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Environment & human rights: General materials July 2001 |
July 2001:
Business gears up for Earth Summit: Business leaders from all over the world will gather in Paris in October for the first major meeting of the new environmental initiative, Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD). Charged with the task of setting a business agenda for next year's Earth Summit in Johannesburg, more than 150 industry leaders have registered to attend the BASD Strategy Meeting at ICC headquarters, October 9-10. (Business Action for Sustainable Development, 31 July 2001)
EnBW says to invest millions of marks in renewables: Germany's third biggest utility EnBW said last week it plans to invest "millions of marks" in renewable energy projects. (Reuters, 30 July 2001)
Garment industry plagued by poor environment, low wages: A recent study conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has exposed the unhealthy and polluted working environment in the garments sector. The study also recommended that the ministry impose a minimum investment ceiling of Dh7 million in order to obtain a licence for a garment factory to ensure owners create a healthy working environment. (Saifur Rahman, Gulf News [United Arab Emirates], 29 July 2001)
More than 300 firms sign up for UN Global Compact: Though it so far has little to show for its efforts, participating firms are to post their techniques for dealing with the many labor, human rights and environmental challenges spawned by globalization on the program's Web site in October. Doyle [U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Michael Doyle] acknowledged the program's form was in part dictated by a recognition that the corporate world was unwilling to accept binding global standards on corporate governance. But environmental and human rights groups that have been participating in the program from the start said they were nonetheless underwhelmed by the Global Compact's achievements to date. "Viewing the program solely as a learning experience represents a wasted opportunity in assuring corporate responsibility," said Arvind Ganesan, the Washington-based director of business and human rights programs for Human Rights Watch. "The progress we expected on moving beyond just a learning forum hasn't occurred yet." Ganesan of Human Rights Watch said that since the program had issued guidelines on how businesses should behave, it should at least try to assure the guidelines were being applied, for example by procuring goods only from responsible companies. (Irwin Arieff, Reuters, 27 July 2001)
U. S. Could Lose on Climate: With the United States opting out of the Kyoto climate treaty, American businesses may be left on the sidelines while the rest of the world plays a new game: pollution trading. (Geir Moulson, Associated Press, 27 July 2001)
Lieberman may subpoena Bush environmental records: [U.S.] Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman said yesterday he may decide as early as today whether to seek what would be the first congressional subpoenas against the Bush administration. Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, said he wants to know whether there was any undue industry influence in the administration's decision to roll back environmental regulations. (Thomas Ferraro, Reuters, 27 July 2001)
Alaska oil spills raise worries ahead of ANWR vote: Oil spills on Alaska's North Slope have raised environmental hackles, days before a Congressional vote on the Bush administration's plan to open the nation's arctic refuge to oil drilling. The incidents, which include last week's 420-gallon (10-barrel) oil spill from a pipeline in Prudhoe Bay - a field that sprawls over roughly 400 square miles (1,036.000 sq km) of tundra - have drawn concern that even routine oil operations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would cause lasting environmental damage. (Richard Valdmanis, Reuters, 27 July 2001)
Attempt To Weaken Clean Air Standards Called An Attack On Public Health [USA]: Industry Up To Old Tricks Again (Earthjustice, 27 July 2001)
CLIMATE CHANGE: US Will "Do Our Own Thing," Says Whitman [US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman] (UN Wire, 27 July 2001)
Officials Yield on Environment Papers: The Bush administration has agreed to allow a Senate committee access to documents involving decisions to roll back several major environmental regulations, avoiding a potential legal confrontation with Congress. (H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, 27 July 2001)
'Cause coffees' produce a cup with an agenda: 'Shade-grown,' 'fair trade' and other eco-friendly, socially aware blends of java are attracting consumers (Patrick McMahon, USA Today, 26 July 2001)
Shell, MOSOP Break Truce: The peace agreement reached between the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Shell Petroleum Development Company at the Port Harcourt sitting of Oputa Panel has broken down as representatives of Ogoni are now accusing SPDC [Shell] of insincerity. (P.M. News [Lagos, Nigeria], 26 July 2001)
