announced that six sustainable enterprises in Latin America are finalists in a competition [AmazonLife S.A., Cafe La Selva, Comercio Alternativo, Empresas ESM, Solar Trade Corporation, TopAir] (GreenBiz.com, 29 Oct. 2002)

California wine sector to go green to avert regulation - Under fire from environmentalists, California's 150-year-old wine industry will announce a green code of conduct next week in a bid to head off potentially costly state regulation...Critics, who charge the wine industry with contributing to soil erosion, watershed loss and pollution, contend the voluntary code may not go far enough. (Jim Christie, Reuters, 28 Oct. 2002)

AIDS Activists Mobilize against Coca-Cola - AIDS activists are preparing rallies and demonstrations Thursday in several cities around the world to protest against global soft-drink giant Coca-Cola, which they charge must do more to help and treat its HIV-infected workers and their families in sub-Saharan Africa. (Jim Lobe, OneWorld US, 17 Oct. 2002) 

US urged to wake up to "coffee with a conscience" -...fair trade beans are slowly making inroads into some of America's favourite coffee emporiums, with them being sold in some 10,000 outlets nationally including retailers such as Starbucks, the world's largest speciality coffee company, the supermarket chain Safeway and the food conglomerate Sara Lee. (Ros Davidson, Reuters, 15 Oct. 2002)

Beer Boiling, Green Traffic Lights Scoop EU Business Awards - Ten companies have won European Business Awards for their efforts in sustainable development [includes reference to BP, B&Q, Bofferding brewery, brewing-technology expert Steinecker, Integral Umwelt und Anlagentechnik, ST-Microelectronic] (Edie News, 11 Oct. 2002)

Smithfield unit must pay $1.5M for sex harassment [USA] - A unit of meat giant Smithfield Foods Inc. has been ordered to pay $1.5 million to an ex-employee who claims she was sexually harassed at an Iowa pork plant. (Michael Davis, The Virginian-Pilot, 5 Oct. 2002)

'Heart and Soul' dramatizes HIV/AIDS and other issues for millions in Africa - The intertwined lives of two African families, one well-off and the other poorer, is the setting of "Heart and Soul," a prime-time television and radio soap opera that is bringing issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, human rights and development to a potential audience of 50 million to 75 million....Beiersdorf - Nivea (East Africa), the Coca Cola Africa Foundation and Western Union are private sector sponsors. (U.N. Development Programme, 3 Oct. 2002)

Remarks at [U.S. State Department] Awards for Corporate Excellence - Chindex does more than sell healthcare products and services; Chindex has brought the American spirit of volunteerism and corporate public service to China's healthcare sector, especially to Chinese orphans...Coca-Cola Egypt's contributions to Egyptian society are as widespread as the Coca-Cola logo. Take education for example; thanks to Coca-Cola Egypt's employee literacy program (U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, 1 Oct. 2002)

Coca-Cola extends AIDS coverage in Africa - Under fire from activists, The Coca-Cola Co. announced Thursday it was joining with its bottlers in Africa to extend AIDS health care coverage, including access to expensive drugs, to tens of thousands of workers. (Paul Geitner, AP, 26 Sep. 2002)

Panel rates Coke on diversity [USA] - Coca-Cola has been promoting women and minorities at a faster rate than white men, but a court-appointed task force still found that many minority workers believe they are treated less fairly...The report on the workplace climate at Coca-Cola, issued Wednesday, comes nearly two years after the company settled a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit. (Scott Leith, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 26 Sep. 2002)

Lagos fire: Tinubu warns as head-count of victims begins [Nigeria] - Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, yesterday, warned the Management of Super Engineering Company, Ikorodu which went up in flames last Monday to desist from blaming the workers for the incident. About 120 workers were feared dead in the inferno. (Kenneth Ehigiator, Sina Babasola & Olasunkanmi Akoni, Vanguard [Nigeria], 20 Sep. 2002)

120 roast to death in Ikorodu factory fire [Nigeria] - About 120 factory workers were feared dead after a massive fire swept through a rubber slippers/aluminium spoon/bottled water factory [Taiwanese-owned] in the early hours of yesterday, at Odogunyan, in Ikorodu, Lagos State...It was gathered that the casualty figure would probably have not been that high if the exit points had not been locked. (Victor Ahiuma-Young, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Kenneth Ehigiator, Vanguard [Nigeria], 17 Sep. 2002)

Colombia's War on Unions: The Coca-Cola Killings - The Coca-Cola killings in Colombia continue. Last week union activist Adolfo de Jesus Munera was murdered shortly after he received notice that a law suit filed by him against Coca-Cola was accepted by Colombia's Constitutional Court. (Maria Engqvist, CounterPunch, 6 Sep. 2002)

U.S. Company Receives World Summit Award for Sustainable Development Partnerships - ForesTrade, which markets organic spices and fair trade coffee, was the sole U.S. company to win a Sustainable Development Partnerships Award at the Johannesburg Summit. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 6 Sep. 2002)

United Steelworkers president takes aim at Colombia - United Steelworkers of America President Leo W. Gerard has written the chief executive of Coca-Cola and the president of Colombia calling for investigations into the murder on Aug. 31 of Colombian trade union and human rights activist Adolfo de Jesus Munera Lopez. (Pittsburgh Business Times, 6 Sep. 2002)

Kentucky Bourbon King Faces Government Hearing On Denial Of Bathroom Access [USA] - Mothers, Menstruating Women and Older Workers Bear the Brunt of Jim Beams Bathroom Ban - Rally to Support Jim Beam Workers Noon, August 28 Shepherdsville, Kentucky - Almost half the workers, mostly women, on the Jim Beam bottling line in Clermont, Kentucky have been disciplined for using the bathroom, and some long time workers are even facing firing. According to worker reports, they were told to "train their bladders" to correspond to scheduled break periods and one unscheduled bathroom time; or face discipline, including dismissal. (United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 27 Aug. 2002)

TRADE: New Study Examines How WTO Agreements Affect Public Health - Public health must be taken into consideration in the drafting of trade rules, according to a joint study released today by the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization...The 171-page study, WTO Agreements and Public Health, says nations should be able to restrict imports and exports when the health of its people or wildlife is affected. It examines issues including infectious disease control, food safety, tobacco, environment, access to drugs, health services, food security and biotechnology. (UN Wire, 22 Aug. 2002)

Environmental Fiduciary: The Case for Incorporating Environmental Factors into Investment Management Policies - In this report, we show that fiduciaries who manage funds for institutional investors such as pension funds, foundations and charitable trusts should incorporate environmental factors into their portfolio management policies. [includes reference to DuPont, ST Microelectronics, IBM, Baxter Intl, Smithfield Foods, US Liquids, Weyerhauser, Georgia Pacific, ChevronTexaco, Marathon Oil, Deutsche Telekom, Nestle, Southern California Gas, ITT, Textron, Corning, Whole Foods, Hains Celestial] (Susannah Blake Goodman, Jonas Kron & Tim Little, The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, 21 Aug. 2002)

'Developing nations should monitor' food multinationals -...An FAO study, to be released today, warns that globalisation "has led to the rise of multinational food companies with the potential to disempower farmers in many countries". (Paul Betts, Financial Times, 20 Aug. 2002)

What Value Is A Workers' Life? [New Zealand] - Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson slammed insignificant fines which undervalue workers’ lives today. Ross Wilson said the $30,000 fine against Crusader Meats for failing to keep a worker safe earlier this year was woefully inadequate. (New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, 15 Aug. 2002)

