back to home

back to index for this section

See also other materials on "Environment & human rights"

May 2002:

The Burger They Love to Hate -...But to others, McDonald's is the archvillian, the target for a host of environmentalists, animal rights activists, vegetarians, trade unionists, and enemies of capitalism. (Eetta Prince-Gibson, Jerusalem Post [Israel], 31 May 2002)

A Guide for Potential Partnerships on Energy for Sustainable Development -...The creation of public-private partnerships on energy for sustainable development requires the active involvement of the private sector as strategic partners in building strong alliances to implement specific initiatives, and as sources of expertise, financing and experience. [page 3] (United Nations, Background Paper No. 3 for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Fourth Preparatory Session, 31 May 2002) [to download this pdf file directly, click here: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/prep4_background_papers/energy_3.pdf]

European parliament votes to regulate multinational companies - The European Parliament...has...voted for new legislation to require companies to publicly report annually on their social and environmental performance, to make Board members personally responsible for these practices, and to establish legal jurisdiction against European companies' abuses in developing countries. (Richard Howitt, Member of the European Parliament, 31 May 2002)

Institutional Investors collaborate on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Questionnaire- Today a group of large institutional investors with significant assets wrote to the 500 largest quoted companies in the world by market capitalisation asking for the disclosure of investment-relevant information concerning their greenhouse gas emissions. (Carbon Disclosure Project, 31 May 2002)

• Institutional Investors Press Largest Companies to Disclose Greenhouse Gas Emissions -...The correlation between corporate environmental performance and shareowner value has gained increasing validation, prompting investors to request greater transparency on environmental issues from their companies. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 31 May 2002)

EU wants multinationals to publish ethical reports - The European Parliament backed a report yesterday asking multinationals to assess the social and environmental impact of their businesses in annual reports...."Of 2,500 voluntary codes of conduct promoted by business, two thirds ignore internationally recognised standards, avoid independent verification or disown responsibility down their supply chain." (Reuters, 31 May 2002)

Pulp Fiction – Credit Suisse and the destruction of the Indonesian rainforest -... The Indonesian pulp and paper corporation Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) is responsible for the destruction of large parts of the Indonesian rainforest, one of the world’s richest in the diversity of its species, and for the expulsion of its inhabitants. Credit Suisse plays a special role among the over 300 Indonesian and international banks that finance APP. (Berne Declaration and ACTARES [Shareholders for a Sustainable Development], 31 May 2002)

• {···français} Pulp Fiction - Credit Suisse et la destruction des forêts tropicales (Déclaration de Berne & ACTARES [Actionnariat pour une économie durable], 31 mai 2002)

• {···deutsch} Pulp Fiction - Credit Suisse und die Zerstörung von Regenwald (Erklärung von Bern und ACTARES [AktionärInnen für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften], 31 Mai 2002)

Britain's high court delays mahogany verdict - Greenpeace took the British government to court for a second time yesterday to try to force it to clamp down on imports of Amazonian mahogany. (Reuters, 31 May 2002)

Major automakers' eco-friendly efforts - Tighter emission rules and worries about dependency on fossil fuels are spurring automakers around the world to develop eco-friendly vehicles [refers to Toyota, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Volkswagen, Ford, Ballard Power Systems] (Reuters, 31 May 2002)

Statement of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -...the Committee observes with concern the overall decline in living conditions, particularly in connection with pressures of globalization and the shrinking role of the State, as more and more social services are turned over to non-State entities who have no comparable commitment to the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, nor to the protection of the environment. The Committee has observed, for example, that the right to health is violated by "the failure to enact or enforce laws to prevent the pollution of water, air and soil by the extractive and manufacturing industries." [para. 3] (United Nations, Background Paper No. 5 for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Fourth Preparatory Session, 30 May 2002) [to download this pdf file directly, click here: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/prep4_background_papers/humanrights_background5.pdf]

Trees, Trash And Toxic Leaded Petrol Targeted In This Year's World Environment Day Celebrations In Kenya -...The action plan to phase out lead in petrol is to be drawn up by representatives of governments, industry and civil society from countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya. (U.N. Environment Programme, 30 May 2002)

Challenge to a voluntary preserve - Is legislation needed, to force companies to report on their social and environmental performance? (Alison Maitland & Michael Mann, Financial Times, 30 May 2002)

Enron, Others Ordered to Preserve Documents Related to Secret Meetings with Cheney Energy Task Force [USA]: Sierra Club serves subpoenas to industry groups in lawsuit against Cheney, others - Subpoenas began arriving today at polluting industries and industry groups, like Enron and the National Mining Association, as part of efforts by the Sierra Club to discover how they influenced Vice President Cheney's Energy Task Force. (Sierra Club, 30 May 2002)

Canada - US industrial water waste rising - study - Industrial pollution dumped into U.S. and Canadian lakes, rivers and streams rose 26 percent from 1995 to 1999, overshadowing an almost equal reduction in toxic air emissions, an environmental watchdog agency [North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a Montreal-based agency created under the North American Free Trade Agreement] said yesterday. (Robert Melnbardis, Reuters, 30 May 2002)

US EPA urges recycling, not dumping, computers -...Under a new recycling program proposed yesterday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fewer of the lead-contaminated relics would be buried in local landfills. (Chris Baltimore, Reuters, 30 May 2002) 

KPMG Launches International Survey of Corporate Sustainability Reporting 2002 - Forty-five percent of the Fortune global top 250 companies are now issuing environmental, social or sustainability reports in addition to their financial reports, according to a new survey released by KPMG. Globally, more companies than ever are publishing reports on their environmental, social and sustainability performance and an increasing number are having these reports independently verified. (KPMG, 29 May 2002)

Expert proposes world eco-cops to guard resources - An advisor to the European Union on illegal logging called yesterday for the creation of a specialist group of international environment police to catch criminals plundering the Earth's resources. (Jeremy Lovell, Reuters, 29 May 2002)

