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See also the following sections of this website:

• Mining industry

Websites:

Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Non-ferrous Metals Industries (International Labour Organization, 2001)

Green Power Market Development Group: a collaboration of 10 leading corporations [Alcoa, Cargill Dow, Delphi Automotive, DuPont, General Motors, IBM, Interface, Johnson & Johnson, Kinkos, Pitney Bowes] and the World Resources Institute dedicated to building corporate markets for green power. 

Tata Steel: Social Commitment (Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, India)

Other materials:

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)

Court says Granite City Steel broke labor laws [USA] -...The ruling won't ban the hidden cameras, but it will force National Steel Corp., which owns the Granite City plant, to talk about them when negotiating contracts with the 10 unions representing plant workers. (Michael Shaw, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11 Apr. 2003)

2 Companies Said to Agree to Settle Suits on Emissions [USA] - Alcoa and Archer Daniels Midland have agreed to settle federal air pollution complaints by upgrading smelters and other factories at a cost the government estimates at $700 million (Jennifer Lee, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2003)

• EPA, Cos. Settle Clean Air Violations [USA] - The New York Times reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the agreement has been reached with Alcoa and Archer Daniels Midland. The EPA would not confirm the identities of the companies due to a confidentiality agreement. (Associated Press, 8 Apr. 2003)

Silicosis deaths in Pondicherry [India] - Silicosis strikes glass factory workers, most of them women, in Pondicherry. Seven people are dead and more may be dying. But the government and the factory management tout technicalities in the face of the workers' suffering. (Asha Krishnakumar, Frontline [India], 29 Mar.-11 Apr. 2003)

• A certain killer [India] - Silicosis is one of the oldest known occupational diseases and affects the lungs...While there are no immediate estimates of the number of people suffering from silicosis, it is known to occur among miners, foundry workers, stonecutters, sandblasters, tunnel workers and rock drillers. (Asha Krishnakumar, Frontline [India], 29 Mar.-11 Apr. 2003)

• Broken lives [India] - They want the government and the [glass] factory management to compensate the families of the women who died and others who are in various stages of the disease [silicosis]...The suspicion in the village is that in the case of many more women the cause of death may have been silicosis. (Asha Krishnakumar, Frontline [India], 29 Mar.-11 Apr. 2003)

Steel Manufacturer Lauded for Climate Change Policy [Canada] - Steel manufacturer Dofasco Inc. has been recognized for the success of its voluntary program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company earned the 2002 Leadership Award from Canada's Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc. [a not-for-profit partnership between the private sector and governments across Canada]. (GreenBiz.com, 28 Mar. 2003)

Peru warns Southern on copper smelter upgrade - Peru will give Southern Peru Copper Corp three months to catch up on commitments to overhaul its aging smelter to curb pollution or face fines that could lead to the facility's closure, the government said...The Mexican-controlled firm had no comment. (Reuters, 20 Mar. 2003)

Pakistani-American Workers to Share $1.11 Million in Harassment Settlement with Stockton Steel [subsidiary of Herrick Corp.] [USA] - Muslim Employees Ridiculed While Engaging In Prayer Obligations, EEOC Suit Says (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 19 Mar. 2003)

• Muslim workers to receive $1.1 million discrimination settlement [USA] - Stockton Steel [subsidiary of Herrick Corp.] will pay $1.1 million to four Pakistani-American former employees who said they were harassed because of their ethnicity and Muslim faith, under a settlement announced Wednesday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (Deborah Kong, Associated Press, 19 Mar. 2003)

Charges follow deaths at Pacific Steel [New Zealand] - Pacific Steel is to face prosecution over the deaths of two men at its Auckland site last year. (EPMU - New Zealand Amalgamated Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, 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)

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)

A Toxic Legacy on the Mexican Border - Abandoned U.S.-Owned Smelter in Tijuana Blamed for Birth Defects, Health Ailments (Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2003)

Grupo Mexico-owned Southern Peru Copper Corp. is behind schedule on its smelter modernization, part of a program to bring the company in compliance with Peru's environmental laws (Mary Powers, Reuters, 29 Jan. 2003)

Group accuses Doe Run of damage overseas - A coalition of environmental, labor and human-rights groups has singled out St. Louis-based mining company Doe Run in a report that documents alleged environmental and social abuses by American companies operating abroad...The report highlighted lead poisoning among children in La Oroya, Peru, where Doe Run operates a smelter. According to a government test, 99 percent of children tested had elevated lead levels. (Sara Shipley, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 23 Jan. 2003)

United States Reaches Settlement with Koppers Industries To Settle Scores of Environmental Violations - Koppers Industries, Inc. agreed to pay the United States $2.9 million to resolve allegations of numerous violations of several environmental regulations at many of the company’s U.S. facilities [Koppers makes coke and coal tar, and engages in wood-preserving] (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Jan. 2003)

Court rejects forced labor suits by Chinese [Japan] - The Kyoto District Court on Wednesday rejected a suit filed by former Chinese laborers and bereaved family members seeking compensation from a major stainless steel producer and the central government for forcibly bringing them to Japan and making them work in nickel mines in Kyoto Prefecture during World War II. (Kyodo News, 15 Jan. 2003)

Deaths on the Job, Slaps on the Wrist [Dangerous Business - Part Three] [USA] - McWane [McWane Inc., Alabama conglomerate that owns cast-iron foundries] is one of the most enduring violators of worker-safety and environmental laws...McWane has persisted largely unchecked by taking full advantage of a regulatory system that has often proven itself incapable of thwarting flagrant and continual safety and environmental violations by major corporations (David Barstow and Lowell Bergman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2003)

• Family's Profits, Wrung From Blood and Sweat [Dangerous Business - Part Two] (David Barstow and Lowell Bergman, New York Times, January 9, 2003)