CorpWatch India Responds to Coca Cola -...To reiterate facts, in Plachimada, Kerala, your Indian subsidiary -- Hindustan Coca Cola -- has been charged with excessive extraction of groundwater, contamination of groundwater and parching of the wells and groundwater sources supplying a large community of farmers, adivasis (indigenous people) and dalits (oppressed castes). (CorpWatch India, 13 Aug. 2002)

Ammonia leak sickens 20 [Trinidad & Tobago] - Twenty employees of Barana Seafood Processors Limited were rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital yesterday morning after a ruptured line leaked ammonia throughout the Sea Lots facility. (Sateesh Maharaj, Trinidad Express, 9 Aug. 2002)

Factories face prosecutions after raids [South Africa] - The Department of Labour will recommend prosecutions of certain factories in Johannesburg after raids carried out this week found contravention of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)...Zikalala said the department closed a Johannesburg textile factory last night after inspectors found that there were no emergency exits..."In another late night raid, labour inspectors discovered that the owners of Snaktaque, a peanut butter and ground corn chips manufacturer, had defied an earlier prohibition order shutting the factory down." (Thabang Mokopanele, Business Day [South Africa], 8 Aug. 2002)

Evian bottler settles inherited discrimination suit [USA] - Groupe Danone SA, the bottler of Evian water, will pay $1.25 million to settle claims of black delivery drivers who said they received less pay than their white counterparts...The federal agency began its investigation into what was then a McKesson Corp. unit after eight black employees in 1998 filed charges that the company assigned them less-profitable routes than their white colleagues. (Joyzelle Davis, Bloomberg News, 7 Aug. 2002)

Fruit and vegetable pesticide 'risk' [UK] - Much of the fruit and vegetables in UK supermarkets contains potentially harmful pesticide residues, campaigners warn. The supermarket chain Somerfield chain came out worst in the Friends on the Earth study, which showed 60% of its fruit and vegetables contained the residues. [other supermarket chains covered: Morrison's, Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway, M&S] (BBC News, 7 Aug. 2002)

Two Jo'burg factories shut down [South Africa] - Labour inspectors shut down two factories in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, on Monday because of unsafe working conditions and temporarily stopped operations at 10 other businesses in the area. The raid followed the screening of an investigative television programme (South African Press Association, 5 Aug. 2002)

Household chemicals warning - Many chemicals found routinely in products around the home could be damaging our health...Artificial musks - used as fragrances in perfumes, cosmetics and household goods....Phthalates - plastic softeners used in many PVC products, such as children's toys, and in some cosmetics...Bisphenol A - a component of resins used to line food cans...Organotins - heat stabilisers used in approximately 8% of PVC products in Europe. Traces have also been found in some brands of disposable nappies...The makers of Glade air fresheners, and Dove and Physiosport shower gels contained artificial musks...Avon, Olay and Max Factor nail varnishes contained phthalates, while several other manufacturers said they were in the process of "phasing them out", including Boots, L'Oreal, Lancome and Maybelline...Heinz, John West and Princes use Bisphenol A to make food and drink cans, and it is an ingredient of most baby feeding bottles in the UK, including those made by Boots, Mothercare, Tommee Tippee and Avent. (BBC News, 1 Aug. 2002)

Coca-Cola workers want global union agreement - LHMU [Australian Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union] Coca-Cola workers have called on the US-based Coca-Cola multinational to enter discussions to secure a global agreement on minimum trade union rights for all Coca-Cola workers..." We'll be asking Coca-Cola management, here in Australia, what action they will take to defend the human rights of Coca-Cola workers in Colombia and Guatemala," Brian Daley said. (Australian Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union, 19 July 2002)

South African Community Growth Fund Celebrates Tenth Anniversary - The Community Growth Fund invests in South African companies committed to sustainable development and triple bottom line reporting [refers to companies that went through protracted process before qualifying for CGF investment: South African Breweries, Rand Water, Naspers Group; companies removed from the CGF: Western Deep Level mine, Hoskens Consolidated Investments, Liberty Life; companies that refused to submit to CGF's social audit: Aspen Pharmacare, Sun International, Vanadium Corp. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 17 July 2002) 

Corporate Human Rights -...For several years, a small group of lawyers and labor advocates has been trying to hold transnational companies responsible for their actions by suing them in the United States for abetting and/or benefiting from human rights abuses overseas. Finally, these corporation-chasers are beginning to see signs of possible success. [refers to lawsuits against Unocal, Shell, Texaco, Rio Tinto, Coca-Cola, Del Monte, DynCorp, Drummond Company, ExxonMobil] (David Corn, The Nation, 15 July 2002)

Investment and Human Rights: The Era of Responsibility - As an American oil company [Unocal] heads to court [in USA] for alleged human-rights abuses in Burma, a new era of foreign investment begins in which firms must carefully consider the behaviour of their partners [also refers to lawsuits against Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil] (Murray Hiebert, Far Eastern Economic Review, 11 July 2002)

Augusta resists pressure from women's group [USA] - A leading women's coalition has asked Augusta National Golf Club [site of The Masters tournament] to open its membership to women, but chairman Hootie Johnson says the club will not be coerced into changing its membership...Johnson said in his statement that he feared a public relations campaign against the club and tournament sponsors IBM, Citigroup and Coca-Cola. (Jerry Potter, USA Today, 10 July 2002)

Banned hormone use by Dutch farmers more widespread - Dutch investigators have uncovered more pig farmers using a banned growth hormone (Reuters, 5 July 2002) 

Hormone pollution wrecks sperm - Chemicals found in the environment pose a threat to human fertility, scientists say. Men and women may have been exposed to these chemicals from paints, pesticides and cleaning products, as well as beer, vegetables and soya. It is likely to be female exposure which carries the most threat, say researchers. (BBC News, 2 July 2002)

Pesticides banned in baby food - But still in fruit and veg -...Friends of the Earth is calling on retailers to phase-out the use of pesticides that are causing most concern and aim for residue-free food - starting with foods most popular with infants and young children. (Friends of the Earth, 1 July 2002)

Longer hours lead to lawsuits over pay [USA] [regarding lawsuits about unpaid overtime; refers to Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, Rite Aid, Bank of America, Pacific Bell, Farmers Insurance Group]  (Fay Hansen, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2002)

EU to curb dioxins levels in food/feed from today - Food and animal feed manufacturers across the European Union must abide by strict new limits on permitted levels of cancer-causing dioxins from July 1, the European Commission said last week. Dioxins are accidental by-products generated mainly through incineration by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and can be absorbed through the skin or eaten in food. (Reuters, 1 July 2002)

Making Fair Trade Work in Mexico - In Mexico, a growing number of coops, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), microenterprises, and campesino groups are proving that fair trade offers a viable alternative to communities struggling to cope with globalization [refers to initiatives relating to agriculture, food, cosmetics, coffee, ecotourism, chocolate, retail; also refers to indigenous groups] (Talli Nauman, Americas Program, Interhemispheric Resource Center, July 2002)

Corporate Human Rights -...For several years, a small group of lawyers and labor advocates has been trying to hold transnational companies responsible for their actions by suing them in the United States for abetting and/or benefiting from human rights abuses overseas. [refers to lawsuits against Unocal, Shell, Texaco, Rio Tinto, Coca-Cola, Del Monte, DynCorp, Drummond Company, ExxonMobil] (David Corn, The Nation, 27 June 2002)