Nigerian commission arranges Shell-Ogoni meeting: Nigeria's human rights commission yesterday arranged for a meeting in September between Shell and Ogoni leaders to discuss the possibility of the oil company resuming operations in the Ogoniland region. (Cletus Akwaya, Reuters, 26 July 2001)
Japan business body says hard to meet Kyoto target: Japanese industry is already so energy efficient that it will be difficult for Japan to reach the emission cut target set out in the Kyoto climate treaty, an official at Japan's largest business body said in an interview. (George Nishiyama, Reuters, 26 July 2001)
Environmentalists sue to halt federal clean water violations by Pacific Lumber Co. in Northern California: Charging that Pacific Lumber Company is illegally dumping pollution and violating the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Information Center ("EPIC") filed a federal lawsuit today in the United States District Court to challenge logging operations in one of the most imperiled watersheds on California's North Coast. (Earthjustice and Environmental Protection Information Center, 25 July 2001)
HUMAN GENOME: Warning on gene therapy - Social causes must not be overlooked - Public health policy-makers should not rely too heavily on gene therapy to help cure diseases, warned a British molecular biologist....Many "incurable" diseases resulted from toxicity from pesticides and chemical use, not only from genetic impairment. (Anchalee Kongrut, Bangkok Post, 25 July 2001)
ORANGE ORCHARDS: Growers face curbs on pesticides, water use and expansion [Thailand]: Local leaders move against health risks - Local leaders have agreed to contain any further expansion of orange orchards in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district to limit pesticide contamination. A meeting of the tambon administration organisations in the district yesterday hoped the measures would reduce health risks faced by villagers. (Onnucha Huttasingh, Bangkok Post, 25 July 2001)
Loggers try to demonise environmental groups as 'terrorists': Emboldened by their powerful new friends in the White House, some of America's most prominent lumber and mining companies have launched an offensive against grassroots environmental activists. They are trying to associate them with "terrorist" acts of sabotage and urging the government to strip them of tax-exempt charitable status. (Andrew Gumbel, Independent [UK], 25 July 2001)
Gas flaring: Erring firms may lose licences - All forms of gas flaring on Nigerian soil must stop by year 2004. And that is final. Any oil company that defaults in this regard risks forfeiting its operating licence. Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Imeh Okopido, gave this stern warning yesterday at a forum of the Third World Colloquium on Environment organised by the African Maritime Limited in Lagos yesterday, thus dashing all hopes by jittery oil companies of possible shift in government position on the issue. (Tola Akinmutimi, Guardian [Lagos, Nigeria], 25 July 2001)
A statement/submission presented by Mr. Ron M. Van Den Berg Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), To The Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission [Nigeria] - 24/07/01 (Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, 24 July 2001)
CLIMATE CHANGE: Annan, Other Leaders React To Bonn Compromise - Commentators Consider US Role After Bonn (UN Wire, 24 June 2001)
Official Blames Acid Rain, Stress, Others On Gas-Flaring: Gas-flaring, which has become a regular feature in the Niger Delta region for several decades, has been blamed for ecosystem heat, stress and acid rain, including the destruction of fresh water-fishes, forests and property. [Nigeria] (Guardian [Lagos, Nigeria], 24 July 2001)
Toxic Texas is Bush’s heartland: During Mr Bush’s six-year stint as governor, Texas became number one among the 50 states for ozone precursor emissions. Two years ago, Houston - the state’s biggest city - took Los Angeles’ place as the smog capital of America. With five other major metropolitan areas in Texas, it was warned by the federal environmental protection agency that its smog levels threatened health. (Robert Tait, The Scotsman [Edinburgh], 24 July 2001)
{···español} México ocupa el lugar 73 en sustentabilidad ambiental entre 122 naciones: El Plan Puebla-Panamá, en riesgo de inviabilidad ecológica, advierte el Cespedes (David Zuñiga, La Jornada [Mexico], 23 julio 2001)
Agreement at Climate Talks - Now the Hard Work Begins (Greenpeace, 23 July 2001)
Kyoto climate change deal agreed (BBC News, 23 July 2001)
Cambodia moves to axe illegal logging: The Cambodian government last week approved legislation designed to curb illegal logging by imposing stiff prison sentences and hefty fines on offenders. (Reuters, 23 July 2001)
G8 plan for Africa pointless without renewable energy support (joint statement by Greenpeace, WWF and ECA Watch, 22 July 2001)
