In the News

Firestone’s Power Mania

Public Agenda
06/29/2007

A deep-rooted problem of Firestone’s alleged violation of the rights of citizens living in Owensgrove, Grand Bassa County and parts adjacent is fast becoming overbearing. The row between the people and largest rubber company in Liberia has metamorphosed over time. State police stationed at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) have been accused of aiding and abetting the multibillion dollar rubber company. Citizens in the area say Firestone’s Plant Protection Force (PPF) is meting out unprovoked brutality against them and the government is doing nothing to stop the aggression. As Gibson W.

An iPod Has Global Value. Ask the (Many) Countries That Make It.

New York Times
06/28/2007

Who makes the Apple iPod? Here’s a hint: It is not Apple. The company outsources the entire manufacture of the device to a number of Asian enterprises, among them Asustek, Inventec Appliances and Foxconn.

But this list of companies isn’t a satisfactory answer either: They only do final assembly. What about the 451 parts that go into the iPod? Where are they made and by whom?

Plantation Workers Look for Justice in the North

LA Times
06/27/2007

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua - The people crammed into the stifling basketball gym. They filled the court, lined the walls and tumbled beyond the doors onto the sun-blistered streets.

They had gathered to hear a promise of justice.

Many had spent their lives toiling on banana plantations that U.S. companies operated in this region some 30 years ago. By day, the workers had harvested bunches of fruit to ship to North American tables. At night, some had sprayed pesticide into the warm, humid air to protect the trees from insects and rot... 

Wal-Mart Postpones Its Green Report

Wall Street Journal
06/24/2007

Excerpt from article:

Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, has had to postpone the publication of an online report on its environmental and social sustainability efforts seen by its critics as a test of its commitment to greater corporate transparency on non-financial issues.

When Wal-Mart ann­ounced a push to improve its sustainability record in October 2005, it said it would issue its first report on its progress by spring 2007.

Drummond trial to proceed as planned

Birmingham News
06/06/2007

By Russell Hubbard

The Drummond Co. wrongful death trial will proceed as planned on July 9, the judge ruled, quashing an attempt to delay the matter for an extra six months.

U.S. District Judge Karon Bowdre ruled against the slain Colombian labor leaders' lawyers on their request for an extension to interview more witnesses. She granted their request to admit the last-minute testimony of a man described in court papers as the bodyguard of a Drummond executive in Colombia.

Nike says corporate responsibility's a good fit

Marketplace (NPR)
05/31/2007

KAI RYSSDAL: The sneaker company turned full-service athletic apparel maker Nike released its latest report on corporate responsibility today. Its third since 2001. The first two broke new ground in the movement to make companies more accountable for how they get their goods to consumers. Marketplace's Jeff Tyler has the details on report number three.

JEFF TYLER: Corporate responsibility at Nike means more than crisis management. Nike's Hannah Jones says corporate good-citizenship is now integrated into the business model...  

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