"Get to Consumers" to Help Save the Environment, Says New Report [by Worldwatch Institute] -...With the help of product labeling--for example, of genetically engineered foods or wood products harvested in a sustainable way--and the use of quality and efficiency standards, consumers now have the choice of more environmentally friendly products. The study describes six "eco-labeling" programs--covering such diverse areas as seafood, domestic appliances, tourism, and coffee--that award a seal of approval to producers who observe standards designed to ensure environmental protection. (Alison Raphael, OneWorld US, 24 June 2002)

McDonald's and Coke fund healthy eating drive - Fast food companies including McDonald's and Coca-Cola are helping to fund a multimillion pound advertising campaign urging Americans to eat more healthily. In an effort to avoid tobacco-style lawsuits, food giants including Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Heinz are to use internet, TV and press ads to warn consumers that eating too much fast food will make them fat. (Claire Cozens, Guardian [UK], 14 June 2002)

Nestlé S.A. to become Founding Corporate Sponsor of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Africa Health Initiative -...Nestlé's contribution to ARCHI 2010 will be concentrating initially on Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, and on the prevention of the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus in that country (Nestlé, 13 June 2002)

Domini Social Investments Reports Record Shareholder Votes for 2002 Proxy Season - Socially Responsible Firm Says Post-Enron "Crisis of Confidence" Fueled Shareholder Discontent with Corporate Social and Environmental Performance [includes reference to Household International, Cooper Industries, Gap, Walt Disney Co., McDonald's, Nordstrom, Sears Roebuck, Coca-Cola, Pepsi] (Domini Social Investments, 12 June 2002)

Coke, Colombia bottler fight lawsuit [USA] - Attorneys for Coca-Cola and its bottlers in Colombia argued Thursday that a federal judge in Miami should dismiss a $500 million lawsuit claiming the companies were indirectly responsible for anti-union violence in the war-torn nation. (Scott Leith, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 7 June 2002)

Germany signals dramatic widening in food scare - Germany warned yesterday of a potential explosion in a food scare over organic chicken meat contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical (Michael Hogan, Reuters, 7 June 2002)

Greenpeace protests against Nestle’s double standards on genetically engineered food: World's largest food producer must change ways -...Greenpeace today stepped up pressure against the world´s largest food producer Nestlé for continuing to sell genetically contaminated food, including baby food, in several Asian countries [refers to Thailand, Philippines, China/Hong Kong] (Greenpeace, 6 June 2002)

Sara Lee agrees to pay dlrs 3.5 million in settlement with black workers [USA] - Sara Lee Foods Corp. has agreed to pay dlrs 3.5 million to 139 black employees who complained of racial harassment and retaliation at a hot-dog plant that closed last year. (Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press, 29 May 2002)

No Water? Drink Coke! [India] - On 22 April, 2002, more than 2,000 irate protestors, consisting mostly of indigenous people and dalits (oppressed castes), gathered at the gates of the Hindustan Coca Cola factory in Plachimada, Palghat district, Kerala. Residents from the villages surrounding Coke's greenfield soft-drink bottling factory here say that Coke's indiscriminate mining of groundwater has dried up many wells, and contaminated the remainder. At least 50 villagers have maintained a picket outside the factory gate every day since the strike began. ( Nityanand Jayaraman, CorpWatch India, 28 May 2002)

Poor areas got old Coke, workers say [USA] -...dozens of Coke drivers, plant workers and salespeople are accusing their bosses of inching up profits for almost a decade by pawning off expired soda cans and bottles on minority communities across North Texas...A spokesman for Coca-Cola Bottling of North Texas, which oversees the plants and workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, called the accusations "irresponsible and offensive." (Greg Winter, New York Times, 19 May 2002)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: UNEP Blasts Industry "Business As Usual" (UN Wire, 16 May 2002)

US to release first-ever measurement of dioxins - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said last week it will release as early as next week new pollution data that for the first time tracks emissions of the cancer-causing chemical dioxin. (Reuters, 13 May 2002)

Food fortification promises improved health and productivity in developing nations - Important new alliance launched to increase access to nutrient fortified foods - The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) - a new alliance of public and private sector partners - was launched today in an effort to leverage cost-effective food fortification initiatives that promise to improve health, cognitive development and productivity in developing nations. (GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, 9 May 2002)

Socially responsible corporate partners 'Go Green' in Lebanon - UNDP and UN Volunteers (UNV) are teaming up with several private sector partners [Schtroumpf, a Lebanese restaurant chain, Coca-Cola Middle East, FTML-Cellis, Tetra Pak] in Lebanon on a project to enhance awareness of corporate social responsibility and how it relates to environmental issues. (U.N. Development Programme, 9 May 2002)

New IUF Publication on The WTO and the World Food System: A Trade Union Approach - Access to adequate, safe and nutritious food is a fundamental human right, yet an estimated 820 million people are living in hunger. The agricultural workers who help feed the world are often unable to feed themselves, are twice as likely to die at work than workers in any other sector, and generally stand outside all systems of legal protection for their rights, health and welfare. Food processing workers are engaged in a constant battle to defend their unions, their employment and working conditions, their health and safety. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 3 May 2002)

Socially Responsible Investors Push PepsiCo on Recycling For Second Consecutive Year: Domini, Walden, and Other Institutional Investors Encourage Company to Improve Brand Value While Saving Millions of Barrels of Oil - PepsiCo shareholders will vote today, Wednesday, May 1, on a proposal asking PepsiCo to establish a comprehensive beverage container recycling strategy. (Domini Social Investments, CSRwire, 1 May 2002)

Labor Tensions Rising in Haitian Orange Industry: A sharp rise in tensions between the owners of a large orange plantation in northern Haiti and workers who have tried to organize a union has caused widespread insecurity in the area, according to a British-based solidarity group. [refers to processing company Produits Agricole Guacimal, and to Remy Cointreau] (Jim Lobe, OneWorld US, 29 Apr. 2002)

Ecuador: Widespread Labor Abuse on Banana Plantations - Harmful Child Labor, Anti-Union Bias Plague Industry -...Banana-exporting corporations such as Ecuadorian-owned Noboa and Favorita, as well as Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole fail to use their financial influence to insist that their supplier plantations respect workers’ rights (Human Rights Watch, 25 Apr. 2002)

New Legislation by Senator Jeffords Holds Beverage Industry Responsible for Recycling 80 Percent of Bottles and Cans [USA]: Energy Saved Would Meet Electricity Needs of 5 Million Households - Environmental leaders joined U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords today on Capitol Hill to support new legislation holding the beverage industry responsible for increasing bottle and can recycling. (GrassRoots Recycling Network & Container Recycling Institute, 22 Apr. 2002)

Women Not Welcome in Corporate India -...VN Dhoot, chairman, Videocon, which has no women employees in its corporate office, laughingly says: "We are from an orthodox family."...Experts say only three per cent women occupy senior positions in private sector companies across the country. Most have an average of five to six per cent women employees...Several companies are employing women friendly policies. Chhachhi cites the example of ICICI and Pepsi. (Roli Srivastava, Times of India, 18 Apr. 2002)

Teamsters Union Protests at Coke Meeting [USA] - Accusing the Coca-Cola Company of "closing its eyes" to the intimidation, torture and assassination of union workers who bottle its drinks, the Teamsters union demanded yesterday that the company adopt and enforce strict labor standards for the manufacture of its products around the world. (Greg Winter, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2002)