Gold diggers draw ire from environmentalists -...environmentalists insist, gold mining is dangerous to people's health and ruinous to the environment. The mining industry, in general, acknowledges the environmental sins of the past and promises to do better. (Peter Galloway, Reuters, 29 May 2002)

Shareholders blast ExxonMobil - Criticism runs gamut from human rights to compensation - ExxonMobil shareholders on Wednesday lit into the oil-and-gas giant and Chairman Lee Raymond at the annual meeting, criticizing the company's practices on everything from renewable energy sources to the appointment of board members. (Lisa Sanders, CBS.MarketWatch, 29 May 2002)

• [Amnesty International USA] Update May 29, 2002: 374 million shares voted in favor - Today at ExxonMobil's annual shareholder meeting, approximately 374 million shares representing over $15 billion in shareholder equity were voted in favor of a human rights policy resolution sponsored by Amnesty International. While the vote represented only about 6.8% of the over 5.5 billion shares voted, it is far in excess of the 3% minimum required to reintroduce the proposal next year. (Amnesty International USA, 29 May 2002)

• Exxon Mobil shareholders dodge protesters as meeting begins - Shareholders of Exxon Mobil Corp. backed management Wednesday on a series of contentious issues but signaled strong support to promote renewable energy and explicitly ban discrimination against gays. (David Koenig, AP, 29 May 2002)

• Activist Shareholders Get 'Huge Win' With Over 20% in ExxonMobil Global-Warming Resolution Vote - More than Doubled Vote Total Boosts Efforts to Change ExxonMobil's Isolation on Global Warming (Campaign ExxonMobil, 29 May 2002)

• A resolution demanding Exxon outline its future plans for the promotion of renewable energy gained an unprecedented 20.3 percent of shareholders' votes - $55 billion in shares - at the company's annual meeting in Dallas Texas. (StopEsso coalition, 30 May 2002)

• Deaf Exxon -...A proposal to be put to a shareholder vote, requiring the group to develop a plan for renewable energy, has won the support of Institutional Shareholder Services, an important American proxy services firm which advises big investors how they should vote. So, too, has another proposal, requiring Exxon to prohibit discrimination against gay workers. (Guardian [UK], 30 May 2002) [note: this is a sub-article which appears under the article entitled: "Problems for over-energetic Cheney"...scroll down the page]

Journalists List Corporations Found Guilty of Crimes throughout the 1990s - A simple list of corporate crimes, presented along with guilty pleas or fine payments, hints at the pervasiveness of poor corporate ethics...journalists Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman have compiled a list of The Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the Decade...The authors point out that six corporations--Exxon (now ExxonMobil), Rockwell International, Royal Carribbean Cruises, Warner-Lambert (now part of Pfizer), Teledyne, and United Technologies--appear more than once on the list. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 29 May 2002)

• Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the Decade [includes full list] (Russell Mokhiber, 1999)

• Annotated list of the top 100

• Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the 1990s (Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman, in Mother Jones, 7 Sep. 1999)

BRAZIL: Law Protecting Atlantic Forest To Be Taken Up By Congress (UN Wire, 29 May 2002)

Sustainable development is serious stuff for industries - ‘Sector projects’, a new WBCSD brochure, outlines the groundbreaking work carried out by six industry sectors toward sustainable development. [the 6 sectors: Forestry; Sustainable Mobility; Cement Sustainability Initiative; Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development; Electricity Utilities; Financial Sector] (World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 28 May 2002)

• WBCSD Sector Projects brochure (World Business Council for Sustainable Development, May 2002)  [scroll down to "Further information", where this pdf file can be downloaded]

• The WBCSD’s sector projects. Speech by Mr Björn Stigson, President, WBCSD at the WBCSD Sector Report Launch side event at Prepcom IV in Bali, May 28, 2002. (World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 28 May 2002) [scroll down to "Further information", where this pdf file can be downloaded]

• The WBCSD’s sector projects. Speech by Nabiel Makarim, MPA MSM, Indonesian State Minister of the Environment and co-chair of PrepCom IV, at the WBCSD Sector Report Launch side event at Prepcom IV in Bali, May 28, 2002. (Nabiel Makarim, Indonesian State Minister of the Environment, 28 May 2002) [scroll down to "Further information", where this pdf file can be downloaded]

Unions issue challenge to UN “Sustainable Development” Meeting - The proposal was to form partnerships to initiate an international programme of "Workplace Assessments', a strategy for surveying and reporting on sustainable development issues as they affect the workplace and surrounding community. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 28 May 2002)

BATTERIES: Basel Convention Experts Draft New Recycling Guidelines - The United Nations said today that an expert panel working under the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal has finalized a set of guidelines to promote environmentally sound recycling of used lead-acid batteries. (UN Wire, 28 May 2002)

Sempra: Exporting Pollution - U.S.-Mexico Border Region to Pay the Price for California's Power - If San Diego-based Sempra Energy had decided to build its new natural gas-fired power plant in southern California, state and local authorities would have required the company to comply with stringent air quality regulations. Company officials would also have had to complete detailed environmental impact statements. So Sempra decided to build the plant just over the border in Mexico instead. (J.P. Ross, Greenpeace, Special to CorpWatch, 27 May 2002)

New Basel Guidelines To Improve Recycling Of Old Batteries (United Nations Environment Programme, 27 May 2002)

• {···français} Nouvelles Directives De La Convention De Bâle Pour Mieux Recycler Les Batteries Usagées Tout En Protégeant La Santé Humaine Et L'environnement (Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement, 27 mai 2002)

Shell Brazil unit may be shut as toxic case looms - Oil and chemical giant Royal Dutch/Shell might have to shut down its big fuel unit in Brazil amid a second investigation of alleged environmental and health damage caused by its toxic pesticide operations, local authorities said yesterday. (Andrei Khalip, Reuters, 24 May 2002)

Ocean oil pollution blamed on US rivers and boats - The vast majority of the 29 million gallons of petroleum that flow into U.S. coastal waters each year comes from polluted rivers, small boats and jet skis, and can't be blamed on well-publicized oil spills, a report from the National Academy of Sciences said yesterday. (Tom Doggett, Reuters, 24 May 2002) 