• At a Texas Foundry, an Indifference to Life [Dangerous Business - Part One]...Since 1995, at least 4,600 injuries have been recorded in McWane foundries, many hundreds of them serious ones, company documents show. Nine workers, including Mr. Hoskin, have been killed. (David Barstow and Lowell Bergman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2003)

Workers counselled after death [UK] - Colleagues of a worker killed after an accident at a Corus tin plate plant are being offered counselling. (BBC News, 6 Jan. 2003)

2002:

Air pollution damages across generations - study - Air pollution from steel mills causes genetic damage that fathers can pass to the next generation, researchers in Canada reported. (Maggie Fox, Reuters, 11 Dec. 2002)

CHILD LABOR: Jordan Signs Agreement With ILO -...The plan will pay children and families close to ...what they would have earned as workers, with an emphasis on girls and children employed in dangerous conditions, such as chemical and steel factories, mining and manufacturing positions (UN Wire, 4 Dec. 2002)

POSCO enhances corporate value via environmental management [South Korea] -...POSCO Co., the world's largest steelmaker in terms of production capacity, has been working tirelessly to not only become a globally competitive company, but also to clean up the environment and solve local environmental problems. (Park Sang-soo, Korea Herald, 21 Nov. 2002)

Worker who was sucked into conveyor belt dies [South Africa] - A worker sucked into a conveyor belt on Tuesday at an Epping factory [South African Metal] in Cape Town has lost an overnight battle for life. (Judy Damon, Cape Times, 21 Nov. 2002)

Court rejects S Koreans' claim over forced labor [Japan] - The Osaka High Court on Tuesday upheld a district court ruling rejecting a compensation claim filed by two South Korean men [against Nippon Steel] over their forced labor in Osaka during World War II. (Kyodo News, 20 Nov. 2002)

Investigation into steel mill accident [at Pacific Steel's Otahuhu mill site] focuses on safety barrier [New Zealand] (Mathew Dearnaley, New Zealand Herald, 6 Nov. 2002)

Ex-steel worker wins £500,000 damages [UK] - Christopher Simmons injured his head on a metal stanchion after falling while working as a burner at British Steel's Clyde Bridge Works in Cambuslang more than six years ago. (BBC News, 29 Oct. 2002)

Corus admits blast blame [UK] - Steel giant Corus has admitted civil liability for an explosion which killed three workers at a south Wales plant last year. (BBC News, 23 Oct. 2002)

Belgian Explosion Kills at Least 2 - A gas explosion at a steel factory in eastern Belgium killed two workers and injured at least 13 others Tuesday...The plant...is owned by France's Usinor SA group, which is part of Newco, the world's largest steel company. (AP, 22 Oct. 2002)

CONGO: Senior African Officials, Multinationals Implicated In Exploitation - Foreign corporations, senior African officials and criminal networks are plundering the rich natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to a new 59-page report prepared for the U.N. Security Council by a U.N.-appointed independent panel...The panel calls for financial restrictions to be levied on 54 individuals and 29 companies it said are involved in the plunder, including four Belgian diamond companies and the Belgian company George Forrest, which is partnered with the U.S.-based OM Group...The report also accuses 85 South African, European and U.S. multinational corporations -- including Anglo American, Barclays Bank, Bayer, De Beers and Cabot Corporation -- of violating the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's ethical guidelines on conflict zones. (UN Wire, 21 Oct. 2002)

• Sanctions urged for Congo plunderers - A United Nations panel has called on the Security Council to impose financial sanctions against companies and individuals who plunder the Democratic Republic of Congo's wealth. (BBC News, 21 Oct. 2002)

NATURAL RESOURCES: Consumer Demand Still Fueling Wars, NGO Says - A new report released today by the nongovernmental Worldwatch Institute urges better monitoring of trade in natural resources taken from conflict zones, saying that such imports fuel brutal conflicts in the developing world..."Brutal wars over natural resources like coltan -- a mineral that keeps cell phones and other electronic equipment functioning -- diamonds, tropical woods and other rare materials have killed or displaced more than 20 million people and are raising at least $12 billion a year for rebels, warlords, repressive government and other predatory groups around the world," the institute says...Opium, gems, oil, timber, natural gas, precious metals, coffee and cocoa are among the resources cited as helping to pay for wars over the past 50 years. (UN Wire, 17 Oct. 2002)

• FROM WAR ZONES TO SHOPPING MALLS: New study reveals deadly link between consumer demand and third world resource wars -...Child and slave labor is used to extract the resources...Renner [Michael Renner, author of The Anatomy of Resource Wars] calls for the following actions:...Develop corporate codes of conduct in resource extraction industries, support NGO campaigns that "name and shame" companies into doing business in more responsible ways, and increase corporate transparency and accountability (for instance, by requiring companies to disclose all taxes, fees, royalties, and other payments they make to host governments...). [refers to Afghanistan, Angola, Burma, Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Liberia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone] (Worldwatch Insititute, 17 Oct. 2002)

Alcoa Urges Aluminum Association to Embrace Sustainability - Alcoa Executive Vice President G. John Pizzey urged the Aluminum Association to adopt an ambitious approach to sustainable development that positions the organization and its members as leaders and innovators. (GreenBiz.com, 2 Oct. 2002)

Iscor faces court action on pollution - A South African High Court has begun hearing an application by families seeking a court order to stop giant steel producer Iscor from allegedly polluting their underground water sources. (Reuters, 2 Oct. 2002)

South Africa: Gagging order lifted - Pollution row goes to open court -...The residents of Vanderbijlpark's Steel Valley say the giant Iscor steel producer - Africa's largest - has polluted their water, degraded their environment and brought sickness to their families for forty years - and they want compensation for their plight. (Index on Censorship, 19 Sep. 2002)