UNEP Welcomes New African Environment Initiative (United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], 20 July 2001)
NAFTA Panel Examines Air Pollution: Electricity plant emissions and waste made up the largest portion of industrial pollution in Canada and the United States in 1998, according to a report issued Friday. (Associated Press, in Las Vegas Sun, 20 July 2001)
UN climate expert warns on greenhouse gases: The world's emissions of greenhouse gases must begin to fall within as little as 10-15 years if it is to avert the worst impacts of climate change, a prominent climate expert said on Friday. (Vanessa Houlder, Financial Times, 20 July 2001)
Federal officials [in USA] hold public hearing in midst of worst refinery polluters in the nation: Communities Hold Rally Demanding Bush Administration Enforce Clean Air Act (Earthjustice, 20 July 2001)
Pacific's Tuvalu looks for help as it slowly sinks: Tiny Tuvalu, which could be submerged by a rising Pacific Ocean within 50 years, has reached out for help to save its people but so far has had little luck with regional heavyweight Australia. (Paul Tait, Reuters, 20 July 2001)
ENVIRONMENT-US: Old Computers A Toxic Time Bomb (Lili Beit, Inter Press Service, 20 July 2001)
G8's impotence in reforming their export credit agencies: NGOs call on G8 governments to soon adopt high level binding common environmental guidelines for their Export Credit Agencies. (Halifax Initiative, 19 July 2001)
World Bank Incorporates Environmental Concerns into Lending Programs: A new strategy that aims to integrate environmental concerns into the World Bank's lending programs was approved by the bank's Board of Directors Wednesday. (Environment News Service, 19 July 2001)
Two jailed Mexican logging activists lose appeal: A Mexican court rejected an appeal on Tuesday by two Mexican peasant activists jailed two years ago while leading an anti-logging protest, a defense lawyer said. (Reuters, 19 July 2001)
Teflon frying pans release host of chemicals - study: Frying eggs got a whole lot easier when Teflon was invented in the late 1930s, but Canadian researchers warned on Wednesday that the nonstick coating is releasing chemicals into the environment that take centuries to break down and whose long-term effects are unknown. (Ian Karleff, Reuters, 19 July 2001)
Bush, Koizumi torched over climate change: Visiting lawmakers expressed exasperation with the US administration's stance on global warming on Monday and urged Japan to break ranks with Washington. The visit to Washington by parliamentarians from Japan, South Africa and Europe came on the first day of UN talks in Bonn, Germany, to save the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change. (Danielle Knight, Inter Press Service, in Asia Times, 18 July 2001)
Earthjustice lawsuit challenges EPA's failure to crack down on supertoxins: EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] Fails to Protect Americans from Worst of Toxic Air Pollutants - Continuing to stress the need for stronger and timelier implementation of clean air safeguards, Earthjustice today filed the third of seven lawsuits challenging the federal government’s chronic failure to protect Americans from the health hazards of toxic air pollution. Representing Sierra Club, Earthjustice is filing one lawsuit each day for a week, to compel EPA to do its job. Today’s lawsuit focuses specifically on supertoxins – dioxins, PCBs, and mercury as well as four other pollutants that Congress singled out for especially careful regulation. (Earthjustice, 18 July 2001)
Air pollution kills 3 lakh [300,000] in South Asian cities a year: Survey - The World Bank has stressed the need for launching out a strong campaign to create public awareness about urban pollution and halting the use of high emitting two-stroke engines that cause premature deaths in cities and their suburbans, reports BSS. (Independent [Bangladesh], 18 July 2001)
Pipeline Repaired Despite Community Protest: A pipeline rupture in southeastern Nigeria that caused the spillage of 10,000 barrels of crude oil and forced two major refineries to shut down temporarily has been repaired despite opposition by affected communities, officials said on Tuesday. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network, 18 July 2001)
Bush administration seeks to delay water cleanup: The Bush administration late Monday sought to delay a Clinton administration regulation designed to clean up more than 20,000 polluted rivers, lakes and other bodies of water across the United States. (JoAnne Allen, Reuters, 18 July 2001)
Firms Challenged Over Environment [Kenya]: Manufacturers have been told to observe international environmental standards or risk global sanctions. Environment and Natural Resources Minister Katana Ngala said the world market is rejecting goods whose production generated harmful substances or led to over-utilisation of natural resources. (Ngumbao Kithi, The Nation [Nairobi], 18 July 2001)