Sweden says cut subsidies endangering environment - State support to coal mining and large-scale farming poses a major threat to the environment and should be cut, both in Europe and worldwide, Sweden's environment minister said yesterday. (Anna Peltola, Reuters, 24 May 2002)

Annual Meeting Focuses Pressure on ExxonMobil: Some shareowners and NGOs claim that ExxonMobil's environmental and social practices are hurting the company's profitability -...At its May 29 annual meeting, ExxonMobil shareowner will vote on eight resolutions that concern issues ranging from human rights abuses to global warming. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 24 May 2002)

INSECTICIDES: Effects More Serious Than Previously Thought, Team Says - Scientists working in Ecuador have discovered that human exposure to insecticides may be causing death and illness at a rate almost 20 times greater than had been estimated, the World Bank said yesterday. (UN Wire, 24 May 2002)

• New Research in Ecuador Simplifies Policy Decisions on Health and Environment - The health consequences of insecticide use—and misuse—in the high Andes of South America may ultimately be far greater than previously thought (World Bank, 23 May 2002)

ECOTOURISM: UNEP Pleased With Turnout For First-Ever World Summit (UN Wire, 24 May 2002)

• UN hails forum's declaration defining basis for ecotourism development - The dialogue [at the World Ecotourism Summit] culminated in the Québec Declaration on Ecotourism, which will be presented later this year to the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. (United Nations, 23 May 2002)

Social Indexes Beef Up Environmental Criteria to Promote Corporate Social Responsibility - FTSE4Good announces tougher environmental criteria for inclusion on its indexes, and answers critics who question whether this strategy will elicit corporate change (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 23 May 2002)

UNEP: Planet Stands At Crossroads, Agency Says In New Report (UN Wire, 23 May 2002)

• full report: GEO: Global Environment Outlook 3 - Past, present and future perspectives (U.N. Environment  Programme, May 2002)

• World facing critical choices on environment (Jeremy Lovell, Reuters, 23 May 2002)

• UN environment report sees regional challenges (Reuters, 23 May 2002)

The Matrix: a New Tool for Assessing Corporate Social Responsibility - Last week, London-based Morley Fund Management introduced its Sustainability Matrix, which ranks companies listed on the FTSE 100 index based on their social and environmental performance. And the March 2002 issue of the Harvard Business Review included an article that introduced the virtue matrix, which categorizes corporate "virtue," or a company's social and environmental practices. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 22 May 2002)

• Morley Fund Management publishes Sustainability Matrix - Morley Fund Management today releases its first Sustainability Matrix. This Matrix ranks FTSE 100 companies according to social and environmental criteria and provides a new measure of business sustainability. (Morley Fund Management, 13 May 2002)

• The Virtue Matrix: Calculating the Return on Corporate Responsibility (Roger L. Martin, Dean and Professor of Strategy at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, in Harvard Business Review, Mar. 2002)

Comment - Simon Zadek discusses where companies should look for the business case for integrating responsible social and environmental policies (Simon Zadek, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 22 May 2002)

Greenpeace ends French Esso refinery blockade - Greenpeace activists ended a day-long blockade of Exxon Mobil Corp's largest refinery in France yesterday, after dubbing the world's biggest oil company "Climate Enemy No. 1". (Marc Parrad, Reuters, 22 May 2002)

GAO warns MTBE fuel leaks in water more widespread [USA] - Contamination of water supplies by MTBE is more widespread in local communities than previously thought, because the gasoline fuel additive has leaked from pipelines across the United States, the General Accounting Office warned Congress yesterday. (Tom Doggett, Reuters, 22 May 2002)

World Bank VP urges more leadership on environment - A senior World Bank executive said yesterday strong political leadership was vital to ensure a world environment summit in three months time did not add to the discontent felt by some about the process of globalisation. (Nick Antonovics, Reuters, 22 May 2002) 

CLIMATE CHANGE: New IPCC Head Defends His Impartiality - Newly elected Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chief Rajendra Pachauri has defended himself, in an interview with the BBC, against allegations that his ascension to the post was aided by support from oil companies. Earlier reports indicated petroleum and automotive interests lobbied on behalf of Pachauri (UN Wire, 21 May 2002)

• Climate chief defends independence - The new head of the world panel assessing the nature of climate change has rejected charges that his appointment is a victory for oil firms. (BBC News, 17 May 2002)

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY: Council OKs $113.7 Million In Projects -...Announcing the new work program, the facility stressed high private sector participation. "Co-financing of GEF projects is critical, because it brings additional resources to the goal of obtaining global environmental benefits" (UN Wire, 20 May 2002)

ECOTOURISM: First U.N. Summit Opens In Canada - The first World Ecotourism Summit opened yesterday in Quebec, with national, international and industry representatives on hand to seek a balance between conservation and economic development at ecotourism sites. (UN Wire, 20 May 2002)

• The World Ecotourism Summit (19-22 May 2002)

• {···español} Cumbre mundial del ecoturismo (19-22 mayo 2002)

• {···français} Sommet mondial de l'écotourisme (19-22 mai 2002)

Maligned mining sector says digging for new image - Mining companies, long maligned for sullying the environment and making big profits in poor countries, have taken strides in becoming people-and nature-friendly but still have more to do, industry experts and executives say. (Missy Ryan, Reuters, 20 May 2002)

Villagers vow to fight Thai-Malaysian pipeline (Sasithorn Simaporn, Reuters, 20 May 2002) 

Why do they hate Exxon? Yesterday saw national [UK] protests by environmentalists against ExxonMobil. Mary Fagan assesses whether they were justified (Mary Fagan, Telegraph [UK], 19 May 2002)

ExxonMobil launches eco-friendly strategy - ExxonMobil, the US oil giant, has belatedly climbed aboard the corporate social responsibility bandwagon by launching a research programme worth up to $500m to help fight global warming. (Mary Fagan, Telegraph [UK], 19 May 2002)

The [U.N.] Secretary-General - Message to the Global Mining Initiative Conference Toronto, 12-15 May 2002 (U.N. Global Compact, 17 May 2002)

