Business & human rights: Weekly Update - August 29, 2007

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:
Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 29 August 2007

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days /
Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2007/08/29

The top stories include / Las noticias incluyen / Les articles
incluent:

* ESCR-Net "call for emblematic cases" of human rights abuses involving
business, for report to UN Human Rights Council
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/957517

* Colombia: Glencore, Unión Fenosa accused of labour rights abuses
- Two reported attempts on life of trade unionist from
Glencore-licensed mine
- Glencore response
- Unión Fenosa response (only in Spanish)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/GlencoreandFenosa

* Human Rights Watch criticises continued inclusion of Smithfield Foods
in FTSE4Good index after "numerous violations of US labor law"
- FTSE responds
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/492867

* Coca-Cola joins Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/395806

* LA Times: Sudan prospers despite US sanctions over Darfur due to
Chinese investment, loopholes used by companies such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/479509

* China: Yahoo!, Microsoft sign self-regulatory Chinese Govt.
guidelines that encourage censorship & monitoring of blogs
- Reporters Without Borders condemns decision - Yahoo & Microsoft say
they will not register bloggers' real names
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/649670

* Mexico: Judge suspends construction of La Parota dam by CFE
- Ruling aims to protect farmers' rights to healthy environment, fair
trial, judicial protection
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/502468

* Book by Mary Robinson, "A voice for human rights" - with chapter on
business & human rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/805059

* USA: "Hidden bias" & unfairness in workplace estimated to cause 2
million professionals per year to quit jobs - Level Playing Field
Institute report
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/865291

* Liberia: Raw materials sector risks fuelling conflict again if it is
not re-organised
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/121632

* American Rights at Work profiles successful labour rights initiatives
- Examples include AT&T, SCA Tissue, Thompson Electric
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/241305

* Español: Colombia: Sindicato del carbón alega prácticas
anti-sindicales y persecuciones por parte de Glencore y de Unión Fenosa
- Respuestas de las empresas
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Glencore-y-Fenosa

* Español: Red-DESC solicita "casos emblemáticos" de abusos de derechos
humanos por parte de empresas, para reporte que será presentado ante
la ONU
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/449603

* Español: México: Juez suspende provisionalmente la construcción de la
presa La Parota "para evitar daños irreparables"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/793973

* Español: Argentina: Secretaría de Ambiente clausura fábricas de
Danone y Bridgestone-Firestone por poner en peligro el ambiente y la salud
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/833765

* Español: Chile: Sindicatos y diputados denuncian "prácticas
antisindicales" en D&S - la empresa lo niega
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/283397

* Español: Argentina: Megaflex instala en su planta una escuela de
formación primaria para trabajadores que no terminaron su educación
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/292777

* Français : Laos : Le barrage de Nam Theun est "un laboratoire" en ce
qui concerne la réduction des impacts sociaux et environnementaux
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/572171

* Français : Réseau DESC invite des soumissions des "cas emblématiques"
des abus des droits humains impliquant des entreprises, pour un
rapport à l'intention du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/737765

* Français :  Chine : Yahoo!, MSN signent un pacte officiel
d'autodiscipline qui encourage la surveillance & censure des blogs
- Reporters sans frontières dénonce le Pacte - Yahoo & MSN indiquent
qu'ils n'enregistreront pas les vrais noms des blogueurs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/788754