Domini Social Investments announces 2002 shareholder proposals: Socially Responsible Firm Focuses on Sweatshops and the Environment, Continues Push for Greater Corporate Transparency [refers to resolutions filed and/or dialogue with: Gap; Sears, Roebuck; Disney; McDonald's; Nordstrom; Merrill Lynch; Procter & Gamble; Coca-Cola; Pepsi; Emerson; Cooper Industries; Household International; Johnson & Johnson] (Domini Social Investments, 18 Apr. 2002)

Black Coca-Cola Workers Still Angry: Despite 2000 Legal Settlement, Protesters Say Little Has Changed - Protesters lined Seventh Avenue outside Madison Square Garden today to press criticisms of Coca-Cola Co., which was holding its annual shareholders meeting inside. With labor and environmental activists were dozens of African American Coca-Cola employees who said conditions have not improved at the Atlanta-based company since it agreed in November 2000 to pay $192.5 million to settle a class-action race-discrimination lawsuit and promised to change the way it manages, promotes and treats minority employees. (Ben White, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2002)

Hoffa Tells Coke: Murder Is More Than A PR Problem - Hoffa, Colombian Leader Correa Demand Negotiated Rights Agreement: James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President, on Wednesday joined Colombian union leader Javier Correa and a global delegation of Coca-Cola union leaders in Coke’s annual shareholders meeting to demand that Coke negotiate a worldwide agreement to protect its workers’ rights and safety. (Campaign for Justice at Coca-Cola, 17 Apr. 2002)

Union Activist: Co.'s Hire Attackers [Colombia]: Hiring paramilitary groups to attack and threaten union leaders is a common practice by foreign companies operating in Colombia, a union activist from the country said Tuesday [refers to lawsuits against Drummond Co. and Coca-Cola] (Associated Press, 16 Apr. 2002)

Improving international food standards work - FAO and WHO launch independent evaluation with call for public comment..."In both developed and developing countries, the number and variety of food safety threats are on the increase" (World Health Organization, 16 Apr. 2002)

Harvard Students Tell Coke: Stop the Killings - Global Entourage of Coca-Cola Union Workers Visit Campus to Share Stories - Coca-Cola workers from Colombia, Guatemala, the Philippines, Zimbabwe and the U.S. visited Harvard today to share their stories of kidnapping, torture and harassment of trade union members at Coca-Cola production, bottling and distribution centers. (International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 15 Apr. 2002)

Firms pushed to disclose their impact on society: A coalition of governments, businesses and public interest groups launched last week a global campaign to encourage companies to issue public reports on their impact on society and the environment [Global Reporting Initiative]...The GRI guidelines are already being followed by more than 110 companies worldwide, including German chemicals group BASF AG, British Telecom, U.S. drug giant Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Japanese printer and photocopier maker Canon Inc., French Food group Danone, U.S.-based sports clothing company Nike and South African Breweries Plc. (Irwin Arieff, Reuters, 8 Apr. 2002)

Broadening the Corporate Commitment to HIV and AIDS [refers to positive steps by Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Unilever, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, DaimerChrysler, De Beers] (Business for Social Responsibility, Apr. 2002)

{···español} Honduras/EE.UU: campesinos muertos - Tres campesinos de Honduras murieron y otros dos fueron heridos por disparos de guardias de la empresa transnacional estadounidense Standard Fruit Company, subsidiaria de Dole Foods. (BBC Mundo, 30 marzo 2002)

German brewers file suit against recycling law: An association of German brewers has filed a suit against Germany's 16 federal states seeking to block a government directive introducing deposits on non-returnable beer and soft drink cans and bottles. (Reuters, 26 Mar. 2002)

UK group urges retailers to reduce pesticide levels: Exposing young children to pesticides in fruit, vegetables and popular nibbles like crisps may cause them serious health problems in later life, a report [by Friends of the Earth] urging retailers to eliminate such residues said this week..."Retailers should come clean with their customers by publishing the results of their residue testing - so far only the Co-op and M&S have been honest enough to do this," she [Sandra Bell, Friends of the Earth] said. (Veronica Brown, Reuters, 15 Mar. 2002)

Latest pesticide results bad news for children: The latest pesticide residue results released today by the [UK] Pesticides Residues Committee show that processed food popular with children such as cereal bars often come with hidden pesticide residues. The Government wants children to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables but today's results also revealed worrying levels of pesticides in fresh fruit. Friends of the Earth released a new report today highlighting the health concerns for babies and children exposed to pesticide residues. (Friends of the Earth, 14 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women: Barbro Budin of the IUF [International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations] -...Women suffer from musculoskeletal disorders linked to repetitive work and this is a real scourge in both Northern and Southern countries. Some women become completely paralysed after a few years’ work, particularly in the food industry, hotels and agriculture...In agriculture, a new ILO convention should help us to fight pesticide abuse more effectively. These pollutants have caused many deaths and brought other serious health problems to women, such as sterility. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 12 Mar. 2002)

Coca-Cola 'conned employees out of $200 million' [USA]: Nine former and current Coca-Cola employees are suing the company, alleging it cheated workers out of millions of dollars' wages over the past four years. The three class-action lawsuits also claim that Atlanta-based Coke and its California subsidiaries retaliated against those who tried to stop the practice. (Ananova, 10 Mar. 2002)

Judge approves $9 million settlement in bioengineered-corn suit [USA]: A federal judge approved a $9 million settlement Thursday in a class-action lawsuit by consumers who complained of allergic reactions to genetically modified corn in supermarket products...The StarLink corn seed...had been approved by the [U.S.] Environmental Protection Agency for use in animal feed but not for human consumption...Aventis and Garst were defendants in the lawsuit along with Kraft Foods Co. of Glenview, Ill.; Azteca Foods Inc. of Chicago; Azteca Milling, Co. of Edinburg, Texas; and a sister company, Mission Foods Co. (Mike Robinson, Associated Press, on Environmental News Network website, 8 Mar. 2002)

Court approves $1.2 million settlement  between EEOC [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] and McKesson [McKesson Water Products Company, and Groupe Danone which acquired McKesson in 2000] for race discrimination [USA]:...They claimed that McKesson assigned African-American drivers to routes in low-income neighborhoods, which were often less profitable than routes in affluent communities. Because pay and promotion were tied to the profitability of the routes, the African-American drivers received lower compensation and fewer promotions than those assigned to the affluent areas. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 6 Mar. 2002)

Coca-Cola and UNDP partnership to help bridge digital divide in Malaysia (U.N. Development Programme, 6 Mar. 2002)

The Verdict Is In: Smithfield's Use of Intimidation, Violence and False Arrests Violates Civil Rights Laws [USA] - Workers Win $755,000 In Jury Verdict Against Smithfield:...The jury verdict directed Smithfield [Smithfield Packing Co.] and the company's former security chief, Danny Priest, to pay $755,000 in compensation and punitive damages as the result of the beating and arrests of two union supporters at the company's Tar Heel, North Carolina facility in 1997. (UFCW - United Food and Commercial Workers Union, 5 Mar. 2002)

The business case for corporate social responsibility in the UK food and agriculture industry (Marina Martin Curran, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 5 Mar. 2002)

Housing for Field Workers Eyed [Napa Valley, California]: In this conspicuously prosperous valley, home to a $4 billion wine industry, hundreds of migrant farm workers sleep in cars or under the stars. (Justin Pritchard, Associated Press, 4 Mar. 2002)

US poultry companies halting use of antibiotic: Big poultry producers have flocked quickly this month to rally behind the cause of food safety by banning use of an antibiotic for chickens and turkeys amid rising consumer concerns that it may harm humans. (Bob Burgdorfer, Reuters, 4 Mar. 2002) 