Social development in Tamil Nadu [India]: The Murugappa Group of companies [leading engineering company and the market leader in products like steel-strips, steel-tubes and bicycles] is promoting social development in the villages of Tamil Nadu...The foundation provides assistance in the areas of education, medicare and research in rural development. (InfoChange [India]) [added to this website on 10 Sep. 2002]

Big business and labour sign deal at the World Summit for Sustainable Development [South Africa] - The union-inspired South African declaration for achieving sustainable environmental conservation targets within realistic economic and production strategies is now set to go international. South African signatories include Sasol (synfuels and chemicals), Iscor (steel production), Columbus Stainless, Eskom (power generation), Telkom (telecommunications) mineral resources companies Assmang Chrome, De Beers, Goldfields, Impala Platinum (Implats) and Ingwe Coal and industrial groups, Barloworld, Dorbyl Engineering and Rotek Engineering, and unions MWU-Solidarity and the National Union of Mine Workers. Among the companies locally who have firmly said they will not sign for the present are Highveld Steel, the country second largest producer, and multinational operators Dow Chemicals and Sappi (pulp and paper). (Lawrence Bedford, EyeforChem, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 28 Aug. 2002)

Spotlight on corporates reveals need for global rules - Some corporations continue to abuse the rights of people, destroy the livelihoods of communities, and pollute water and forest resources for future generations, according to a new report by Friends of the Earth International published today. The report graphically illustrates the need for governments to agree to introduce tighter rules for multinationals at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg. (Friends of the Earth, 16 Aug. 2002)

• Call for 'global enviro rules' - The environmental group, Friends of the Earth, on Friday called on world leaders meeting at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg to introduce global rules for business....In the report the environmental group mentions the mining giant, Rio Tinto that is prospecting for gold in the Poboya protected forest in Indonesia despite opposition from local people. South Africa's chemical company Sasol also comes under fire. (South African Press Association, 16 Aug. 2002)

• full report: Clashes with Corporate Giants: 22 campaigns for biodiversity and community (Friends of the Earth, Aug. 2002) 

includes section entitled "Towards binding corporate accountability"

also includes the following case studies:

10. Chile: Noranda (aluminium plant)

Alcoa resolves Texas plant emissions allegations [USA] - Alcoa Inc. said on Wednesday that the world's No. 1 aluminum producer has resolved allegations it violated Texas and federal emissions violations and agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine. (Reuters, 8 Aug. 2002) 

Head of Protest-Hit Liaoyang Steel Factory Arrested [China] - After five months’ protests since mid-March, workers in Liaoyang gained some move with the arrest of Fan Yicheng, manager of Ferroalloy Factory. According to South China Morning Post (August 1, 2002), Fan was formally arrested and charged with dereliction of duty. However, the four workers’ representatives, who have been arrested since March, are still under detention. (China Labour Bulletin, 5 Aug. 2002)

• Head of protest-hit plant held [China] (Agence France Presse, 1 Aug. 2002)

Jordanian Workers applaud amendments expanding their rights -...The amendments to Article 31 of Labour Law have been applauded by the Jordanian Society for Human Rights, which also commended the government's decision to raise the legal age for juveniles working in potentially hazardous conditions from 17 to 18...Hazardous jobs include working in chemical and steel factories, mining and manufacturing. (Hassan Shobaki, Jordan Times, 30 July 2002)

Trail thallium victims still suffering [Canada] - Dozens of workers who were poisoned with toxic thallium while working at the Teck Cominco smelter in Trail, B.C. last summer are still waiting to hear why a co-worker died in May. (Cara Wiest, CBC TV, 29 July 2002)

Workers exposed to poison metal await coroner's report on co-worker death [Canada] - Workers poisoned by thallium at a Teck Cominco lead smelter are anxiously awaiting a coroner's report on the death of a co-worker. (CP, 29 July 2002)

Updates on Workers’ Protests in Liaoyang and Daqing [China] - Last Friday (July 19), dozens of retired workers at Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory petitioned the city government demanding the release of the four workers’ representatives arrested this March. (China Labour Bulletin, 25 July 2002)

Asarco could face stiff pollution clean-up costs [USA] - The west Texas smelting plant of miner Asarco Inc. [Asarco was purchased by Mexican conglomerate Grupo Mexico in 1999] has been tagged as a "potentially responsible party" in a U.S. federal pollution probe that could lead to an expensive clean-up in addition to other environmental obligations the company is already dealing with...Lexi Shultz, legislative director of the Mineral Policy Center, an environmental advocacy group, said Asarco and Grupo Mexico are trying to avoid huge clean-up costs in Washington, Montana and elsewhere by stripping Asarco of assets that could be used to pay for clean-ups. (Deborah Tedford, Reuters, 22 July 2002) 

• company website: Asarco

Antiquated labor laws fail to protect young workers [USA] -...The government's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates 230,000 teens are injured at work each year [includes reference to following industries: metals, restaurant, construction] (USA Today, 12 July 2002)

Alcoa says alumina steady at Australia plants - Independent contract workers at three Alcoa Inc alumina refineries in Australia returned to work early yesterday after walking off the job last week because they were excluded from a health study (Reuters, 2 July 2002)

Steel mill accident kills two [New Zealand] - Workplace safety is under scrutiny again after two workers were killed at a South Auckland steel mill. (ONE News, 2 July 2002)

Scientists Say Metals May Be 'New Renewables' - At the Green Processing 2002 Conference recently held in Australia, two researchers with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization touted metals as promising contributors to sustainable development – because they have a virtually unlimited lifespan and can be recycled almost without limit. (GreenBiz.com, 6 June 2002)

Liaoyang Mayor Promises Release of Detainees [China] - Protesting workers of the Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory who have pressed their demands with the Liaoyang city government for the release of four detained workers' leaders have been given positive reassurances about the release of the detainees. (China Labour Bulletin, 6 June 2002)

Investigation launched into mill accident [South Africa] - An investigation was being launched into a fatal accident yesterday at Iscor's Saldanha Steel plant in Western Cape, the company said last night. (Business Day [South Africa], 17 May 2002)

