Business & human rights: Weekly Update - May 21, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 21 May 2008

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=2008/05/21

Español: ver abajo - Français : voir ci-dessous

* Joint NGO statement on report by John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business & human rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/544398

* John Ruggie: "Business and Human Rights: A Political Scientist's Guide to Survival in a Domain Where Lawyers and Activists Reign"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/804431

* "In the wake of ArcelorMittal" - NGOs allege social, environmental abuses in India, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, USA, others
- ArcelorMittal response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/898964

* China: Earthquake relief efforts by companies
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Sichuanearthquake

* Company contributions to Burma cyclone relief
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Nargiscyclone

* "Monsanto's Harvest of Fear" - Vanity Fair report details environmental legacy, treatment of farmers
- Monsanto's letter to Vanity Fair
- Monsanto letter to Resource Centre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/402181

* Launch of "Red Flags: Liability risks for companies operating in high-risk zones", 23 May, London
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/276180

* Co-operative Bank (UK) declines loans to companies controlled by sovereign wealth funds of countries with poor human rights records
- Co-op Bank & Amnesty Intl. mark 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/443175

* Burma Campaign UK says Total has helped to keep in power government that is "killing thousands by denying aid"
- Total's response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/718206

* US Senate committee hearing on "Global Internet Freedom: Corporate Responsibility and the Rule of Law"
- Testimonies by Google, Yahoo!, Cisco, Human Rights Watch
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/437053

* Civil society orgs. call on UN Global Compact to influence PetroChina over Darfur
- UN Global Compact response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/562336

* UK: CAFOD, Fair Pensions alert pension funds to risks of investing in mining projects that harm human rights, environment
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/772438

* Shell threatened with potential lawsuit in Netherlands over pollution in Nigeria
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/955988

* IBM & researchers launch "supercomputer" to help tackle global hunger
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/733001

* Debate between Georg Kell & Bart Slob: Is the UN Global Compact raising corporate responsibility standards?
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/631487

* Global Reporting Initiative conference - podcast of special event on human rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/745977

* Calls for EU to make trade conditional on efforts to end child labour
- Comments invited on paper: "Child Labour and CSR - What should the European Union do?"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/642050

* Interview with Cordula Droege, Intl. Committee of the Red Cross, on Swiss Govt. initiative on private military & security firms
- Expert meeting examines legal framework governing PMSCs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/472056

* further to our 30 Apr Update: Total response to EarthRights report on Burma
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/117381

* further to our 30 Apr Update: ArcelorMittal response to "Toxic 100" report
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Toxic100responses-2008

* Zimbabwe Business Council takes steps to strengthen private sector response to HIV/AIDS
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/356541

* Job announcement: Researcher on extractive companies, Amnesty Intl., London
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/672155

* Job announcement: Short-term Assistant Policy Officer, Economic Relations, Amnesty Intl., London
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/475433

* Job announcement: Corporate Social Responsibility consultants with knowledge of human rights - Maplecroft, UK
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/866478

* Español: Intermón Oxfam pide a Repsol YPF que respete a pueblos indígenas
- presidente de la empresa dice estar preparando documento al respecto
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/357811

* Español: Telefónica dona 1 millón de euros para las víctimas del terremoto en China - ayuda orientada a los niños
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/359762

* Español: Argentina: Cámara Federal rechaza decisión del juez que sobreseyó a tres directivos de empresa Gilmar diciendo que trabajo semi-esclavo de inmigrantes es "costumbre boliviana"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/258049

* Español: Ecuador: Guardias de seguridad privada incurren en delitos que atribuyen a pésimas condiciones laborales
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/671876

* Español: Argentina: Cervecería Quilmes lanza campaña de concientización sobre la seguridad en el trabajo
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/647365

* Español: España: Critican autorización a fábrica que emite "sustancias cancerígenas" - consejería dice que empresa cumple normativa
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/427672

* Español: Argentina: Preparan denuncia ante la OCDE por supuesto impacto ambiental y sanitario de Shell - empresa dice cumplir con requisitos
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/880185

* Français : "Avis sur la responsabilité des entreprises en matière de droits de l'homme", Com. Nle. Consultative des Droits de l'Homme (France)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/824343

* Français : Débat sur les multinationales & les droits de l'homme, avec ABB, Areva, OIT, Déclaration de Berne, International Alert
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/644752

* Français : Inde : Manifestation d'autochtones contre un projet minier de Vedanta
- Article avec la réponse de Vedanta (seulement en anglais)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/194989

* Français : Les entreprises françaises se mobilisent pour les sinistrés du séisme en Chine
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/200844

* Français : Chili: Les Mapuches chassés de leurs terres par des entreprises - absence de recours juridique et politique
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/995592

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