Economic benefits of high tech investment in developing countries are compromised by environmental and health costs, concludes new report - Despite voluntary efforts to reduce environmental impacts, semiconductor companies are not adequately grappling with the environmental, health and labor impacts of their production and assembly operations, especially in developing countries and global supply chains (Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development, 17 May 2002)

• full report [can be downloaded from the following page]: Dodging Dilemmas? Environmental and Social Accountability in the Global Operations of California-Based High-Tech Companies [refers to Advanced Micro Devices, Agilent Technologies, IDT Technologies, Intel, Hewlett Packard, National Semiconductor, Seagate Technologies & Solectron - based on case studies in Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Thailand & Costa Rica] (Lyuba Zarsky, Naomi Roht-Arriza & Leif Brottem, California Global Corporate Accountability Project, May 2002)

Sustainable Venture Finance - An Expert Workshop on Sustainability Oriented Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship - 7 - 8 June 2002 - Fontainebleau, France - ...what is the next step for investors interested in a triple-bottom line (i.e. environmental, social and financial) return? (United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiatives & INSEAD Centre for the Management of Environmental Resources) (posted on this site 17 May 2002)

{···español} Sospecha rodea muerte de dirigentes indígenas [Ecuador] - El accidente de una avioneta en que murieron hace seis días tres dirigentes del pueblo shuar enfrentados con la compañía petrolera Burlington, en el suroriente de Ecuador, pudo ser consecuencia de un sabotaje, advirtieron organizaciones indígenas. (Kintto Lucas, IPS, La Hora [Ecuador], 16 mayo 2002)

Ecuador reinstates OCP's environmental license - Ecuador's Environment Ministry yesterday said it reinstated a license for OCP Ecuador SA to build an oil pipeline near a protected forest after area damage was mitigated (Reuters, 16 May 2002)

Abandoned mines said gigantic environment problem - The environmental and social costs of closing and rehabilitating old and abandoned mines around the world are likely in the trillions of dollars, and far beyond the capability of mining companies alone to deal with, Sir Robert Wilson, chairman of London-based metals giant Rio Tinto Plc said this week. (Reuters, 16 May 2002)

Top miners pledge steps to sustainable development - A high-profile mining conference on sustainable development ended yesterday with pledges that the industry is in the process of mending its social and environmental ways, but with no concrete action plan (Peter Galloway, Reuters, 16 May 2002)

• Mining sector aims to be kinder, gentler, greener - The mining industry moved to put another nail in the coffin of its swashbuckling past on Monday, opening a major conference designed give it a kinder, gentler and greener face (Peter Galloway, Reuters, 15 May 2002)

Panama and Netherlands partnership to cut greenhouse gases -...Under the agreement, Panama is to carry out 13 projects involving the private sector to promote energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources (U.N. Development Programme, 16 May 2002)

Pesticide company's legal bid to keep toxic secrets [UK] - Campaigners dressed in chemical suits and pollution masks and carrying chemical spray packs marked ‘top secret’ will be outside the High Court on Wednesday. They will be protesting against chemical company Aventis’ attempt to keep safety data on one of its pesticides [Glufosinate Ammonium] secret. (Friends of the Earth, 15 May 2002)

• company website: Aventis

Affordable responsibility: Alison Maitland on a new report examining the demands made by big customers on community and social issues - When B&Q, the do-it-yourself chain, told suppliers to comply with its new environmental standards, the demand was a shock for Graham & Brown, the Blackburn-based wallpaper manufacturer...This was 10 years ago. Graham & Brown has since sought to become a leader in the environmental field (Alison Maitland, Financial Times, 15 May 2002)

PNG Prime Minister Backs Greenpeace Logging Protest - Greenpeace climbers ended their occupation of a log ship in Papua New Guinea today after the Prime Minister joined landowners and Greenpeace in condemning a logging project [by Malaysian logging company Concord Pacific] (Environment News Service, 15 May 2002)

The State Of The Planet Is Getting Worse But For Many It's Still "business As Usual" - Industry and the environment - achievements, unfinished business and future challenges. Global launch of 22 Industry Reports prepared for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development - There is a growing gap between the efforts of business and industry to reduce their impact on the environment and the worsening state of the planet, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals today...in most industry sectors, only a small number of companies are actively striving for sustainability (United Nations Environment Programme, 15 May 2002)

• Industry still failing on environment - UN report - Despite the best efforts of a minority of firms, world industry as a whole is failing to pull its weight on protecting the environment, a United Nations report concluded yesterday. (Reuters, 16 May 2002)

• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: UNEP Blasts Industry "Business As Usual" (UN Wire, 16 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 - Accounting
• Sector report - Advertising
• Sector report - Aluminium
• Sector report - Automotive
• Sector report - Aviation
• Sector report - Chemicals
• Sector report - Coal
• Sector report - Construction
• Sector report - Consulting engineering
• Sector report - Electricity
• Sector report - Fertilizers
• Sector report - Finance and insurance
• Sector report - Food and drink
• Sector report - Information and communications technology
• Sector report - Iron and Steel
• Sector report - Oil and gas
• Sector report - Railways
• Sector report - Refrigeration
• Sector report - Road transport
• Sector report - Tourism
• Sector report - Waste management
• Sector report - Water management

Environmental fray over Ecuador pipeline heats up - Activists have mounted a fresh campaign against an Ecuadorean oil pipeline, buying a swath of forest where the line should go, an environmental group spokesman said. (Reuters, 15 May 2002)

Nippon Mitsubishi says to enter windpower business - Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corp , Japan's biggest oil company, said yesterday it planned to get into the wind power industry, becoming the first Japanese oil company to become involved in the business. (Reuters, 15 May 2002)

Whitman Celebrates National Initiative for Environmentally Responsible Commuting, Recognizes Nearly 300 Outstanding Corporate Partners for Leadership in Program [USA] (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 14 May 2002)

Big Agriculture In California Will Be Required To Obey Clean Air Act - EPA Settles Lawsuits with Community and Environmental Groups (Earthjustice, 14 May 2002)