• Sector Reports - UNEP DTIE is facilitating the preparation of a series of sector reports [for World Summit on Sustainable Development], whereby international, industry organisations and associations take stock of progress towards sustainable development and outline future challenges and actions to be taken (United Nations Environment Programme)

• Sector report - Aluminium

• Sector report - Iron and Steel

Chinese aluminium recycling seen rising sharply - Chinese aluminum scrap recycling is comparatively low at 32 percent, but set to rise rapidly to 70 percent, Peikai Song, Vice President of Aluminium Corporation of China said last week. (Reuters, 13 May 2002) 

Miners urged to lead the way on development issues: The mining industry must take the initiative in standardising its approach to social, economic and environmental considerations, according to a new report from the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) project [includes comments by Rio Tinto] (Andy Blamey, Reuters, 3 May 2002)

• final report: Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development (MMSD - Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project, International Institute for Environment and Development, May 2002)

• Report calls for sweeping changes in industry - A two-year study of the mining industry has found it must make sweeping changes to its social and environmental standards if it is to improve its image with investors, lenders and the public (Matthew Jones, Financial Times, 2 May 2002)

• Prospecting for mining balance: A global initiative aims to improve the sector's sustainable development record (Sir Robert Wilson, Chairman of Rio Tinto & of the Global Mining Initiative, in Financial Times, 2 May 2002)

Steelworkers launch Westray campaign [Canada] - Today, the United Steelworkers launched a campaign calling on Ottawa to make business leaders criminally accountable for the negligent acts of their corporations that lead to death or injury. (United Steelworkers, 1 May 2002)

• {···français} les Métallos lancent la campagne Westray [Canada] - Aujourd’hui, le Syndicat des Métallos lance une campagne visant à faire pression auprès d’Ottawa pour que les dirigeants d’entreprises soient tenus criminellement responsables des actes de négligence de leurs entreprises qui ont entraîné la mort ou des blessures. (Les Métallos au Canada, 1 mai 2002)

Worker can sue over cancer [Australia]: A former Alcoa worker yesterday won the right to seek compensation after contracting bladder cancer. (Jeremy Kelly, Herald Sun [Australia], 1 May 2002)

US cites hazards of metalworking fluids - People who work with or near metalworking fluids could be at risk for serious respiratory illnesses if protective equipment and other workplace safety measures are ignored, U.S. health experts said yesterday (Paul Simao, Reuters, 26 Apr. 2002)

Manufacturers Step Up to the Challenge to Reduce Hazardous Waste [USA] - Fifty-nine manufacturers in Washington [Washington state] are participating in a new program that provides free technical assistance aimed at reducing the amount of hazardous waste and waste water they produce...The group comprises metal finishers, aerospace-parts manufacturers and circuit-board manufacturers. (GreenBiz.com, 23 Apr. 2002)

Teck-Cominco fined for accident at Trail plant [Canada] - Safety regulators fined Teck-Cominco Ltd. C$270,000 ($172,000) last week for an accident last year at the company's Trail, British Columbia, lead smelter that exposed workers to toxic thallium. (Reuters, 22 Apr. 2002)

Pratt & Whitney Sponsors Industry-EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] Pollution-Reduction Initiative [aimed at reducing pollution at its metal finishing suppliers] -...Pratt & Whitney is the second corporate sponsor of the Strategic Goals Program, following the Raytheon Company in 2001. (GreenBiz.com, 10 Apr. 2002)

{···français} Emploi - Poussées par la justice, des grandes entreprises indemnisent les militants dont la carrière a été pénalisée par leur engagement syndical [France] - Discrimination syndicale les entreprises se rachètent une conduite:...Les exemples de la SNCF et de EDF démontrent une chose que la France ne voulait pas voir : la discrimination syndicale n'est pas uniquement pratiquée dans quelques groupes emblématiques de l'antisyndicalisme comme Citroën et Michelin. La CGT, première organisation à s'être mobilisée sur le sujet, a établi une liste de plus de soixante-dix entreprises «discriminantes». Parmi celles-ci, on trouve le gratin de l'économie française : Renault, Aérospatiale (maintenant EADS), Matra, Thales, Framatome, Snecma, la SNPE, Comurex, Sollac, Ugine, Delphi, mais aussi la RATP, ou encore des PME comme TLD Tracma, près de Tours. (Hervé Nathan, Libération [France], 2 avril 2002)

Occupational illnesses on rise in China: Health damages and illnesses associated with poor working conditions are plaguing an increasing number of Chinese workers, as necessary protective measures are often ignored, according to China's health authorities...Workers in the industries of coal production, metallurgy, building materials, nonferrous metals, machinery and chemicals run especially high risks of suffering occupational illnesses. (Xinhua, in China Daily [China], 2 Apr. 2002) 

Inco ordered to clean up polluted properties [Canada]: Inco Ltd. was ordered last week to clean up 25 homes polluted by its nickel refinery in Port Colborne, Ontario, in an ongoing dispute that has pitted the mining giant against angry residents of the small town on the shores of Lake Erie. (Jeffrey Hodgson, Reuters, 2 Apr. 2002)

Alcoa workers win battle for member-controlled union [Mexico] - The war continues - On March 4th, workers at an Alcoa plant in Piedras Negras voted 892 to 592 to reaffirm their February 22nd vote electing a slate on independent candidates to lead the plant’s existing union. (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

Norsk Hydro makes rights its business: Norsk Hydro [oil, aluminium, petrochemicals & agricultural fertilisers], which is 40% owned by the Norwegian government,...is handing over about £85,000 to Amnesty International in return for instruction on "how to handle the human rights challenges we face", said the group's president and chief executive, Eivind Reiten, yesterday...Norsk Hydro said its deal with Amnesty would not stop the rights group criticising the company. (Julia Finch, Guardian [UK], 20 Mar. 2002)