Vanishing Pacific island group appeals to be saved: A tiny South Pacific group of atolls is appealing for help on the Internet to stop its 500 people vanishing into the ocean because of rising sea levels they blame on climate change. [Taku'u, Papua New Guinea] (Michael Christie, Reuters, 18 July 2001)
Texaco to Put Pollution Devices Back on Its Wells: Texaco Inc. has agreed to outfit two Central Valley [California] oil fields with air pollution control devices and pay $568,000 for removing the equipment in the first place, the federal government announced. (Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2001)
Planning a Thorough Revamp of Green Laws [South Africa]: The environmental affairs and tourism department is embarking on a comprehensive law reform programme which will bring SA's environmental law in line with the constitution and international environmental law. The new laws will force businesses to clean their act when it comes to complying with environmental standards such as air and noise pollution. The reforms will also tighten loopholes businesses have used to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. (Sanchia Temkin, Business Day [Johannesburg], 17 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)
Oil Spill: Abia Communities Send SOS to FG, State: The Umuagu-Umuhu and Ihite-Ude Ofeme communities in Abia, currently being ravaged by oil spillage, have sent a distress call to the state and federal governments for urgent assistance, especially in the provision of potable water. [Nigeria] (Tony Edike, Vanguard [Lagos], 16 July 2001)
Greenhouse melts Alaska's tribal ways: As climate talks get under way in Bonn today, some Americans are ruing the warming their president chooses to ignore (Duncan Campbell, Guardian [UK], 16 July 2001)
Smog Feared in Power Buildup Electricity: Bush administration's plan for up to 1,900 plants over 20 years poses a threat to air quality, especially in the Midwest and South, experts say. [USA] (Gary Polakovic, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2001)
Oil Firms to Clear Spillage Mess, Government Orders [Nigeria]: The Federal Government has directed that all oil companies involved in oil spillages in their areas of operation must take full responsibility of clearing up the environment they messed up. (This Day [Lagos], 16 July 2001)
European Timber Trader Linked with Liberian Arms Trafficking: In an open letter sent to the DLH Group today in Denmark, environmental and human rights organizations called upon the company’s Chief Executive Officer to stop dealing with Liberian logging companies implicated by the United Nations in arms trafficking. (Greenpeace/Nepenthes/Global Witness, 16 July 2001)
G8 report sees renewables as key energy for poor: Green energies like wind and solar power could play a major role in improving the lives of millions of the world's poorest people, says a report to be handed to world leaders at a summit in Genoa, Italy next weekend. The report, co-written by Mark Moody-Stuart, the chairman Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell, says the G8 countries should aim to ensure renewable energies reach one billion people by the end of the decade, according to a draft seen by Reuters on Friday. (Robin Pomeroy, Reuters, 16 July 2001)
US business looks beyond the Kyoto "quagmire" [regarding Global Climate Coalition (GCC), the anti-Kyoto business association] (Patrick Connole, Reuters, 16 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)
Resort nation of Maldives looks to eco-tourism: The resort nation of the Maldives, critical of other countries for being lax on global warming, is working hard to ensure its own practices are environmentally friendly. (Scott McDonald, Reuters, 16 July 2001)
Bush cuts 'green' aid to Third World: President George W Bush is undermining attempts by Third World countries to develop renewable sources of energy and fight global warming, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. He is planning to slash US aid to help them combat climate change, and is watering down a personal initiative by Tony Blair for the world's richest countries to promote solar, wind and other clean energy in developing nations. (Geoffrey Lean, Independent on Sunday [UK], 15 July 2001)
DTI [United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry] courts 'ethical' Shell in drive to develop green energy: The Government is in talks with Shell to try to persuade the oil giant to invest in developing renewable energy plants in the UK. Shell recently announced it would invest between $500m (£360m) and $1bn (£650m) in renewable energy worldwide – and the Government wants a significant chunk of this to be spent in Britain. (Heather Tomlinson, Independent [UK], 15 July 2001)
Serious Concerns Regarding Forest Certification: Many forest conservationists, myself included, have eagerly embraced forest certification, particularly standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), as a promising tool to protect forests. However, it is rapidly becoming apparent that certification is no panacea, and serious flaws in the principles of forest certification pose real dangers to the World's forests. (Glen Barry, President, Forests.org, 14 July 2001)