• Factory Farm Smog to be Regulated [California, USA] (Sierra Club, 20 May 2002)

Safe Companies - A practical path for 'operationalizing' sustainability -...This discussion paper presents Ecos Corporation's Safe Companies, a strategic framework for integrating sustainability principles and issues into business. (Paul Gilding, Rick Humphries & Murray Hogarth, Ecos Corporation, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 14 May 2002)

Expert warns world is warming faster than forecast (Eva Sohlman, Reuters, 14 May 2002)

Making a Workable Tobin Tax: Interview with Joseph Stiglitz - As the world is becoming more integrated, globalization has occurred, we have more needs that need to be fulfilled at the global level, we have needs in terms of financing the war against AIDS and other international diseases, the war against terror, providing for a better environment...addressing poverty in developing countries. (interview of Joseph Stiglitz, Sonia Mikich, Monitor, 13 May 2002)

PrepCom IV for the World Summit on Sustainable Development Bali, Indonesia - 27 May to 7 June 2002 (United Nations) (posted on this site 13 May 2002)

• Indonesian People's Forum - a consolidation forum for local, regional, national, and international civil society, and also as a medium for national and international campaigns that aim at contributing inputs to strengthen the outcomes of PrepComm IV - May 25 - June 6, 2002 (Indonesian People's Forum)

Environmentalists launch campaign against ExxonMobil for global warming stance: Greenpeace Report Details More Than a Decade of Deception and Undue Influence (Greenpeace USA, 13 May 2002)

• full report: Denial and Deception: A Chronicle of ExxonMobil's Corruption of the Debate on Global Warming (Greenpeace USA, May 2002)

• Week of protest against Exxon - As a week of protest against giant oil corporation Exxon gets underway, Greenpeace in the USA today will launch a report detailing the company's history of deliberate efforts to sabotage international action on climate change. (Greenpeace International, 13 May 2002)

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: U.N. Forum Meets For First Time - The U.N. Economic and Social Council's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today begins its first annual two-week meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York, bringing together indigenous leaders and civil society representatives...The body is charged with advising the Economic and Social Council on development, culture, human rights, the environment, education and health and with raising awareness, promoting the integration of U.N. activities related to indigenous peoples and preparing and disseminating information (UN Wire, 13 May 2002)

• Historic Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues breaks new ground for world's indigenous peoples (United Nations, 10 May 2002)

Indonesian forests vanishing into paper - scientist - Indonesia's tropical rain forest, the world's third largest, is vanishing at an alarming rate as the country's pulp and paper industry has grown ten-fold over the past decade, an international scientist said last week. (Reuters, 13 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) 

Brazil bauxite miner says helping restore Amazon - Brazil's largest bauxite miner [Mineracao Rio do Norte] said that it was gradually restoring parts of the tropical rain forest in former mining areas in the remote Amazon region. (Peter Blackburn, Reuters, 13 May 2002) 

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) 

Aid can kill with kindness, say Thai mussel farmers [criticism of Asian Development Bank for funding project which was intended to clean yup polluted canals, but dumps toxins on mussel farms, making the seafood dangerous to eat and nearly impossible to sell] (Erin Prelypchan, Reuters, 13 May 2002)

Greenpeace seizes stolen PNG logs -...Malaysian logging company Concord Pacific has taken these logs from the local landowner communities in Papua New Guinea with complete disregard for the environment and the well being of citizens. The logs are then exported mostly to China where they are processed into furniture and plywood for American and European markets. (Greenpeace, 12 May 2002)

Premier Oil: UK company bad in Burma, putrid in Pakistan -...Campaigners from The Burma Campaign UK and Friends of the Earth have bought one share each in Premier Oil and will be going into the AGM, after the demonstration. The shareholders will be asking the board difficult questions about its controversial activities, and whether they are damaging shareholder value. (Friends of the Earth, 10 May 2002)

• company website: Premier Oil

Occidental Pipeline in Colombia Strikes It Rich in Washington - The Bush Administration has proposed $98 million in military aid to protect Occidental's Cano-Limon pipeline in Colombia, despite its environmental and economic liabilities. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 10 May 2002)

• Occidental Returns Siriri Oil Block to Colombia - Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum withdrew from an oil field belonging to the indigenous U'wa people, but the company will continue oil extraction in Colombia (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 9 May 2002)

CHILDREN: U.N. Says Pollution Kills Millions Yearly - More than 5,000 children die daily from diseases caused by consuming water and food contaminated with bacteria, according to a new study released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the U.N. Environment Program...The agencies say pollutants in the environment -- toxic chemicals, lead from gasoline, pesticides -- directly affect children (UN Wire, 10 May 2002)

• Pollution-Related Diseases Kill Millions of Children a Year - Alarming Numbers Part of New UN Report Released for Child Conference (World Health Organization, 9 May 2002)

• {···français} Des millions d’enfants meurent chaque année de maladies liées à la pollution Un nouveau rapport des Nations Unies fait état de chiffres alarmants (Organisation mondiale de la Santé, 9 mai 2002)

CELL PHONES: Group Warns About Dangerous Waste In U.S. - U.S. environmental research group INFORM said in a new report this week that cellular telephones are being discarded in the United States by the hundreds of millions despite containing persistent toxins -- arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc -- that are associated with cancer and neurological disorders, particularly in children. (UN Wire, 10 May 2002)

• 130 million cell phones will be discarded annually in the US by 2005: Study recommends ways to reduce the environmental and health impacts of cell phone waste (INFORM, 8 May 2002)

• full text of report: Waste in the Wireless World: The Challenge of Cell Phones (Bette K. Fishbein, INFORM, May 2002)

• Old mobile phones pose growing waste issue - report (Eric Auchard, Reuters, 10 May 2002)

Thailand "postpones" coal-fired plants - Thailand decided yesterday to "indefinitely postpone" construction of two controversial Japanese-funded coal-fired power plants, government sources said, a move that will thrill environmentalists but worry investors. (Reuters, 10 May 2002) 