Billowing Rage [India]: The Sukruli cauldron threatens to boil over if the Orissa government does not act against the smoke-spewing sponge iron plant in the area...tribal women have held three demonstrations in Bhubaneswar and Baripada against Shiv Shakti Sponge Iron Limited (SSSIL), whose carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions have become a nightmare for the 15,000-odd villagers residing in the Sukruli block of Mayurbhanj district. (Satyasundar Barik, in Down to Earth, Centre for Science and Environment [India], 15 Mar. 2002)

Ten Brazilian Dam Protesters Hospitalized: Ten anti-dam protestors were hospitalized on Tuesday after clashes with the police...The demonstrators are part of Brazil's Movement of Dam-Affected People (MAB) which is engaged in a national campaign of protests against Brazil's hydropower energy policy...The group is demanding that the government halt subsidies to energy intensive industries, such as aluminum production, and instead provide electricity to rural communities. Aluminum companies, including multinationals Alcoa and Billiton, plan to build a series of huge dams in the Brazilian Amazon. (Environment News Service, 13 Mar. 2002)

{···español} Los accidentes mortales en el metal crecieron un 25,7% en 2001 [España] :...Los fallecimientos en el trabajo crecieron un 25,7%, con un total de 88 muertes, según un informe del sindicato UGT elaborado con datos del Ministerio de Trabajo. (El País, 9 marzo 2002)

US Asked to Cut Cancer-Causing Chemical Exposure: A consumer advocacy group and a labor union asked a federal court on Monday to order the government to cut workers' exposure levels to a cancer-causing chemical used in chrome and stainless steel manufacturing. (Peter Szekely, Reuters, 5 Mar. 2002)

A White Book or Black List for TNCs? In December every year, The Financial Times...publishes a list of the world's most respected transnational companies (TNCs)...I believe that in order to bring justice to such a list, we should also ask TNCs about their social policy and their social behaviour...I have a suggestion to make to the Financial Times and the company which made the top TNCs' list, PriceWaterhouse: Let's do a black list together for next December. (Marcello Malentacchi, General Secretary, International Metalworkers' Federation, 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)

• {···français} Chaque année, les risques liés à l’environnement sont à l’origine du décès de 3 millions d’enfants de moins de 5 ans (Organisation mondiale de la Santé, 3 mars 2002)

{···français} L'Industrie de l'amiante jugée inexcusable...Une victoire pour les victimes [France] -...Trente affaires lui avaient été soumises le 17 janvier, impliquant les grands producteurs de produits à base d'amiante, comme Everite ou Eternit, des sidérurgistes, comme le groupe Sollac-Usinor, des entreprises de la métallurgie. (Armelle Thoraval, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} 100 000 morts d'ici à 2025 [France]: Des matelassières en Bretagne, des ouvriers d'entretien à la SNCF, ceux affectés à la maintenance à la RATP: en dehors des employés atteints dans des entreprises qui maniaient notoirement l'amiante comme composante essentielle de leur production, comme Everite et Eternit, le risque sanitaire pour les «amiantés» est considérable. (Armelle Thoraval, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} Le souffle court et la mort en tête [France]: Manifestation hier à Paris de 2 000 métallurgistes exposés à l'amiante. (Didier Arnaud & Charlotte Moreau, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} "Patrons pollueurs, patrons payeurs", le slogan de 2 000 manifestants à Paris:...Stein Industrie (ex-Alstom)...De l'amiante pour le calorifugeage, les ouvriers de cette usine de fabrication de chaudières thermiques et nucléaires en ont cotoyé des quantités considérables, sans précaution et sans en connaître les risques. Cinq en seraient morts et quinze cas de maladies ont été décelés. (Le Monde, 1 mars 2002)

Lead levels in Herculaneum children's blood "urgent public health hazard" [USA]:...The findings are the most comprehensive yet to gauge the extent of lead exposure in the home of the 110-year-old Doe Run Co. smelter in Herculaneum, about 30 miles south of St. Louis on the Mississippi River (Joe Stange, Associated Press, 28 Feb. 2002)

Extreme forms of child labour prevails in Dhaka city [Bangladesh]: ILO - An agency of the International Labour Organisation has found prevalence of "extreme forms" of child labour in Dhaka City. A survey revealed that 12,170 children were working under "very hazardous" circumstances in 5,428 workplaces...Most of the sectors, identified 47 in total, such as automobile engineering, welding, plasto-rubber and plasto-metal and lathe machine were found to be "extremely hazardous (Independent [Bangladesh], 11 Feb. 2002)

• BANGLADESH: ILO Discovers "Extreme Forms" Of Child Labor In Dhaka (UN Wire, 11 Feb. 2002)

Swiss prize goes to female metal worker: Lathe operator fought hard against pay discrimination [Switzerland] (IMF-International Metalworkers' Federation, 5 Feb. 2002)

Viewpoint: The Global Economy Must Market Democratic Values (Leo W. Gerard, President of United Steelworkers, in Labor Notes [USA],  Feb. 2002)

Tanzanian Government Defends Tanzanite Trade:...The minister was responding to a letter he received from Eliezri, in which he expressed ICA members’ concern over recent reports in the press about allegations that the proceeds from tanzanite are financing terrorist organizations. (Rapaport News, Diamonds.Net, 24 Jan. 2002)

• Diary Offers More Evidence of Tanzanite Ties to Terrorism: The day-planner of Wadih el Hage, a former secretary of Osama bin Laden, contains entries that bolster allegations that bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist network used the tanzanite trade to fund its operations (Rapaport News, Diamonds.Net, 24 Jan. 2002)

EPA to move residents away from Missouri smelter [USA]: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will offer temporary relocation to about 100 households in Herculaneum, Missouri, while crews cleanse contamination emanating from the town's century-old lead smelter [owned by Doe Run Lead Co.] (Zach Howard, Reuters, 18 Jan. 2002)

