My Blog List

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Peru declares emergency to stop protest over mine

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency late on Sunday to quell protests against Newmont Mining's $4.8bn Conga gold mine project.

More on Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/05/us-peru-newmont-conga-idUSTRE7B20Q520111205

Newmont is a Global Compact participant since 2004/06/09

Saturday, December 10, 2011

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires DuPont to pay USD 725,000 fine, implement plan to address operational issues at Chambers Works Facility

The Department of Environmental Protection has reached an agreement with E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. that requires the company to pay a fine of $725,000 and upgrade procedures for handling hazardous materials, and for routine and preventative maintenance at its Chambers Works facility in Salem County, Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

More on the official New Jersey DEP press release.

DuPont is a Global Compact participant since 2001/05/10

Corruption claims over new "Pentagon" (Bouygues)

"JUDICIAL investigations are under way into possible corruption in relation to construction firm Bouygues winning the contract to build a new Ministry of Defence complex."

More on The Connexion.

French conglomerate Bouygues S.A., is a Global Compact participant since 2006, along with its Bouygues Construction subsidiary.

Report shows holes in Deutsche Telekom labour,human rights disclosure

A new report shows that Deutsche Telekom doesn’t deserve the A+ grade it’s given itself for corporate social responsibility (CSR), said UNI Global Union. The report, published today by the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), reveals Deutsche Telekom has failed to meet key measures of its commitment to human and labour rights laid out by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which is considered the “gold standard” of corporate responsibility.
“Deutsche Telekom gives itself an A+ on its corporate responsibility but with so many holes in the report, we’d give it a D+,” said UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings.

More from UNI Global Union

Deutsche Telekom is a Global Compact participant since 2000/07/26. The company's report is listed as "Global Compact Advanced" on the Global Compact website, based on unchecked self declarations from the company.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mexican prosecutors allege CAD 93 million corruption scandal at public utility

Mexican prosecutors said Wednesday they have uncovered a $93 million corruption scandal at the Federal Electricity Commission.

More on Oilweek Magazine

Comision Federal de Electricidad, Division Centro Sur is a Global Compact participant since 2006/04/21

Power plants fined over pollution

China's environmental watchdog has punished eight power plants for violations of the law on control of sulfur dioxide emissions .... More on China Daily

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Among the eight companies are Global Compact participants China Power Investment Corp. and China Datang Corporation, which respectively joined on 2009/06/01 and 2008/05/01. As of 24-11-2011 China Power Investment Corp. is non-communicating.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

French firm fined RM133m for bribery in Malaysia

French engineering group Alstom was fined RM133 million by Swiss authorities after its employees were found to have bribed civil servants in at least three cases including the award of contracts in Malaysia.

More on the Malaysian Insider
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/french-firm-fined-rm133m-for-bribery-in-malaysia/

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Alstom to pay €31m fine after bribery probe

Alstom has been ordered to pay €31m by Switzerland’s attorney-general for negligently failing to stop bribery by some employees...

More on the Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1cd17286-1508-11e1-b9b8-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1eTeD0ITD


Alstom is a Global Compact participant since 2008/03/18. It is a Member of the Working Group on the 10th Principle.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Pfizer agrees to pay $60 million to settle probe into bribes

"Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay more than $60 million to settle an investigation by U.S. regulators into whether the drug maker paid bribes to win business abroad, the Wall Street Journal reported"

More on the L.A. Times website.

More on Corruption Currents

Monsanto, Bayer and Dow face trial for 'systematic human rights abuses'

"Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Syngenta, DuPont and BASF, will face a public tribunal in early December accused of systematic human rights violations. They are accused of violating more than 20 instruments of international human rights law through promoting reliance on the sale and use of dangerous and unsafe pesticides including endosulfan, paraquat and neonicotinoids. (...) While the [Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT)] has no legal weight, and cannot force sanctions on companies, it aims to expose and raise awareness of large-scale human rights violations."

More on Peace, Earth and Justice News

Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Syngenta, DuPont and BASF are all Global Compact participants'

Impala-Platinum-Holdings Records Two Fatalities

Three workers died in separate platinum mine accidents in South Africa over the last couple of days, with both Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anooraq on Monday reporting fatalities.

More on Mining Weekly

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited is a Global Compact participant since 2008/04/08.