Environmental Hazards Kill at least 3 Million Children Aged under 5 Every Year: Opening Today of Bangkok Conference Marks New Initiative to Fight Child Mortality and Morbidity linked to Unhealthy Environments -...topics such as children’s exposure to lead, mercury, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants and other chemicals will be discussed. The effects of environmental tobacco smoke, radiation, climate change, and food quality and safety on children will also be discussed. (World Health Organization, 3 Mar. 2002)

Activists win lawsuit against meat company [USA]: Two claimed excessive force by Smithfield - Two union activists won a lawsuit Friday that claimed they were beaten and falsely arrested during organizing efforts at a Smithfield Packing Co. plant, union officials said. (Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press, in News & Observer [North Carolina, USA] 2 Mar. 2002)

SAB provides soul support: HIV is the greatest threat to the health of both staff and profits at South African Breweries (Andrew Clark, Guardian [UK], 1 Mar. 2002)

Food for thought: Corporate Social Responsibility for food and beverage manufactures -  An introduction for policy-setters and operational managers, featuring best practice from eight leading companies in the food and beverage sector. [includes reference to social & environmental issues; cocoa, coffee, tea & banana sectors; Tea Sourcing Partnership in the UK; Chiquita/Rainforest Alliance's 'Better Banana Project'] (Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, Mar. 2002)

Cargill Pork fined $1 million for dumping waste in river; 53,000 fish dead [USA]: Cargill Pork agreed to pay a $1 million fine for illegally dumping waste that prosecutors said contaminated five miles of a Missouri river and killed 53,000 fish. (Associated Press, 21 Feb. 2002)

Chicken plant ordered to pay after probe of wages, child labour [Kentucky, USA]: Cagle's was fined a total of $2,000 for two child labour violations. State investigators determined that Cagle's employed a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy in hazardous occupations. (Associated Press, posted on Child Labour News Service, 15 Feb. 2002)

Waste Group To Double Plastic Recycling In UK: A group set up by the government to promote sustainable waste disposal in the UK has announced that it intends to double the recycling of plastic drinks bottles (Environmental Data Interactive Exchange, 15 Feb. 2002)

Hoffa Tells Coke: Protect Your Workers - Teamsters President Urges Coke CEO to Resolve Global Human Rights Issues - James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President, on Tuesday told Douglas N. Daft, Coca-Cola Company Chief Executive Officer, to protect workers who produce, bottle and distribute Coca-Cola products – including those in Guatemala where eight union leaders were assassinated in the late 1970s. Hoffa’s letter to Daft was prompted by problems between union workers in Guatemala and the bottling company PANAMCO, which also bottles Coke products in Colombia, where union workers have been tortured, kidnapped and murdered. (CokeWatch.org - Campaign for Justice at Coca Cola, 14 Feb. 2002)

Companies 'face rising risks over human rights': Multinational companies face a growing risk of being associated with human rights violations, according to research published in London yesterday by Amnesty International and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. The research examines the operations of 129 leading companies in 34 countries where human rights abuses including torture, forced child labour and denial of freedom of expression occur. (Alison Maitland, Financial Times, 13 Feb. 2002)

Haiti: Unions take on liqueur maker: Workers seek pay raises and better working conditions from the maker of a luxury liqueur...Workers who harvest and process oranges used to make Cointreau, a luxury cognac-based liqueur, have been involved in a long and sometimes violent struggle for union rights, better pay and improved conditions. (Charles Arthur, LatinAmerica Press, 12 Feb. 2002)

New Consumer Campaign Targeting Kraft Foods Launched in 170 Cities Today: Group Calls for safety testing and labeling of all genetically engineered foods, Asks Kraft Foods to remove GE ingredients from its products - Today consumer activists in over 170 cities around the United States, Canada, and Australia launched a new campaign that calls on Kraft Foods to remove untested, unlabeled genetically engineered ingredients from its products (Genetically Engineered Food Alert, 6 Feb. 2002)

Manhattan Beer's natural gas trucks set an example for companies nationwide and mean cleaner air for New York City -...We congratulate Manhattan Beer, Kingdom Group, Bell Power Systems, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York City’s Private Fleet Alternative-Fuel Program, and the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program for this successful collaboration. (Joanna D. Underwood, President, INFORM, 4 Feb. 2002)

Being seen to be green helps corporate image: An FT survey that gave companies plaudits for their environmental record included some surprise choices [includes reference to Body Shop, BP, Royal Dutch/Shell, Toyota, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Vivendi, Honda, Ford, Siemens, GE, IBM, Volkswagen, ExxonMobil, Ben & Jerry's, McDonalds] (Michael Skapinker, Financial Times, 1 Feb. 2002)

FOOD SAFETY: U.N. Meeting Ends; Experts Call For More Consumer Protection -..."Food-borne diseases pose a considerable threat to human health for the economy of individuals, families and nations," the WHO said, adding that "their control requires a concentrated effort on the part of three principal partners: governments, the food industry and consumers." (UN Wire, 31 Jan. 2002)

To improve health and boost economic development, countries strive for better food safety: Lessons Learned Shared at Global Forum - The first ever Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators opened today, seeking ways to improve the safety of food worldwide at every step of the food production chain — from farmers, through processors and retailers, to consumers. (World Health Organization, 28 Jan. 2002)

The Coca-Cola Killings: Is Plan Colombia funding a bloodbath of union activists? (David Bacon, American Prospect, 28 Jan. 2002)

Greenwash + 10: The UN's Global Compact, Corporate Accountability and the Johannesburg Earth Summit [includes reference to Unilever] (Kenny Bruno, CorpWatch, 24 Jan. 2002)

Procter & Gamble to Provide $1.5 Million to TechnoServe to Help Small-Scale Coffee Growers In Latin America:..."P&G's and TechnoServe's shared goal is to find a sustainable way of making coffee growing as profitable as possible for as many people as possible" (joint press statement by TechnoServe and Procter & Gamble, 23 Jan. 2002)

EU passes laws to set up new food safety body: European Union farm ministers this week officially passed laws setting up a new European Food Safety Authority, designed to boost public confidence in the wake of alerts such as mad cow disease and dioxin poisoning. (Reuters, 23 Jan. 2002) 

Utah Brewery [Uinta Brewing Company] Chooses 100% Wind Power [USA] (Environmental News Network, 16 Jan. 2002)

Activists Press Burma Campaign: More Companies Agree That Labor Conditions Are Oppressive - A group called the Free Burma Coalition...has persuaded more than two dozen American corporations [including Ames Department Stores Inc., Jones Apparel Group, Sara Lee Corp., Family Dollar Stores Inc., TJX Cos. which operates T.J. Maxx stores, and Nautica International Inc.] over the past 18 months to stop importing goods made in Burma. (Kirstin Downey Grimsley, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2002)

2001:

Cute toy rabbits belie ordeal of Chinese labour camps - Imprisoned for her beliefs and forced to make toys for a multinational company:...stamped indelibly on her brain are the faces of 100,000 long-eared, buck-toothed toy rabbits, bearing the Nestlé brand...Ms Zeng and about 130 other prisoners were forced to begin work each day at 5.30am and continue until early the next day, seven days a week...According to Nestlé's head office, however, there is no evidence linking forced labour with Nestlé's business dealings in China. (Kelly Burke, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 Dec. 2001)

Tyson Foods discussing resolution of Clean Water case [USA]: Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest poultry processor, said yesterday it is discussing a resolution of a government investigation into alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at a Missouri facility. (Reuters, 27 Dec. 2001)