Rio Tinto: Global Compact Violator - PT Kelian: A Case Study of Global Operations - In the third article in our series on Global Compact corporations, Danny Kennedy of Project Underground takes a look at Rio Tinto, the world's largest mining company. Just by looking at the company's practices at one mine in Indonesia over the last year, he finds evidence of brutal human rights and environmental violations. (Danny Kennedy, Project Underground, CorpWatch website, 13 July 2001)
Parts of Asia face deadly climate changes and natural disasters: With much of the world transfixed by the goal of economic growth and maintaining oil supplies, parts of Asia face deadly climate changes and natural disasters blamed on pollution and atmospheric warming. (Scott McDonald, Reuters, 13 July 2001)
Future climate change could be sudden - scientists: Future changes in the earth's climate may happen suddenly, triggered by man-made factors such as smokestacks and exhaust pipes, scientists said yesterday [at conference in Amsterdam] (Matt Daily, Reuters, 13 July 2001)
Premcor agrees to cut Illinois refinery pollution: Premcor Inc. agreed to spend $20 million to install new pollution control equipment that will cut emissions of sulfur dioxide and particulates, the US Justice Department said Thursday. St. Louis-based Premcor, an independent oil refiner, will also pay $2 million in civil penalties for violations of the Clean Air Act, the government said in a statement. The US government and the state of Illinois, where Premcor has an oil refinery, accused the company of making major modifications to the refinery without installing pollution control equipment mandated by the Clean Air Act's so-called new source review requirements. (Reuters, 13 July 2001)
Diesel Cancer Risk Dwarfs All Other Air Toxics Combined: New EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] Data Reveal Much Higher Than Expected Risk Levels (Environmental Defense, 12 July 2001)
Experts dismiss climate report: A new report which paints a pessimistic future for the world's climate has been dismissed as "scaremongering" by some experts. (CNN.com, 12 July 2001)
Industrial pollution cause of climate instability: Planet Earth is warming faster than at any time in the past one thousand years and there is little doubt that human activity is to blame, according to the latest and most definitive scientific assessment of climate change. (Steve Connor, Independent [UK], 12 July 2001)
Sunday morning political talk shows ignore corporate power issues [USA] - The study found that: Topics related to corporate power -- the environment, corporate crime, labor, mergers, consumer rights, corporate welfare, national health care, free trade agreements, redlining, blockbusting, multinational capital flight, tort reform, renewable energy, the commercialization of children, etc. -- make up less than 4% of the shows’ discussion topics...Corporate influence over the networks, the shows and the guests in part explains the remarkable omission of issues related to corporate power. Multinational conglomerates own the networks, major corporations sponsor specific shows, businesses regularly pay celebrity journalist lecture fees, and massive corporations fund the campaigns of the guest newsmakers. (Essential Information, 12 July 2001)
Benchmarking Corporate Environmental and Social Reporting: Recent survey examines the environmental and social reporting practices of the 100 largest global firms. With increasing shareowner interest in the environmental and social performance of their companies, more and more firms are trying to meet demand with increased reporting. While international cooperative efforts such as the Global Reporting Initiative are working to standardize such disclosure, companies can find themselves in uncharted territory in the meantime. A recent survey, "The State of Global Environmental and Social Reporting: The 2001 Benchmark Survey," was conducted to help companies gauge their progress on reporting and identify areas that need improvement. (Mark Thomsen, SocialFunds.com, 12 July 2001)
Global warming much worse than predicted, say scientists: Global warming is happening now, caused by human actions, and threatens the Earth with disaster, the world's leading atmospheric scientists insisted yesterday as politicians struggled to repair the Kyoto treaty on climate change which the United States torpedoed in March. (Michael McCarthy, Steve Connor, Richard Lloyd Parry and Stephen Castle, Independent [UK], 12 July 2001)
How the world is threatened by massive change: The effects of relentlessly rising global temperatures in the coming century are likely to be catastrophic for the world, the second volume of the new IPCC report spells out with more chilling confidence than ever before. (Michael McCarthy, Independent [UK], 12 July 2001)