A former South African minister allegedly received commissions from Thales

Mac Maharaj, a former transport minister and spokesman for the South African President Jacob Zuma, allegedly received about EUR 180,000 euros from the French firm Thales, the Sunday Times of Johannesburg said on November 20th 2011. It is said Mac Maharaj received the money before entering into a license agreement for credit cards. The funds would be wired between 1997 and 1999 on behalf of his wife through the Swiss account of Shabir Shaik, Zuma's former financial advisor.

More on the Sunday Times of Johannesburg

Thales is a Global Compact participant since 2003/06/03.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Switzerland to charge Alstom in bribery probe

Swiss authorities could charge Alstom with bribery as part of a corruption probe, French daily Le Monde reported on November 18th 2011. Read more on Reuters

Alstom is a Global Compact participant since 2008/03/18. It is also a Member of the Working Group on the 10th Principle.

Monday, November 14, 2011

EDF fined EUR 1.5 mn for spying on Greenpeace nuclear campaign

EDF fined for spying on Greenpeace nuclear campaign

More on the BBC

EDF is a Global Compact participant since 2001/08/22

Greenpeace press release (In French)

Magyar Telekom Increases Its FCPA Reserve

Hungary’s Magyar Telekom Nyrt. said Monday it increased by more than 40% its reserve for settling a bribery probe with U.S. authorities.
More on WSJ Online, Corruption Currents
Magyar Telekom is Global Compact participant since 2009/05/06. Magyar Telekom is majority owned by Deutsche Telekom, one of the Global Compact founding fathers.

Excerpt from the S.E.C. filing (FORM 6-K):
"On June 24, 2011, Magyar Telekom announced that its Board of Directors had approved an agreement in principle with the staff of the SEC to resolve the SEC’s investigation relating to the Company through a settlement. Pursuant to the agreement in principle, the Company, without admitting or denying the allegations against it, would consent to a U.S. court order permanently enjoining it from any future FCPA violations and pay disgorgement and a conditional civil penalty. (...)"

Thursday, November 10, 2011

U.S. EPA, DNREC reach $500,000 settlement with DuPont Corp. for water quality violations

On November 10 2011, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. EPA. entered into a consent decree with the DuPont Corp. in which the company has agreed to pay a penalty of $500,000 for numerous violations of the DuPont Edge Moor plant site’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and other state and federal regulations. Many of the violations at the facility – which makes a white pigment from titanium used in the print and publishing industries – were pollutant discharges into the Delaware River that occurred between 2005 and 2011.

Read the official press release from the DNREC

DuPont is a Global Compact participant since 2001/05/10.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

26 injured in clashes as Ecopetrol employees begin 24-hour strike

On November 9, 2011, "(a)t least 26 Ecopetrol employees were injured in clashes with police in the central Colombian city of Barrancabermeja Wednesday, hours after the oil workers began a 24-hour strike over wages.", according to Colombia Reports.

Read more on Colombia Reports

ECOPETROL S.A is a Global Compact participant since 2009/05/13

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Barrick's Nevada Gold Mine Blamed for Deaths of Two Workers

In an investigative report posted Monday, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration faulted managers of Toronto-based Barrick Gold for, among other things, allowing a safety alarm system at the Meikle Mine in Carlin, Nev. to be bypassed. (...) MSHA cited Barrick for six safety violations as a result of the accident, but it terminated the last of its safety orders on June 21 after the company built a new delivery system that, the agency said, eliminated the hazards.

Read more on fairwarning.org

Barrick Gold Corporation is a Global Compact participant since 2005/06/02

U.S. OSHA cites Akzo Nobel for nine serious health and safety violations

On November 8 2011, Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC in Morris, a manufacturer of chemical surfactants, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine serious violations of OSHA’s process safety management standards.
OSHA initiated the inspection in May after a release of methyl chloride was reported at the plant. Proposed fines total $63,000.

Read more

Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC is a U.S. subsidiary of Dutch company Akzo Nobel nv, a Global Compact participant since 2004/10/01.

Colombia's Ecopetrol challenged over human rights record

"Colombians recently had a rare opportunity to buy a stake in the...Ecopetrol company, but critics complain that it still has questions to answer over its record on human rights and the environment…Human Rights Watch says Ecopetrol…has taken no action to address reports of extrajudicial executions and a massacre committed by state security forces close to their oil installations 10 years ago"...