Air's bad, neighbors say; company denies polluting:..Residents [in 3 communities of southwest Detroit, USA]  have filed a joint lawsuit against the company [National Steel Corp.], alleging it is polluting their neighborhoods. (Dan Shine & Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2002)

Code of conduct signed with Italian multinational: Italy's three national metalworkers' unions...signed a code of conduct with Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. on December 17, 2001. Merloni Elettrodomestici...has undertaken to comply with and promote the fundamental principles and rights at work established in conventions of the International Labour Organisation (IMF- International Metalworkers' Federation, 8 Jan. 2002)

2001:

Groups file pollution suit against Alcoa in Texas: Environmental and public interest groups filed suit yesterday against Alcoa Inc. , the world's biggest aluminum producer, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act by the company's smelter in Rockdale, Texas (Reuters, 27 Dec. 2001)

• Groups sue Alcoa over decades of Texas air pollution: Smelter charged with releasing thousands of tons of illegal air pollutants known to be harmful to public health (Neighbors for Neighbors, Environmental Defense & Public Citizen, 26 Dec. 2001)

• Suit seeks halt to Alcoa emissions: Company has said Central Texas smelter complies with law (Randy Lee Loftis, Dallas Morning News, 27 Dec. 2001)

• full text of complaint: Environmental Defense, Neighbors for Neighbors, Inc. and Public Citizen, Inc. vs. Alcoa, Inc. (26 Dec. 2001)

Norsk Hydro says to pull out of Indian alumina plan [racked by controversy over its environmental impact] (Reuters, 18 Dec. 2001)

CONGO: Security Council Debates Action Against Resource Exploitation - The panel [Expert Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] continues to support a moratorium on the purchase and import of coltan, diamonds, copper, timber, coffee and other products produced in D.R.C. territory occupied by rebels or foreign troops. (UN Wire, 17 Dec. 2001)

Students For A Free Tibet Targets Morgan Stanley - Raises Concerns Over Chinese Aluminum Company Operations In Tibet (Government of Tibet in Exile, 11 Dec. 2001)

Steelworkers demand public inquiry into fatal explosion at Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting [Canada]: Following last week’s guilty plea by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited (HBM&S) to keeping an unsafe workplace, the United Steelworkers is asking Premier Doer to order a public inquiry into the furnace explosion that killed Steve Ewing and injured 13 others workers on Aug. 8, 2000. (United Steelworkers [Canada], 7 Dec. 2001)

Hungary claims $100 mln over cyanide river spill [lawsuit against Aurul, a gold smelter half-owned by Australia's Esmeralda Exploration Ltd] (Krisztina Than, Reuters, 4 Dec. 2001)

Alcoa alumina workers return to refinery [following walkout on claims that emissions from Alcoa's production process were causing health problems among workers and in nearby residential areas] [Australia] (Reuters, 3 Dec. 2001)

Chile green groups question aluminum plant comment: Environmentalists last week asked Chile's government to clarify comments by a top-level minister who has backed controversial plans to build an aluminum plant in a nature haven (Patrick Nixon, Reuters, 3 Dec. 2001)

Holocaust Restitution in the United States and Other Claims For Historical Wrongs - An Update [includes updates on human rights-related lawsuits against Credit Suisse, Union Bank of Switzerland, Swiss Bank Corporation, German & Austrian banks, French banks, Barclays Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, J.P. Morgan, European insurance companies, Ford Motor Co., German corporations including Degussa and Siemens; Japanese corporations including Nippon Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Nippon Steel; New York Life Insurance Co.] (Michael J. Bazyler, Professor of Law at Whittier Law School, in ACLU International Civil Liberties Report 2001 [American Civil Liberties Union], Dec. 2001)

Workers walk off job at Alcoa alumina plant [Australia]: The walkout follows union claims that emissions from Alcoa's production process is causing health problems in the workforce and in nearby residential areas...Alcoa, which operates three alumina refineries in the state, denies the claims. (Reuters, 30 Nov. 2001)

Australian Alcoa Workers Walk Out on Concealed Cancer Risk: Some workers at Alcoa's West Australian Kwinana refinery have walked off the job after news that the US-owned company had not informed them of serious health risks at two alumina refineries...Alcoa acknowledges potentially cancer-causing compounds were produced in the emissions, but denies they are present at harmful levels. (Asia Pulse, 29 Nov. 2001)

Hundreds attend Corus workers' funerals [Wales, UK]: More than 1,000 mourners turned out today in the Welsh town of Port Talbot for the funeral of a 25-year-old man killed in an explosion at the local Corus steel factory...Mr Galsworthy was the first of the three steelworkers killed in the blast to be buried. (Guardian [UK], 20 Nov. 2001)

Boliden says court clears it of Los Frailes crime [Spain]: Swedish mining and metals group Boliden said yesterday an appeals court in Spain had upheld a lower court decision clearing it of any crime in connection with an ecological disaster at its Los Frailes mine. (Reuters, 20 Nov. 2001)

Vaal residents claim Iscor poisoned them [South Africa]: Residents of two tiny agricultural plots in Vanderbijlpark, an industrial town in the Vaal Triangle, will square up to iron and steel giant Iscor in the Johannesburg High Court early next week. (Khadija Magardie, Mail & Guardian [South Africa], 16 Nov. 2001)

Unions unite over BHP: A Wollongong trade union leader said yesterday he fully supported a proposed international union campaign against BHP Billiton over its workplace practices, which unions claim are in breach of core labour standards. The International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) congress meeting in Sydney yesterday resolved to embark on the union campaign against BHP Billiton...Yesterday, the congress was briefed on reports that police and dogs were used against workers when BHP Billiton recently sacked 40 trade union activists in Mozambique for starting strike action over better pay. The congress also heard claims that BHP Billiton was disregarding the health of workers employed in Peru who were working 12-hour days in a mine in a mountain more than 4000m above sea level. (Illawarra Mercury [Australia], 15 Nov. 2001)