Plantations to be charged with open burning: Eight oil palm plantations around Sibu, which defied the ban on open burning, will face prosecution in court. [Malaysia] (The Star [Malaysia], 12 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)
Exxon global warming boycott gets new push: Green protestors widened their boycott campaign against Exxon Mobil on Wednesday and although analysts said retail sales showed no sign of suffering they warned there might be some damage longer term to the oil giant's famous brand. (Stefano Ambrogi, Reuters, 12 July 2001)
US energy companies propose carbon dioxide emission caps (Reuters, 12 July 2001)
Ryan alleges environmental violations at former Texaco refinery in Lockport: Allegations of groundwater contamination and open dumping are contained in a complaint filed today by Attorney General Jim Ryan and Will County State’s Attorney Jeff Tomczak against Texaco Refining & Marketing, Inc. which operated a refinery at 301 W. 2nd St., Lockport, for 71 years until it closed in 1981. [Illinois, USA] (office of Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, 12 July 2001)
Bangkok Conference on Biotechnology Calls for Greater Transparency on GMOs: A three-day international conference in Bangkok on "New Biotechnology Food and Crops: Science, Safety and Society" concluded with recommendations that all stakeholders commit to greater transparency on genetically modified organisms and that governments increase their support for independent and publicly funded scientific research into the risks and benefits of GM foods and crops. (OECD, 12 July 2001)Bangkok conference on GMOs [genetically-modified organisms] endorses consumers right to know: The rights of consumers are supreme and must be respected. Consumers have an absolute right to know what is in the food they consume stated Suwit Khunkitti, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand at the OECD Conference on Biotechnology in Bangkok. (Consumers International, 12 July 2001)
New Biotechnology Foods and Crops: Science, Safety and Society - Bangkok Conference, 10-12 July 2001 (OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development])
Growing Population Stamps Heavy Ecological Footprint: Speaking on the occasion of World Population Day, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan linked the growing population to ecological stress on the planet's resources. Calling attention to deforestation, pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, he said, "Our ecological footprints on the earth are heavier than ever before." (Environment News Service, 11 July 2001)
Greenhouse emissions back on the rise: Nation's Kyoto goal would require 12.8% cut (Japan Times, 11 July 2001)
Nigeria Loses $5.8bn On Unsustainable Development: Nigeria has been losing an estimated $5.8 billion annually to unsustainable development, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Moham-med Kabir Sa'id, said in Abuja yesterday. (Tayo Ajakaye, This Day [Lagos], 10 July 2001)
Rosy outlook for wind power as new markets emerge: The wind power sector is seen advancing by leaps and bounds over the coming decade as new countries enter the wind map, delegates said at the end of a five-day wind energy conference and exhibition in Copenhagen. (Birgitte Dyrekilde, Reuters, 10 July 2001)
When disaster strikes: What happens when a brand becomes tainted? The oil spills were bad enough, but Shell's reputation went belly up after it was implicated in human rights violations in Nigeria. John Vidal on how it went about revamping its image (John Vidal, Guardian [UK], 9 July 2001)
Japan resists EU pressure to ratify Kyoto treaty: Japan on Monday resisted pressure from the European Union to ratify the ailing Kyoto climate treaty, insisting that US participation was essential if it were to have any meaning. (David Ibison and Michael Mann, Financial Times, 9 July 2001)
Business power must be checked (Matt Phillips, senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth, in The Observer [UK], 8 July 2001)
How the world mining industry had to dig itself out of a hole: The chairman of Rio Tinto argues that when his company engaged with its critics, it realised that extraction and sustainable development need not be contradictions (Sir Robert Wilson, Chairman of Rio Tinto, in The Observer [UK], 8 July 2001)
Bush cuts aid to India for reducing global warming: US President George W Bush has proposed a cut in the aid to India and other third world countries to help them combat global warming. (Times of India, 8 July 2001)
Environmental ruling near on Thailand-Malaysia pipeline: Thai environmental authorities are expected this month to decide whether a controversial gas pipeline from the Gulf of Thailand to Malaysia will be allowed to proceed, sources close to the project said yesterday. (Reuters, in Gulf News [Dubai], 7 July 2001)
Oil spill: Shell suffered a major spill last weekend in the Niger Delta, 'The Guardian' reported on Tuesday. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network, in allAfrica.com, 7 July 2001)
Mobil investigates Australia petrol spill (Reuters, 6 July 2001)
