CONTRIBUTED ITEM
Mon, 12 Feb 2001
"Lisa Archer" <larcher@foe.org>
HAVE A HEART! TAKE ACTION FEBRUARY 14th
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY FOR INTERNATIONAL
RIGHT-TO-KNOW
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, WORKERS, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS: SHINE A LIGHT ON CORPORATE
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD
A GLOBAL PROBLEM: Every day globalization
and a new generation of international trade
agreements make it easier for U.S. corporations
to move freely around the globe.
However, there are no laws that inform citizens
in the U.S.and around the world about the
impacts these companies are having on the
environment, workers and human rights.
FOR EXAMPLE:
*BHOPAL, India. In the middle of the night on
December 3, 1984, Union Carbide's pesticide
factory leaked more than 40 tons of lethal
gases.
According to the Bhopal Peoples Health and
Documentation Clinic, 8,000 people were killed
in its immediate aftermath and more than 500,000
people suffered from injuries.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors are sick or
dying.
*NIGERIA. In May 1998, in response to a takeover
by Nigerian protesters of one of its oil drilling
platforms, Chevron reportedly allowed Nigerian
security forces and its own private security
forces to use their helicopters to attack the
unarmed protesters. The attack resulted in 2 dead
and 30 wounded among the protesters,who had been
demanding clean drinking water, electricity, and environmental reparations from Chevron for toxic contamination of their water and farmland.
SOLUTION: AN INTERNATIONAL RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW
To ensure that U.S. corporations are accountable
wherever they operate,a new coalition of more
than 170 environmental, labor, social justice,
faith-based and human rights organizations have
joined together on a campaign to enact just such
a law.
These groups include:
Friends of the Earth,
Amnesty International,
Global Exchange,
Sierra Club,
Earth Rights International,
Rainforest Action Network,
American Lands Alliance,
AFL-CIO,
Project Underground,
Earth Rights International,
United Students Against Sweatshops,
Student Environmental Action Coalition,
People of Faith Network,
the International Labor Rights Fund
and many more.
The coalition has developed a legislative
proposal that would require
U.S. corporations to report on their
operations in foreign countries.
This proposal would extend key domestic
right-to-know laws to the overseas
operations of U.S.-owned companies,
requiring disclosure on environmental,
labor and human rights practices.
TAKE ACTION
You can help to make the INTERNATIONAL
RIGHT-TO-KNOW Proposal a reality.
The coalition is urging members of
Congress to introduce legislation this
spring, but we need original co-sponsors.
WHO: Thousands of citizens across America
WHAT: National call-in day for International Right-to-Know legislation
WHEN: February 14, 2001¯Valentine's Day
HOW: Call the Capitol Switchboard at
(202) 224-3121 and ask
to speak to your Senators and Representative.
Ask them to Co-Sponsor International
Right-to-Know Legislation .
FURTHER INFORMATION:
including names of the congressmen
go to www.irtk.org
Please email larcher@foe.org
if you have called in so we can keep
track of how many calls
have made to their members of Congress.
THANK YOU for taking action on this
important new effort to shine a light on
the operations of U.S. corporations around
the world!
PLEASE FORWARD FAR AND WIDE!
Lisa Archer
International Program, National Grassroots Field Organizer
Friends of the Earth-United States
1025 Vermont Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20005-6303
202-783-7400 ext. 111
202-783-0444 (fax)
larcher@foe.org
DISTRIBUTED BY THE
WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS E-GROUP
RIGHT TO KNOW LEGISLATION |