• company website: Working Responsibly (BHP Billiton)

BHP-Billiton condemned for anti-union action: Congress vows international trade union action against the transnational metals and mining company. (International Metalworkers' Federation, 14 Nov. 2001)

• company website: Working Responsibly (BHP Billiton)

Illinois scrap smelter to shut doors-trade sources [USA]: Chemetco Inc., a privately held secondary copper refiner, is planning to close its smelter in East Hartford, Illinois and file for Chapter 11, according to market sources...Another source familiar with the situation said she understood that Chemetco's problems with toxic-waste dumping was it's ultimate undoing. In October last year, a federal judge fined Chemetco $3.8 million for installing a secret pipe and illegally dumping hazardous metal-filled water into a local creek for a decade. (Carole Vaporean, Reuters, 5 Nov. 2001)

The WTO, Forests and the Spirit of Rio:...Since its inception, the WTO has undermined the agreements reached in Rio by replacing the environmental agenda with the corporate push for indiscriminate international trade...[I]n the tropics...increased trade of all sorts of goods -- ranging from logs to aluminum, from shrimp to palm oil to soya beans -- results in forest destruction and the impoverishment of local communities. (Ricardo Carrere, International Coordinator of the World Rainforest Movement, for CorpWatch, 1 Nov. 2001)

Chile environmentalists combat Noranda aluminum plant: Environmentalists this week launched an official complaint with Chilean authorities to stall plans by Canadian base metals group Noranda Inc. to build an aluminum plant in isolated southern Chile. (Reuters, 1 Nov. 2001)

New technologies offer metals environmental boost: Metals companies are investigating new cost-effective ways of processing ores that might also polish up the industry's tarnished environmental credentials...Bacteria and acids may replace the traditional heating of ore and melting of metal at energy-hungry, fume-belching smelters. In other cases, new technologies might ameliorate environmental side-effects from smelting. (Karen Norton, Reuters, 29 Oct. 2001)

Eastern Europe countries battle legacy of the past: More than 10 years after the 1989 collapse of communism, the rusting remains of smelters and mines are a legacy eastern Europe is finding hard to get rid of. Dilapidated smelting and mining facilities continue to spew toxins into an already befouled environment in these countries, many of which are hoping to join the European Union. The EU is using the lure of enlargement to push candidate states to put clean-up high on their agenda. [Details on Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria] (Adrian Dascalu, Reuters, 24 Oct. 2001)

Norsk Hydro: Global Compact Violator: In the sixth article in our series on Global Compact companies, Indian journalist Nityanand Jayaraman looks at the Oslo-based corporation Norsk Hydro, a partner in the Utkal bauxite mine and alumina smelter in Orissa State. He provides evidence that the corporation has violated human rights Principles 1 and 2 of the UN Compact. Nor has the company withdrawn plans for a project that would violate Principle 9 which promotes eco-friendly practices. While the company has put the project on hold for the moment, officials indicate that violations of these principles could resume at any time. (Nityanand Jayaraman, special to CorpWatch, 18 Oct. 2001) 

• company website: Norsk Hydro

Alcan Aluminum to cut more greenhouse emissions: Canadian aluminum producer Alcan Inc said yesterday the company will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 500,000 tonnes in a new program during the next four years. (Reuters, 10 Oct. 2001)

Protecting workers in the non-ferrous metal industries: Protecting workers from occupational safety and health hazards, preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of illnesses and injury and promoting consultations and cooperation between governments, and employers and workers’ organizations are the key objectives of a new Code of practice on safety and health in the production of non-ferrous metals. (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 9 Oct. 2001)

Company directors must show zero tolerance of pollution [UK]: Pollution is still being treated as an acceptable risk by too many businesses in England and Wales, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said today. A culture change is needed across management, Barbara Young said, with zero tolerance for pollution replacing apathy and acceptance of poor environmental performance. (Environment Agency [UK Government], 28 Sep. 2001)

• Company directors must show zero tolerance of pollution [UK]: The Mineral and Metal Sector

Beijing steelmaker to move plants before Olympics: Chinese steel maker Shougang Corp will move its dirtiest plants out of heavily polluted Beijing, host of the 2008 Summer Olympics, by the end of this year, a company spokesman said yesterday (Reuters, 28 Sep. 2001)

China: Capital Steel Plant [Shougang Corp.] to Remove Main Source of Pollution...By 2005, Shougang's steel industry will accomplish a complete nonpolluting production. (People's Daily [China], 27 Sep. 2001)

China's Iron and Steel Industry More Environmentally Friendly:...Weng said the promotion of advanced technologies such as converters, continuous casting and tandem rolling has greatly reduced the industry's consumption of energy and raw materials over the last few years, and cut down air pollution and solid waste discharges. (AsiaPort/Financial Times/Hoover's Online, 26 Sep. 2001)

Dofasco shares fall 8 pct on environmental charges [Canada]: Shares in Dofasco Inc. closed down 8 percent yesterday after the Ontario Environment Ministry said the steel producer faced three charges related to a wash oil spill last year that may harm the quality of water in Hamilton Harbour near Toronto. (Reuters, 20 Sep. 2001)

Teck-Cominco admits errors over toxic thallium [Canada]: Teck-Cominco Ltd. accepted responsibility last week and admitted its has some image rebuilding to do after its errors allowed workers to be exposed to toxic thallium, which was also allowed to enter a river at its Trail, British Columbia, lead smelter. (Reuters, 10 Sep. 2001) 

Inco, Falconbridge under pressure on emissions [Canada]: Under pressure to act against growing industrial pollution, the Canadian province of Ontario said last week it would order nickel giants Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd. to reduce harmful emissions from their large smelting operations in Sudbury. (Lesley Wroughton, Reuters, 10 Sep. 2001)