Letter from the President of Pabst Brewing Co. [explaining that the billboard in Tibet, which said "Pabst Blue Ribbon celebrates the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet", has been removed by the Pabst licensee in China] (Pabst Brewing Co., 7 Dec. 2001)

Litigation Update: A Summary of Recent Developments in U.S. Cases Brought Under the Alien Tort Claims Act and Torture Protection Act [includes update on lawsuit against Coca-Cola for conduct in Colombia] (Jennifer Green [staff attorney at Center for Constitutional Rights] and Paul Hoffman [civil rights attorney and editor of ACLU International Civil Liberties Report], in ACLU International Civil Liberties Report 2001 [American Civil Liberties Union], Dec. 2001)

Recent ILRF [International Labor Rights Fund] Cases to Enforce Human Rights Under the ATCA [includes reference to human rights-related cases against Unocal, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, Del Monte, DynCorp] (Terry Collingsworth, Executive Director of International Labor Rights Fund, in ACLU International Civil Liberties Report 2001 [American Civil Liberties Union], Dec. 2001)

Corporations Behaving Badly: The Ten Worst Corporations of 2001 [Abbott Laboratories, Argenbright Security, Bayer, Coca Cola, Enron, ExxonMobil, Philip Morris, Sara Lee, Southern Co. and Wal-Mart] (Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman, Multinational Monitor, Dec. 2001)

Bitter Fruit: Glamorous brands of French liqueur use one image; Charles Arthur finds another on the orange plantations of Haiti [regarding labour rights issues at plantations producing for Grand Marnier and Rémy Cointreau] (Charles Arthur, New Internationalist, Dec. 2001)

Cointreau workers'campaign [Haiti]: Guacimal/Cointreau campaign update - The delegation asked Charriaud [Olivier Charriaud, Rémy Cointreau's international director] why Rémy Cointreau had not pressed its Haitian partner, Guacimal SA, to hold reasonable negotiations with the workers' union at the processing plant at Madeline, or to recognise the legally-registered union at the St. Raphaël plantation. (Batay Ouvriye and the PAPDA [Platform to Advocate for Alternative Development], 28 Nov. 2001)

It's the real thing—murders at Coke [Colombia: regarding the case brought in U.S. court alleging Coca Cola, Panamerican Beverages & Bebidas y Alimentos were complicit in the assassination of Colombian union leaders] (David Bacon, Labor Advocate Online, 24 Nov. 2001)

revised letter from Pabst Brewing Co. CEO about Pabst advertising campaign in Tibet stating "Pabst Blue Ribbon celebrates the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet": It has come to our attention that there is an advertising and promotion campaign in Tibet that some people find objectionable. This campaign celebrates the "peaceful liberation of Tibet," which Tibetans and supporters state was actually an invasion of an independent nation. This advertising campaign is the responsibility of our licensee in China. Pabst would not engage in this type of a campaign. Pabst Brewing Company does not have any approval rights for advertising and promotion under the existing license agreement. None-the-less we have communicated with our licensee about the situation. We will also work to improve our controls over the use of our name in the future. (Brian Kovalchuk, Chief Executive Officer, Pabst Brewing Co., 9 Nov. 2001)

letter from Pabst Brewing Co. CEO about Pabst advertising campaign in Tibet stating "Pabst Blue Ribbon celebrates the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet": It has come to our attention that there is an advertising and promotion campaign in Tibet that some people find objectionable. This campaign celebrates the "peaceful liberation of Tibet" and is the object of Pro-Tibetan independence activists. This advertising campaign is the responsibility of our licensee in China. Pabst would not engage in this type of a campaign. Pabst Brewing Company does not have any approval rights for advertising and promotion under the existing license agreement. None-the-less we have communicated with our licensee about the situation. (Brian Kovalchuk, Chief Executive Officer, Pabst Brewing Co., 6 Nov. 2001)

Reducing Greenhouse Gases by Making Fizz: An innovative venture enables a Shell subsidiary to sell excess carbon dioxide for soft drink manufacturing, but social investors should know that the company is still miles away from being socially responsible...Royal Dutch Shell's dealings with the people of Norco, Louisiana and its real contribution to global CO2 production were partly behind CorpWatch's decision to give the company a "Greenwash Award" last year. According to CorpWatch, the award was in recognition of the company's deceptive advertising in its "Profits or Principles" campaign. (Mark Thomsen, SocialFunds.com, 1 Nov. 2001)

CSR Investment Is Not A Choice: Was Milton Friedman right in his assertion that the business of business is simply to keep within the law and to maximise profits? Or, does the power of corporations bring with it social responsibilities; what many argue are the trappings of power? Toby Kent draws upon a specific case of Del Monte in Kenya [DMKL]...animosity between DMKL’s management, staff and neighbouring communities grew to such an extent that by 2000 the unions, local NGOs and representatives of the Catholic church combined to organise a boycott of Del Monte’s products in Italy, one of the company’s key export markets. (Toby Kent, independent consultant, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 30 Oct. 2001)

Snapple's natural gas forklifts and refueling station set an example for companies nationwide and mean cleaner air for New York City -...We congratulate Snapple, Pride Equipment, Kingdom Group and KeySpan Energy for the collaboration that made this project possible. (Joanna D. Underwood, President, INFORM, 18 Oct. 2001)

Unilever funds anti-capitalists: Groups gain millions through Ben & Jerry's takeover - Unilever, one of the world's biggest multinationals, has given millions of dollars through its Ben & Jerry's subsidiary to anti-globalisation protest groups and critics of corporate greed...The company has made Dollars 5m (Pounds 3.4m) available to various initiatives through Ben & Jerry's, the ice-cream company famous for its social conscience. Unilever gave the money to Ben & Jerry's Foundation when it bought the company last year...Unilever has been a leading advocate of trade liberalisation, arguing that open markets and multinational businesses improve choices, knowledge and living standards around the world. Executives at the company were aware when they agreed to set aside the funds for the Ben & Jerry's foundation that the money was likely to help fund anti-globalisation causes. But executives at Unilever said it was felt the money could not be donated with caveats barring support for anti-globalisation groups. (James Harding, Financial Times, 16 Oct. 2001)

IBP strikes deals with EPA over environmental claims [USA]: Beef and pork processor IBP Inc. said last week it reached a deal with federal and state officials to settle a lawsuit filed against it by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleging environmental problems at a company facility it owns and two former company plants. Under the agreement's terms, the federal agency will receive $2.25 million and the state of Nebraska will receive $1.85 million from IBP. (Reuters, 15 Oct. 2001)

P&G eschews fair-trade coffee offered by some sellers: Procter & Gamble Co. is resisting the decision of some companies to sell coffee that returns more profits to growers. Instead, P&G prefers its tradition of helping poor communities where the coffee is grown. (John Nolan, Associated Press, 10 Oct. 2001) 

Greenpeace urges Novartis to recall baby products: Environmental group Greenpeace last week urged Swiss healthcare group Novartis AG to withdraw baby food being sold in the Philippines which contained genetically modified soy. (Reuters, 8 Oct. 2001)

Novartis finds GMO soy in Philippines baby food: Swiss healthcare group Novartis AG confirmed yesterday allegations from environmental group Greenpeace that some samples of baby food it sold in the Philippines contained genetically modified soy. Novartis stressed the products were safe but added that it was seeking a new supplier. (Reuters, 5 Oct. 2001)