{···français} Les maisons commencent à s'ouvrir aux préoccupations écologiques [France] - Sous l'impulsion de quelques pionniers, la norme de "haute qualité environnementale" s'impose peu à peu dans le marché de la construction...Le secteur privé s'intéresse également à ces bonnes manières environnementales. Canal+, la Société générale, le groupe Leclerc ou Airbus ont des projets immobiliers de ce type. Le groupe Accor a lancé une réflexion pour son nouveau parc hôtelier. (Benoît Hopquin, Le Monde, 10 mai 2002)

Enron's Pipe Scheme: Energy giant bulldozed over environmental, human rights concerns to build Bolivian pipeline -- with U.S. government backing (Jimmy Langman, on CorpWatch website, 9 May 2002)

Our organizations respectfully urge the Export-Import Bank of the United States to reject financing currently under consideration for all aspects of Peru's Camisea gas development project. Public funds of the United States government should not be invested in a project that will provoke an array of insurmountable and unavoidable environmental and social impacts on vulnerable, isolated indigenous peoples... (letter to Export-Import Bank of the U.S. from Amazon Watch, Friends of the Earth International, Rainforest Action Network, Pacific Environment, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network-Institute for Policy Studies, Reform the World Bank Campaign, 9 May 2002)

Survivors of Bhopal deadly chemical disaster overshadow Dow annual meeting - Representatives of survivors of the world's worst chemical disaster in Bhopal, India, travelled with Greenpeace and other support organisations to Dow Chemical's annual shareholders meeting in Michigan, the United States today to confront the company on its pending liabilities. (Greenpeace, 9 May 2002)

Environment Minister confirms presence of asbestos following Greenpeace action - Turkish Minister of Environment, Fevzi Aytekin, has today notified all relevant authorities that Turkey must not allow the French toxic ship for scrap "Sea Beirut" to enter the country...The vessel was illegally exported from France to Turkey to be scrapped at Aliaga, one of Turkey's notorious ship breaking yards, with dangerous toxic waste on board. (Greenpeace, 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)

Fines for NSW power retailers greenhouse failures [Australia] - Electricity retailers will be fined if they fail to meet greenhouse emission benchmarks over the next five years, the New South Wales state government announced yesterday. (Michelle Nichols, Reuters, 9 May 2002)

Australia blocks toxic China fertiliser exports - Australian farmers spread toxic waste from China instead of fertiliser over vegetable fields before the government realised the imports were hazardous, an Australian fertiliser company said yesterday (Andrea Hopkins, Reuters, 9 May 2002)

Utility Buys Town It Choked, Lock, Stock and Blue Plume [USA] -...Two years after the Environmental Protection Agency accused the plant's owner, American Electric Power, of violating the Clean Air Act in this southeast Ohio hamlet, the company, which is contesting that accusation, is solving at least some of its problems by buying the town, for $20 million. Over the next few months, all 221 residents of Cheshire will pack up and leave. (Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times, 8 May 2002)

Mining Industry Reports on Its Problems, but Remains Vague on Solutions [regarding Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD)]: A new report identifies the global mining industry's social and environmental pitfalls, though its recommendations may prove hollow, according to an industry watchdog. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 8 May 2002)

Energy Emerges as a Key Issue for Johannesburg - Beyond the debates over energy use and efficiency that have featured during the preparatory process for the World Summit on Sustainable Development is the fact that more than a third of the world's population does not have clean and affordable energy services [includes comments by Electricité de France, Tata Environmental Research Institute, Tokyo Electric, American Electric Power] (U.N. Johannesburg Summit 2002, 8 May 2002)

{···français} Les assemblées générales, nouveaux lieux de pouvoir -...L'analyse de 38 assemblées générales réalisée par l'Observatoire sur la responsabilité sociétale des entreprises (ORSE) confirme ce point de vue : les questions ayant trait à la responsabilité sociale et environnementale des firmes augmentent. (Marc Ferracci et Aude Soulaine, Le Monde, 8 mai 2002)

{···español} Conferencia Internacional sobre aplicación y cumplimiento de la normativa ambiental en América Latina - El proximo 28 y 29 de mayo de 2002 se realizara la Conferencia Internacional sobre Aplicacion y Cumplimiento de la Normativa Ambiental en America Latina, organizada por la Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales en colaboración con el Instituto del Banco Mundial, División Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, con el apoyo del Gobierno de los Países Bajos. (Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ayaba, 8 mayo 2002)

• {···español} Conferencia Internacional sobre Aplicación y Cumplimiento de la Normativa Ambiental en América Latina (Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, 8 mayo 2002)

Australia uranium mine reports more leaks - A uranium mine in Australia owned by U.S.-based General Atomics yesterday reported its fourth major spill of uranium-contaminated water this year, prompting a government review of the way miners of the hazardous metal operate (James Regan, Reuters, 8 May 2002)

EPA probing emissions from ethanol industry [USA] - WSJ - Federal regulators are investigating emissions produced by the nation's ethanol industry over concerns it may be violating the Clean Air Act (Reuters, 8 May 2002)

EU coal, diesel subsidies clash with green ideals - The European Union is committed to reducing the pollution blamed for causing global warming, so why is it pumping vast subsidies into fossil fuels such as coal and diesel which are the main sources of greenhouse gases? (Robin Pomeroy, Reuters, 7 May 2002)

Independent Evaluation of Peru's Camisea Gas Project Reveals Violations of World Bank Environmental Standards -...The Project will have negative irreversible impacts on the biodiversity of this area and on indigenous groups living in isolation, regardless of the implementation of the strictest mitigation measures...Neither the upstream nor the downstream component of the Project meets World Bank environmental guidelines and operational policies (Amazon Watch, 6 May 2002)

• full report: An Independent Environmental and Social Assessment of the Camisea Gas Project [Peru] [companies referred to include Pluspetrol, Hunt Oil, SK Corporation, Sonatrach, G y M, Tecgas, Hidrocarburos Andino S.A.C.] (Patricia B. Caffrey, commissioned by Peruvian indigenous organisations: The Machiguenga Council of the Urubamba River (COMARU) and the Inter-Ethnic Association of the Peruvian Amazon (AIDESEP), Apr. 2002)