Environment Ministry [Canada] taking strong action to reduce sulphur dioxide in Sudbury air and acid rain in Ontario: The Ministry of the Environment is proposing to order INCO [International Nickel Company] and Falconbridge to take strong action to drastically improve Sudbury's air quality and reduce emissions [from their smelters] that cause acid rain. (Canada NewsWire, 7 Sep. 2001)

Inadequate OSHA [U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration] Standard for Hazardous Metal Places Tens of Thousands of Workers in Danger: Agency Must Act Now to Prevent Further Deaths from Beryllium Exposure, Public Citizen, PACE Say - The government should immediately lower workers’ exposure to beryllium, Public Citizen and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union (PACE) said today in a petition filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), because the metal, commonly used in the manufacture of sporting goods, dental equipment and airplane parts, is directly linked to a fatal lung disease. (Public Citizen, 4 Sep. 2001)

Molecules of death: ...Dioxins are among the deadliest chemicals known to humans...Dioxins are released mostly from burning of chlorinated compounds e.g, from garbage, medical waste and toxic chemicals. Dioxins from incinerators contaminate the air, water and food passing these deadly pollutants on to people through milk, meat and other fatty animal products. Bleaching of paper with chlorinated compounds, production of pvc plastics, chlorinated pesticides and secondary smeltering of copper also produce dioxins. Essentially, to produce dioxin we need organic matter, chlorine and a reactive thermal environment...Despite knowing their carcinogenic nature, there is no monitoring of these chemicals in most countries. (Centre for Science and Environment, Down to Earth, 31 Aug. 2001)

Teck-Cominco probes contamination at Trail plant: Teck-Cominco Ltd. is trying to determine how 65 workers at its Trail, British Columbia, lead smelter were contaminated with thallium, a toxic metal linked to nerve damage, the company said this week [Canada] (Reuters, 30 Aug. 2001)

Workers tests show they have 27 times the dangerous level of toxic thallium [Canada]: Carpenters and boilermakers who were unknowingly working on a toxic job site have been found with levels of poisonous thallium up to 27 times what's considered dangerous. (Terri Theodore, Canadian Press, in The Province [Vancouver], 28 Aug. 2001) 

Landmark Study Shows Mexican Maquiladora Workers Not Able to Meet Basic Needs on Sweatshop Wages: Workers in foreign-owned export assembly plants in Mexico are not able to meet a family's basic needs on sweatshop wages, according to a comprehensive study conducted in fifteen Mexican cities. (Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility / Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras / Center for Reflection, Education and Action, 28 June 2001)

• executive summary of the report: Making the Invisible Visible: A Study of the Purchasing Power of Maquila Workers in Mexico - 2000

Virginia company, former official sentenced: On June 20, Rehrig International Inc. [metals company] pleaded guilty to negligently violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) and was ordered to pay a $200,000 fine and provide $300,000 for pollution prevention and control activities. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 June 2001)

EU drafts ambitious climate emissions trade plan: A wide range of major European Union industries will be forced to take part in buying and selling the right to emit carbon dioxide (CO2), under a draft EU law seen by Reuters on Friday. (Robin Pomeroy, Reuters, 25 June 2001) 

Pollution victims agree to take payout: Plaintiffs in a 12-year court battle over air pollution from factory smoke [including from factories of electric power company, steel companies, chemical companies, gas company] in Nagoya have agreed to a settlement totaling 1.52 billion yen, sources close to the case said Friday (Japan Times, 16 June 2001)

Survey links pollution to sexual development (Anne Byrne, Irish Times, 26 May 2001)

No easy way out for the 'lead people' [Thailand, pollution by a lead extracting plant and its effect on Karen villagers] (Anchalee Kongrut, Bangkok Post, 30 Apr. 2001)

Egypt: Child Labor Activists Urge Government Action (UN Wire, 16 Apr. 2001)

Transnational Corporations Today: Too much power, too little accountability - We have chosen to focus our Inquiry on four companies - Alcan, Dana, Noranda and Cominco/Teck (United Steelworkers Humanity Fund [Canada], Apr. 2001)

Raising Awareness of Core Labour Standards in the Glass and Brass industries in India [workshop on homeware sourcing from India] (International Business Leaders Forum and Save the Children, 8 March 2001)

Environmentalists seek urgent solutions to air pollution in Nigeria (Chuka Nnabuife, Guardian [Lagos], 1 Jan. 2001)

Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Non-ferrous Metals Industries (International Labour Organization, 2001)

2000:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mistubishi International, Mitsui & Co., Mitsui Mining, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Nippon Steel, and other Japanese companies: case in U.S. court regarding alleged forced labour by prisoners of war in Asia/Pacific during World War II:

• Senate urges government to negotiate for World War II prisoners [regarding lawsuits against Japanese companies] (Associated Press, CNN.com, 1 Nov. 2000)

• U.S. Litigation Concerning Japanese Forced Labor in World War II (David Caron and Adam Schneider, ASIL Insight, American Society of International Law, Oct. 2000)

• Slave Wages: Those forced to labor for Japan in World War II are now suing in California courts (Bernice Yeung, SFWeekly.com, 5 July 2000)

• Lawsuits to seek billions in compensation from Japanese corporations that used slave laborers during WWII (PR Newswire, 22 Feb. 2000)

Corporate giants begin greenhouse gas trading programme (Danielle Knight, Inter Press Service, 18 Oct. 2000)

China's Taiyuan Works With UN Environmental Program To Promote Clean Production (Xinhua, 26 July 2000)

1998:

A period of grace [enforcement action against companies by Egyptian Government's environmental ministry] (Mahmoud Bakr, Al-Ahram Weekly On-line [Cairo], 12-18 Nov. 1998)