'Halt terror against the earth' [India]: The Maharashtra Government has reportedly given the rights to a lake - which hitherto was the community resource and a source of livelihood for the local population - to the soft drinks giant, Coca Cola, for running one of its several bottling plants in the country. This is not an isolated case. Globalisation is allowing a handful of corporations such as Cargill and Vivendi to own and control public land and water through contract farming, privatisation and commodification of resources. Corporations such as Monsanto, Syngenta and Novartis are pirating and trying to own and control our biodiversity, food, medicinal plants and knowledge through patents and IPR claims such as the neem patents, basmati and other rice patents. (Soma Basu, The Hindu [India], 5 Oct. 2001)

EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] ordered to assess pesticide health risks: A San Francisco federal judge, acting over the objections of pesticide-makers and farm groups, has approved a nationwide settlement between environmentalists and the Bush administration, speeding up a review of pesticides in the food supply. (Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Sep. 2001)

LEAD: One In Five Beijing Children Exhibits Excessive Levels -- Study: One in five children in Beijing has unsafe blood lead levels, a Chinese national study says, adding that the problem could affect growth and intellectual development...Professor Gao Junquan, director of the survey, said children can absorb lead through outdoor pollutants, food and even toys. (UN Wire, 19 Sep. 2001)

ALCOHOL: WHO Calls For Higher Prices To Curb Young Drinkers The World Health Organization Wednesday called on the alcohol industry to raise prices in an effort to curb drinking among young people, warning that drinking and alcohol-related deaths in the European region are on the rise. The WHO's European committee reported that one in four deaths of men and boys between the ages of 15 and 29 in the region is alcohol-related, including traffic accidents. (UN Wire, 14 Sep. 2001)

Global food chain poses stiff challenge for WTO talks: WTO food talks have centred on long-held differences between the United States, Europe, Japan, developing nations and poor countries on farm subsidies, export subsidies, market access, the environment, labour issues, food security and food safety. (Peter Bohan, 14 Sep. 2001)

Industry code to tackle GM contamination: New rules to ensure that genetically-modified food ingredients are kept out of the food chain have been drawn up by industry groups. Farmers, seed merchants, processors and retailers must ensure the strict segregation of non-GM from GM product. The products must not be transported on the same ship or lorry and must be stored separately. The rules apply mainly to soya and maize. (Valerie Elliott, Times [UK], 8 Sep. 2001)

It's the Real Thing: Murder - Union activity at...Colombian worksites, including several run by American companies, has been greeted with terror. (Aram Roston, The Nation, 3 Sep. 2001)

Swiss business and human rights: Confrontations and partnerships with NGOs [refers to Nestlé, Novartis, UBS, Credit Suisse, ABB, Coop, Migros, Switcher, Veillon] (Antoine Mach, study commissioned by Antenna International, Sep. 2001) note: scroll down on the linked page - this report appears under the "Documents" sub-heading for downloading in English or French

Coke Abuse in Colombia: Coca-Cola and its associates are responsible for “the systematic intimidation, kidnapping, detention and murder” of union members working at the company’s Colombia bottling plants, charges a labor coalition in a July lawsuit. (Charlie Cray, Multinational Monitor, Sep. 2001)

Kraft Foods volunteers to advise Mongolian dairy producer: Monsuu, a Mongolian dairy product company, will soon gain voluntary technical advice from two food processing experts from Kraft Foods, a global company based in the US, through UNISTAR, a programme run by UN Volunteers (UNV). (U.N. Development Programme, 9 Aug. 2001)

Dole Food's labor history is bumpy: There has been a series of legal actions involving the company's workers. (Andy Furillo, Sacramento Bee [Sacramento, California], 22 July 2001)

{···français} Coca-Cola accusé d'assassinat syndical: «Une campagne de terreur» dénoncée en Colombie. (Fabrice Rousselot, Libération [France], 21-22 juillet 2001)

Coca-Cola sued over bottling plant 'terror campaign': Coca-Cola's bottling plants in Colombia used rightwing death squads to terrorise workers and prevent the organisation of unions, it was alleged in a Miami court yesterday. The US union United Steelworkers is suing Coca-Cola on behalf of the Colombian union Sinaltrainal for what the lawsuit describes as "the systematic intimidation, kidnapping, detention and murder" of workers in Colombian plants.  Coca-Cola denied any responsibility for the alleged atrocities yesterday, saying the company did not own the bottling plants, which operated under contract. (Julian Borger, Guardian [UK], 21 July 2001)

Coke sued over death squad claims: Trade union leaders in the United States have said they are suing the soft-drinks company Coca-Cola for allegedly hiring right-wing death squads to terrorise workers at its Colombian bottling plant. A spokesman for Coca-Cola in Atlanta said its Colombian bottling plants were run by business partners and denied any wrongdoing by the company. (BBC, 20 July 2001)

Colombian union suing Coca-Cola in death squad case: Coca-Cola Co.'s Colombian bottlers are working with death squads to kill, threaten and intimidate plant workers, a labor union charged in a federal lawsuit to be filed Friday in Miami.  Coca-Cola, which is named as a defendant, immediately dismissed the racketeering lawsuit, which claims two bottling companies have ties to right-wing paramilitary groups believed responsible for assassinations of union members. (Nick Rosen, Associated Press, in Miami Herald, 20 July 2001) 

{···español} Coca-Cola rechaza acusaciones sobre nexos con paramilitares: Voceros de la multinacional Coca Cola rechazaron ayer versiones que intentan asociar a la compañía con la contratación de paramilitares en Colombia.  El pronunciamiento se produjo luego de que el sindicato de trabajadores del acero y la Fundación para los Derechos Laborales anunciaran en Washington una demanda contra la multinacional por, supuestamente, acudir a grupos paramilitares para intimidar, secuestrar y asesinar a sindicalistas en Colombia. (El Tiempo [Colombia], 20 Julio 2001)

{···español} Demandan a Coca Cola por contratar a "paras":  La empresa norteamericana Coca-Cola recurre a agentes de seguridad paramilitares para asesinar, torturar y secuestrar a líderes sindicales de sus embotelladoras en Colombia, denunciaron ayer sindicatos y grupos de derechos laborales, que iniciarán una demanda judicial. (Agence France Presse, in El Colombiano [Colombia], 20 Julio 2001)

news release by plaintiffs (including download for copy of the complaint): Coca-Cola (Coke) to be sued for human rights abuses in Colombia (United Steel Workers and International Labor Rights Fund, 19 July 2001)

Half of the country's factories are ignoring the air pollution laws: Surprise inspections of factories around the country by Environment Ministry officials last year revealed an trend toward ignoring air pollution regulations. Polluting emissions at about half of the 49 factories inspected were above acceptable limits. (Zafrir Rinat, Ha'aretz [Israel], 17 July 2001)

13 Negri projects violate EIA [environmental impact assessment]: The state department of environment (DOE) has found that more than half of projects in Negri Sembilan which require environmental impact assessments have violated the EIA conditions.  The state DOE report for last year showed that of the 21 projects involved, 13 had failed to abide by the main conditions in the EIA. [Malaysia] (Hah Foong Lian, The Star [Malaysia], 16 July 2001)

Washington State/Alaska company sentenced in asbestos case: Great Pacific Seafood and Stiles pleaded guilty to having five of its employees directly or indirectly exposed to asbestos fibers without the proper training, equipment or protective clothing. The hazardous nature of abatement was never disclosed to two of the employees. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 July 2001)