Businesses support Kyoto climate treaty: WWF, the conservation organization, welcomes today's call on governments by more than 90 companies grouped together in the "e-mission 55 - Business for Climate " initiative to finalise the Kyoto Protocol. (World Wildlife Fund, 5 July 2001)
New EU law aims to double green energy by 2010: The European Parliament approved a law yesterday that aims to double the share of renewable power in European Union's energy mix by 2010, forming a cornerstone of the EU's climate change policy. (Robin Pomeroy, Reuters, 5 July 2001)
Esso says concerned over Body Shop's UK boycott move: Esso yesterday expressed dismay over the Body Shop's decision to back a UK boycott of Esso garages in protest at its parent company's stance on global warming and its past record on renewable energy spending (Stefano Ambrogi, Reuters, 5 July 2001)
Rhodes Ichthyology Head Warns That International Fishing Fleets Are Stripping African Oceans: The discovery in Port Elizabeth that a Taiwanese trawler has been plundering our oceans has highlighted the problem of a lack of policing of international fishing, especially off the African coastline. Rhodes Ichthyology head Dr Peter Britz said in a wide-ranging interview Thursday that there was a widespread problem of territorial and international waters being plundered by foreign fishing fleets. (Mike Loewe, East Cape News [Grahamstown, South Africa], 5 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)
Shell to provide solar power for Chinese homes (Reuters, 3 July 2001)
Government [UK Government] publishes Ilisu Dam report: The Government today published the long-awaited Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Ilisu Dam in Turkey. A preliminary review of the EIA summary suggests that it fails to provide assurance that the UK Government conditions of December 1999 will be met. (Friends of the Earth, 3 July 2001)
The Global Alternative [What are the elements of a transnational New Deal, and how do we bring one about? The emerging global social-democratic alternative involves a "grand bargain" between the two wings of the opposition: The developed world would get protection for its social standards, and the developing world would receive the flexibility and capital investment it needs for growth.] (Jeff Faux, American Prospect, 2-16 July 2001)
Time is running out for Japan and the Kyoto Protocol: Statement by Bill Hare, Greenpeace International Climate Policy Director (Greenpeace, 2 July 2001)
Mexico pushes industry to register toxic emissions (Reuters, 2 July 2001)
ExxonMobil sued for MTBE spill in Long Island, NY: One of the largest suppliers of drinking water on Long Island sued Exxon Mobil Corp. last week for water contamination by a gasoline additive that was first used to help the environment. (Soo Youn, Reuters, 2 July 2001)
Alaska governor signs cruise ship regulation bill [to combat pollution] (Reuters, 2 July 2001)
ICI pulls out of cocaine war: ICI [British chemicals company] has pulled out of the controversial US project to spray vast areas of Colombia with herbicides in an attempt to eradicate its cocaine and heroin trade. ICI does not want its name dragged into such a programme, particularly as there have been reports of children in Colombia who have inhaled the chemicals falling ill. (Antony Barnett and Solomon Hughes, Observer [UK], 1 July 2001)
The NGO-Industrial Complex: A new global activism is shaming the world's top companies into enacting codes of conduct and opening their Third World factories for inspection. But before you run a victory lap in your new sweatshop-free sneakers, ask yourself: Do these voluntary arrangements truly help workers and the environment, or do they merely weaken local governments while adding more green to the corporate bottom line? (Gary Gereffi [Professor of sociology and Director of the Markets and Management Studies Program at Duke University], Ronie Garcia-Johnson [Assistant Professor of environmental policy at Duke University], Erika Sasser [Visiting Assistant Professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University], in Foreign Policy, July-Aug. 2001)
Toxics on the Hudson: The Saga of GE, PCBs and the Hudson River (Charlie Cray, Multinational Monitor, July/Aug. 2001)
Sowing Technology: The ecological argument against genetic engineering down on the farm (Craig Holdrege and Steve Talbott, Sierra Magazine, Sierra Club, July/Aug. 2001)
Spinning Science into GOLD: In the pursuit of profit, the biotech industry is manipulating more than genes (Karen Charman, Sierra Magazine, Sierra Club, July/Aug. 2001)
Sleepwalking with the enemy - or waking to the truth? Resource document for seminar "communities confronting mining corporations" [a critical assessment of major initiatives (including Mines, Minerals and Sustainable Development project) aimed at "reforming" mining/natural resource industries, and the responses of various NGOs] (Mines & Communities Website, presented in draft at the London Mining Seminar May 2001 and updated July 2001)