Business & human rights: Weekly Update - October 1, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 1 Oct 2008

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http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/10/01

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* Wal-Mart instructs suppliers to stop sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan, to push govt. to end forced child labour
- faith-based & social investors welcome move
- Financial Times article
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/352752

* Interview with John Ruggie - human rights impacts of the international investment regime
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/769357

* China: "No Way Out: A report on the human cost of China's economic miracle" - describes abuses during privatisation of state-owned enterprises
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/142575

* Ukraine: Police arrest director of pig farm, others on suspicion of forcing 100 homeless people to work; labourers fed same food as pigs
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/500345

* Clinton Global Initiative commitments: Procter & Gamble (safe water, maternal & neonatal tetanus, girls' education); Swiss Re (climate change & rural poverty); Compartamos, Deutsche Bank (microfinance); PepsiCo (access to water)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/698404

* EarthRights identifies at least 69 Chinese firms involved in power & extractive projects in Burma
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/878103

* Danske Bank divests from 13 companies for activities including production of mines & cluster munitions; arms transfers to Sudan, Burma & Zimbabwe
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/273148

* Companies pledge US$100 million to help end malaria deaths by 2015
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/730537

* Thailand: Hoya Glass Disk Company allegedly clamps down on unions; workers claim to have been arbitrarily dismissed
- Hoya Corporation response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/623408

* Intl. Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report on corporate complicity in major human rights abuses (further to our 17 Sep Update):
- ICJ responds to John Ruggie
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/507833
- Economist commentary on the report
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/629505

* China & Philippines: Report alleges serious labour rights abuses in factories supplying cellphone companies
- includes company responses
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/591777

* Angola: Report says mining companies' arbitrary seizure & destruction of farmlands causing widespread hunger & deepening poverty
- we invited Endiama, ITM Mining, Lazare Kaplan to respond, but they have not done so
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/645748

* US court rules Côte d'Ivoire plantation workers allegedly harmed by pesticides can't sue manufacturing/distribution firms in US
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/167015

* Dow, UNEP & Chinese Govt. in partnership to promote chemical safety
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/794270

* ActionAid letter to UN Special Representative John Ruggie regarding renewal of his mandate
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/425377

* John Ruggie welcomes submission by 5 NGOs criticizing the human rights framework of the IFC's performance standards & the Equator Principles
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/119238

* Job announcement, South African Human Rights Commission: Coordinator, Human Rights & Business Programme (deadline 3 Oct)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/198295

* Job announcement, Interfaith Center on Corp. Responsibility: Food Safety & Sustainability Campaign Coordinator (New York, deadline 24 Oct)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/661508

* Español: Argentina: Demanda contra editorial Atlántida y revista "Para Ti" por complicidad con oficiales de la dictadura militar
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/198831

* Español: Ecuador: Asociación de derechos humanos demanda a compañías bananeras en EE.UU. por uso de fungicida que ha causado "graves problemas de salud"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/922402

* Español: Programa "ayudar comerciando" de Body Shop trabaja con comunidades desfavorecidas
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/888463

* Español: España: Fiscal pide 21 años a 6 acusados, 3 de la firma Grefacsa, por "homicidio imprudente" de 3 trabajadores
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/934876

* Español: Movimientos sociales se reunieron en el "Foro Andino Frente a la Gran Minería" en Colombia, 26-27 septiembre - emiten declaración final
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/627614

* Español: Iberdrola es la mejor eléctrica del mundo en combatir el cambio climático, según el Climate Leadership Index
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/193430

* Español: Wal-Mart ordena a sus proveedores no comprar algodón uzbeko hasta que el gobierno erradique el trabajo infantil forzado
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/532961

* Español: Conferencia en Guatemala: "Defendiendo Nuestro Territorio y Protegiéndonos ante la Criminalización" tratará de minería, biocombustibles y represas - 10 de octubre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/840468

* Español: México: Philip Morris México entrega 100 mil dólares a damnificados de inundaciones en Tabasco
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/747174

* Français : Des millions d'"emplois verts" anticipés, mais beaucoup risquent d'être "rebutants & dangereux", selon un report du PNUE
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/843789

* Français : Soutenus par des ONG, Boeing, Honeywell, Air France KLM, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, SAS, Cargolux, Gulf Air, JAL, Virgin Atlantic se regroupent pour développer des biocarburants qui profitent aux communautés locales et ne concurrencent pas les ressources alimentaires ou en eau douce
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/708945

* Français : USA : Nestlé revoit son projet d'usine en Californie suite à l'opposition de citoyens soucieux de l'environnement
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/305850

* Français : Côte d'ivoire : Le procès des déchets toxiques du Probo Koala est ouvert - Trafigura absent
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/128386

* Français : Inde : Abbott, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Gilead resistent à la diffusion de brevets pour de nouveaux traitements anti-sida
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/453295

* Français : Rép. Dém. du Congo: Des managers d'entreprises s'engagent dans la lutte contre le VIH/Sida au milieu de travail
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/261757

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