• {···español} Estudio Ambiental y Social Independiente del Proyecto de Gas Camisea [Perú] (Patricia B. Caffrey, por encargo de las organizaciones indígenas del Perú: Consejo Machiguenga del Rio Urubamba (COMARU) y la Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), abril 2002)

Enron Pipeline Leaves Scar on South America: Lobbying, U.S. Loans Put Project on Damaging Path - Of Enron Corp.'s many political maneuvers in Washington before its fall into bankruptcy, winning the promise of federal financing for a 390-mile pipeline from Bolivia to Brazil through the Chiquitano Dry Tropical Forest may have the most enduring consequences. (James V. Grimaldi, Washington Post, 6 May 2002)

OZONE: Four Indian CFC Producers Pledge Phaseout By 2010 - Promising to phase out chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production by 2010, four of India's largest CFC producers last week signed a pledge to gradually introduce cleaner production technologies. The pledge, offered under a new Indian-U.N. Environment Program initiative, was signed by Chemplast Sanmar, Gujarat Flurochemicals, Mafatlal Industries, and SRF. (UN Wire, 6 May 2002)

• India Re-doubles Efforts To Save The Ozone Layer - A bold new initiative, aimed at accelerating the phase out of ozone-damaging chemicals across India, was launched today by the Indian Government and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Under the initiative the four big manufacturers of chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs), chemicals used in fridges, air conditioning units and aerosols which have been found to damage the Earth's protective shield, are pledging to crack down on "rogue emissions" by introducing new, cleaner, production technologies. [the 4 companies: Chemplast Sanmar, Gujarat Fluorochemicals, Mafatlal Industries, SRF Ltd] (U.N. Environment Programme, 2 May 2002)

Manufacturers back environmentalists in fertiliser debate [Australia] - The group representing Australian fertiliser manufacturers has backed environmentalists' concerns about industrial waste being used as fertiliser...They are concerned heavy metals and toxins could get into the food chain. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 6 May 2002)

ExxonMobil rubbishes green investor report - ExxonMobil Corp , the world's biggest oil company, labelled as "ridiculous" a report by a group of dissident investors that the company's stance on global warming hurt shareholder value. (Stefano Ambrogi and Neil Chatterjee, Reuters, 6 May 2002) 

Picketers protest Occidental drilling - A noisy group of about 20 sign-waving demonstrators marched outside the annual meeting of Occidental Petroleum Corp. last week to protest the prospect the company could drill for oil in a war-torn region of Colombia they say belongs to the U'wa Indian tribe. (Doug Young, Reuters, 6 May 2002)

US appeals court upholds EPA cut in diesel emissions [USA] - A federal appeals court last week cleared the way for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require diesel trucks and buses to cut emissions by 90 percent by 2007, rejecting an attempt by engine makers and fuel refiners to gut the rule. (Chris Baltimore, Reuters, 6 May 2002) 

• Earthjustice Praises Court Ruling Upholding Key EPA Rule On Cleanup Of Diesel Trucks -...The result is that Americans will breathe dramatically reduced levels of deadly diesel pollution. (Earthjustice, 3 May 2002)

EPA rule allows mining firms to dump waste in rivers - The U.S. government last week unveiled new rules allowing Appalachian coal miners to dump dirt and rubble into streams and lakes, evoking howls of protest from environmental groups. (Chris Baltimore, Reuters, 6 May 2002) 

• Bush Administration Approves Most Damaging Change to Clean Water Act in Decades (Earthjustice, 3 May 2002)

Britain needs better nuclear waste storage - report -...In a report for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the society [the Royal Society] said the government and nuclear industry had concentrated on fighting public hostility and neglected developing up-to-date technologies for storing nuclear waste. (Reuters, 6 May 2002)

NGO demands [Indonesian] govt to postpone Papua project environmental impact evaluation - The Manokwari non-governmental organisations alliance has urged the government to postpone its evaluation of the environmental impact document for the Tangguh liquefied natural gas project in Berau`s Bintuni Bay, Papua. (Earth Wire, Antara [Indonesia], 5 May 2002)

{···español} Los bosques, un negocio con futuro... para las petroleras: Repsol YPF inicia un gran plan de forestación en Suramérica que podrá rentabilizar si las cuotas «de aire» se incluyen en el Protocolo de Kioto -...La petrolera española decidió ampliar el proyecto de forestación que ejecuta en el sur de Argentina, exportándolo a otros cinco países de Suramérica, entre ellos Colombia, Venezuela y Ecuador. (Ramy Wurgaft, El Mundo [España], 5 mayo 2002)

Warming makes oil the 'new tobacco' - Oil companies could find themselves facing multi-billion pound legal suits - similar to those facing tobacco firms - if they ignore the potential consequences of global warming, a report claimed yesterday. ExxonMobil, the biggest oil group in the world, compares badly with its peers Shell and BP for its hardline stance on global warming, argues the study by Claros Consulting. (Terry Macalister, Guardian [UK], 3 May 2002)

Mutual Fund Reports on Environmental and Social Returns: Norway-based Storebrand reports on the environmental and social performance of companies in its international mutual fund. (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 3 May 2002)

New SA [South Australia] Uranium Leak Highlights Need for Wider Senate Inquiry - A new leak at the controversial Beverley acid in situ leach uranium mine in northern South Australia is further evidence of the need for an expanded independent Senate Inquiry into the regulation and monitoring of uranium mining according to ACF...The Beverley operation is owned by US nuclear corporation General Atomics (Australian Conservation Foundation, 3 May 2002)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: World Environmental Data Center Planned - The United Arab Emirates plans to set up an international center for the collection and analysis of environmental data from around the world (UN Wire, 3 May 2002)

• Centre to collect environmental data planned [United Arab Emirates] (Doaa Zeitoun, Gulf News [United Arab Emirates], 2 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)

Environment fears spur Quebec hog farm moratorium: The Canadian province of Quebec announced a six-week moratorium on the opening of new hog farms this week in a bid to calm fears of residential and environmental groups who say industrial-scale hog facilities create massive air and water pollution problems (Reuters, 3 May 2002) 

The Promise of Gold: Tambogrande, Peru - A conflict is growing in Tambogrande about whether this mine [proposed open-pit mine, Canadian mining company Manhattan Minerals] should be established or not. Farmers and those dependant on agriculture are concerned that the mining operation will contaminate their irrigation system...Roughly half the townspeople in Tambogrande will have to relocate (Oxfam America, 2 May 2002)

• company website: Tambo Grande Overview (Manhattan Minerals Corp.)