Curbing the abuses of global capitalism - Campaigners are learning to squeeze concessions from companies by hitting them where they hurt: their brands [refers to the different responses of Grand Marnier and Rémy-Cointreau to criticism of their labour practices in Haiti] (Steve Tibbett, senior campaigner for War on Want, in The Observer [UK], 8 July 2001)

FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] probes plant that made chips with StarLink corn: Federal regulators said yesterday they were investigating a plant that produced white corn tortilla chips to determine how the snack food was contaminated with traces of genetically altered StarLink corn, a variety that triggered a massive food recall last autumn. (Julie Vorman, Reuters, 6 July 2001) 

Co-op to ban pesticides in food amid health fears: The Co-operative Group, a major UK farmer and retailer, said yesterday it would ban more than 20 pesticides used to produce food worldwide amid fears about their impact on health and the environment. (Elizabeth Piper, Reuters, 3 July 2001) 

SBC Holdings / Stroh Brewing Settles Lawsuit with Crazy Horse Family: In a landmark victory for indigenous intellectual property rights, SBC Holdings (p/k/a Stroh Brewing Company) has formally agreed to cease bottling Crazy Horse malt liquor. (The Corporate Examiner, Interfaith Center on Corporate Resonsibility, July 2001)

DIAGEO - Community involvement [UK] -....Diageo's work with the Tomorrow’s People charity to help unemployed people find jobs – and to support them once they have found one – is a model of best practice in community involvement (Ethical Performance magazine, summer 2001)

Japan's Calbee recalls some snacks over GM traces: Japan's unlisted Calbee Foods Co Ltd said yesterday it had voluntarily recalled some of its snack products after traces of unapproved genetically modified (GM) potatoes were detected. (Reuters, 21 June 2001)  

Coca-Cola, UNAIDS Form Partnership For Africa (UN Wire, 20 June 2001)

Coke joins AIDS fight in Africa: Marketing giant will help U.N. deliver information, treatment (Don Melvin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 20 June 2001)

US watchdog group assails genetic field testing: A consumer watchdog group yesterday accused the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of rubber stamping approval of field tests of genetically engineered crops that could harm people and the environment (Reuters, 15 June 2001) 

Maker of suspect corn seed accused of breaking UN pact - Consumer and agricultural watchdog groups yesterday accused a multinational corporation that produces genetically modified foods of failing to uphold a UN code of business conduct to which it had agreed.  The advocates called on the United Nations to consider ejecting the company, Strasbourg-based Aventis S.A., from its Global Compact - a group of corporations that pledged to abide by human rights and environmental norms less than a year ago. (Elizabeth Neuffer, Boston Globe, 15 June 2001)

Greenpeace applauds the Chinese Government on tightening control over genetically modified organisms (Greenpeace, 7 June 2001)

Food and Agriculture - the impact of agribusiness  (briefing paper for World Summit on Sustainable Development, published by IIED [International Institute for Environment and Development] and RING [Regional and International Networking Group], June 2001)

Spoiled Lunch: Polluters Profiting from Federal Lunch Programs - 2001 Sierra Club Report: This report outlines environmental, health, and labor law violations committed by giant slaughterhouses and meat processing plants that supply pork, chicken, and beef to our schools through the federal School Lunch Program. [USA] (Sierra Club, June 2001)

HK activists block Nestle plant in GM food protest (Chee-may Chow, Reuters, 29 May 2001) 

Japan food recall revives StarLink biotech scare (Jae Hur, Reuters, 28 May 2001) 

Green Globe winners for 2001 announced [by Rainforest Alliance, winners include A2R Fund Management Group and Chiquita Brands International] (Earth Times News Service, 24 May 2001)

Biotech to drive chemicals sales, report [by McKinsey & Co.] says (Reuters, 23 May 2001) 

Genetic Modification: Greenpeace praises tofu firm for GMO tests of ingredients - Its product among those exposed earlier [Thailand] (Ploenpote Atthakor, Bangkok Post, 18 May 2001)

Lifting the Veil of Secrecy: New Website Discloses Scientists’ Links to Industry: The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) today launched an Internet site to provide information about the links between hundreds of scientists — mostly in the fields of nutrition, environment, toxicology, and medicine — and corporations. (Center for Science in the Public Interest, 17 May 2001)

Worldwide initiatives against GMOs [genetically modified organisms] (Third World Network, 16 May 2001)

Read the label: China passes regs requiring food products to list genetic alterations (China Online, 15 May 2001)

Costa Rica pressured to improve labour rights situation urgently (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 14 May 2001)

Monsanto denies sale of illegal seed [Argentina] (Reuters, 11 May 2001)

Illegal genetically engineered corn from Monsanto detected in Argentina (Greenpeace, 11 May 2001)

Coca Cola breaks ranks; others run for cover on climate [Coca Cola Spain states it fully backs European governments' support for Kyoto Protocol] (Greenpeace, 9 May 2001)

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD: Farmers told to expect tough patent laws in the future: Strong trade barriers also on the cards [Thailand] (Ranjana Wangvipula, Bangkok Post, 6 May 2001)

"GMOs [genetically-modified organisms] can be used for good and for bad," Jacques Diouf says: FAO Director-General unveils two new publications, the first in a series on ethics in food and agriculture (UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 3 May 2001)

Environmentalists to join regulators [on Thailand's panel charged with regulating field trials of genetically modified crops] (Bangkok Post, 3 May 2001)

Food labelling may not be enough [to protect consumers from genetically modified food], says Greenpeace: Group launches consumer guide [Thailand] (Kultida Samabuddhi, Bangkok Post, 3 May 2001)

GMO products: Consumers in call for compulsory labelling: Nestle criticised for double standard [Thailand] (Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, Bangkok Post, 25 Apr. 2001)

The bitter taste of oranges [Haiti] (Owen Bowcott, Guardian Unlimited, 8 Feb. 2001)

Haiti's Thirst for Justice (Charles Arthur, Multinational Monitor, Jan./Feb. 2001)

2000:

Chile: Wine production threatened by pulp mill project (World Rainforest Movement Bulletin, Nov. 2000)

Swiss firms seek protection against Nazi slave labor lawsuits (Alexander Higgins, Associated Press, 17 Sep. 2000)

Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards (Human Rights Watch, Aug. 2000)

Saudi Arabia Business Briefing (Amnesty International UK Business Group, June 2000)

Greenpeace CEO congratulates Coca-Cola on move away from greenhouse gases ahead of Green Olympics in Sydney (Greenpeace, June 2000) 

Panel of Independent Judges Selects Six Companies for their Outstanding Responsible Business Practices (Council on Economic Priorities, June 2000)

Saudi Arabia: Open for Business (Amnesty International, 8 Feb. 2000)

The business response to HIV/AIDS: impact and lessons learned [Section 5, "Profiles of business activities in response to HIV/AIDS", includes profiles of American International Assurance, Thailand; The Body Shop, Japan; Warsaw Marriott Hotel; Larsen & Toubro, India; Volkswagen do Brasil; Molson Breweries, Canada; Chevron Nigeria; Standard Chartered Bank, UK; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; Anglo Coal, South Africa; Eskom, South Africa; ALMS, Czech Republic; Teddy Exports, India; Bristol Myers Squibb, USA; The Shell Company of Thailand] (Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum in collaboration with UNAIDS and Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS, 2000)

Council on Economic Priorities Names the Industry Leaders for the Year 2000 [Campaign for Cleaner Corporations] (Council on Economic Priorities, 2000)

1998:

LABOUR: China, EPZs [export processing zones] Listed as Major Violators of Workers' Rights (Moyiga Nduru, Inter Press Service, Apr. 1998)