Starbucks' struggle for moral ground: Program to aid poor coffee growers off to slow start -...Starbucks said it would pay vendors in origin countries a premium price -- up to 10 cents extra per pound -- if they can prove they're protecting the environment and meeting, if not exceeding, the minimum legal requirements for wages, benefits and working conditions...But Starbucks' well-wishers and detractors alike say that progress in the first four months of the two-year test program looks plodding at best. Some criticize the financial incentives as insufficient. Others say the verification process is flawed. (Bill Clifford, CBS.MarketWatch.com, 2 May 2002)

Quebec mulls moratorium on huge hog farms - The Canadian province of Quebec said this week it was mulling a moratorium on the opening of new hog farms in a bid to calm fears of residential and environmental groups who say industrial-scale hog facilities create massive air and water pollution problems. (Reuters, 2 May 2002) 

US ruling on Western gas leases may spur lawsuits - The Bush administration's plan to spur coalbed methane development in Western states could be jeopardized by a ruling that the government failed to thoroughly analyze the environmental impacts of three Wyoming leases, U.S. green groups said this week...Environmental groups contend that when the gas is removed, sodium in the water flows into streams, harming cattle and local residents. (Christopher Doering, Reuters, 2 May 2002)

Bush Administration Issues "Toothless" Regulation for Sea-Going Vessel Air Pollution [USA] - Administration selling-out public health, ignoring Clean Air Act (Earthjustice, 1 May 2002)

Climate change could have wide effect on South Asian agriculture: UNEP - Changes in the global climate could negatively impact South Asian agriculture and the region's millions of people who depend on it, the top United Nations environment official said today. (United Nations, 1 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)

{···español} Protestas en Italia contra oleoducto en la Amazonía ecuatoriana - Los manifestantes se reunieron en Roma en frente de la sede central del Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL), para evitar que financie la obra. (El Tiempo [Colombia], 1 mayo 2002)

Green groups want bolder plans to clear China's air: Environmentalists yesterday criticised plans by Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong to reduce worsening cross-border smog, saying they were not bold nor radical enough to clear the air (Tan Ee Lyn, Reuters, 1 May 2002)

Kenya's government criticised for overseeing massive destruction of forests: Kenya's government, criticised for overseeing massive destruction of forests, said yesterday it would enforce a ban on the cutting of timber (Reuters, 1 May 2002)

Most Americans breathe polluted air - survey - More than half of all Americans breathe polluted air that can damage their health because the government doesn't fully enforce clean air laws, the American Lung Association said today. (Reuters, 1 May 2002) 

Decision of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on communication 155/96, submitted by The Social and Economic Rights Action Center and the Center for Economic and Social Rights [case concerning the Ogoni people in Nigeria] - In this decision the African Commission finds the former military government of Nigeria violated rights of the Ogoni people in connection with state violence and abuses around oil development in the Niger Delta. (African Commission on Human Rights, May 2002)

Mountains of Gold: Kumtor Gold Mine in Kyrgyz Republic [Kyrgyzstan] - This study points out the weaknesses of the environmental management system and the vague monitoring of the company's performance. [refers to pollution and other issues; refers to Kumtor Operating Company, Comeco Corporation of Canada (including cyanide spill accident in May 1998 at Comeco Corp. mine), Normandy Mining of Australia, Oxus Resources of UK, Taldy-Bulak Mining Corp., Malaysian Mining Corp., Kyrgyzaltin (Kyrgyzstan state-run company)] (CEE Bankwatch Network, May 2002)

Pipeline Dreams: The World Bank, Oil Development and Environmental Protection in Georgia [refers to Argomar Oil Limited, a Cyprus-registered company; Anadarko; Azerbaijan International Oil Company consortium, headed by BP; Argo, a Georgian fishery company] (Manana Kochladze, Association Green Alternative [Georgia], Georgian National Coordinator with CEE Bankwatch Network, in Multinational Monitor, May 2002)

Bank Accountability Redux: The Campaign for Compliance and Appeal Mechanisms at the European Development Banks -...Now citizens’ groups in Eastern Europe, such as CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth, have started to demand that the EU representatives to these banks establish mechanisms to allow citizens to voice concerns in cases where they are negatively affected by projects financed by the publicly owned banks. They are also seeking mechanisms to hold those institutions accountable to their own policies and procedures, as well as international laws and conventions. [refers to Frontera Resources oil development project in Azerbaijan] (Petr Hlobil, Centre for Energy and Transportation [Czech Republic], international oil and climate coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network, in Multinational Monitor, May 2002)

Leading Asia-pacific Telecommunications Companies Join Forces To Tackle Global Environmental Problems - At the first Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Environmental Issues in Telecommunications held 22-23 May in Hong Kong, it was agreed to establish a regional GeSI (Global Sustainability Initiative), forum to assist Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies in the region (U.N. Environment Programme, May 2002)

Global Reporting: Top Five Reasons to Pay Attention [to the Global Reporting Initiative] (Leah V. Haygood, BuzzWord Sustainable Reporting, in GreenBiz.com, May 2002)

Leadership Example: Novo Nordisk: Integrating CSR Into Business Operations - Novo Nordisk [pharmaceutical company based in Denmark] is dedicated to the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach to sustainability - balancing social and environmental responsibility with economic viability. Their approach began with addressing environmental issues; bioethics, human rights and access to health care in developing countries followed in succession. (BSR Magazine, Business for Social Responsibility, May 2002)