ECOPETROL S.A is a Global Compact participant since 2009/05/13

Read more on the BBC website

Monday, November 7, 2011

AstraZeneca Indicted In Serbia For Alleged Bribery

"AstraZeneca PLC said Monday [07-11-2011] in a securities filing that it was criminally indicted in Serbia for alleged bribery."

AstraZeneca is a Global Compact participant since 2010/01/08.

Read more on WSJ BLOGS

NOTE:
The S.E.C. filing says : "In August 2011, AstraZeneca UK Limited’s Representative Office in Belgrade, Serbia was served with a criminal indictment relating to allegations that local employees of AstraZeneca made allegedly improper payments to physicians at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. AstraZeneca has filed a number of preliminary procedural objections, which ask the Serbian criminal court to dismiss the indictment against the Representative Office."

Saint-Gobain's Duwamish plant on EPA “watch list” of facilities with “serious or chronic violations”

Saint-Gobain's Duwamish,Washington, U.S. plant has been listed on a special U.S. EPA “watch list” of facilities with “serious or chronic violations” that “may result in significant environmental and public health impacts.” Paris-based Saint-Gobain has racked up more fines for violating the federal Clean Air Act than any other operation in the Northwest — $962,000 in the last five years, according to government records.

Saint-Gobain is a Global Compact participant since 2003/04/22.

Read More...

Coca Cola worker wins suit against union

In November 2011, a Coca-Cola worker has won a settlement worth more than USD4,000 after he was fired from his job for not paying his full union membership and dues payments. Keith Smiesko of Saxonburg, Pennyslvania, U.S., won USD 3,356.46 from Teamster Local 585 union officials and $819.54 from Coca-Cola.

The Coca-Cola Company is a Global Compact participant since 2006/03/14

More

Saturday, November 5, 2011

BP to pay Texas USD 50 million for refinery pollution

On November 3rd 2011, BP has agreed to pay Texas $50 million for air pollution violations at a Gulf Coast refinery where a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers. The settlement between BP Products North America , a subsidiary of BP and the State of Texas resolves 72 emissions violations between 2005 and today.

British Petroleum plc (BP) is a Global Compact participant and founding father since 2000/07/26

More on Bloomberg

GSK Breaks Record with $3 Billion Penalty for Illegal Drug Marketing

Early November 2011, Global Compact participant GlaxoSmithKline announced it would pay USD 3 billion to resolve federal government civil and criminal investigations into its sales practices for numerous drugs. The cases included allegations of illegal selling of Avandia, a diabetes drug linked to heart risks, as well as paying doctors and manipulating medical research to promote the drug.

GlaxoSmithKline is a Global Compact participant since 2007/08/10

Read more

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Lafarge Could Face Penalties over alleged Cartel Case

On November 1st, 2011 a South African news source Engineering News Online, mentionned a commission investigation has been initiated in June 2008, on price fixing and market allocation against Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), Lafarge Industries South Africa (Lafarge), AfriSam and Natal Portland Cement-Cimpor (NPC-Cimpor). It mentioned Lafarge Industries South Africa, a Lafarge's subsidiary and NPC-Cimpor could face penalties representing 10% of their yearly revenues for potentially breaching the South Africa’s Competition Act.

Lafarge was delisted from the list of Global Compact participant on 2011/10/31

Read More on Engineering News Online

Statoil Canada Limited Fined $190,000 for Excessive Water Intake

On 31 October 2011, Statoil Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Global Compact participant Statoil was fined $190,000 for diverting more water from sources than had been authorized for the company's use. The incidents occurred between December 15, 2008 and May 29, 2009 near Conklin, 360 kilometers northeast of Edmonton.

Read more.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Genocide Claims against Rio Tinto Reinstated

On October 25th 2011, a U.S. federal appeals court reversed the dismissal of genocide and war crime charges against Global Compact participant Rio Tinto by landowners in Papua New Guinea. The 2000 lawsuit accuses the company of human rights abuses and environmental damage.

Rio Tinto Plc is a Global Compact participant since 2000/07/26 and therefore considered as one of its 'Founding Fathers'.

More on Australia Mining.

MOSOP Media Nigeria Village $1B Suit against Shell in US Rejected

MOSOP Media Nigeria Village $1B Suit against Shell in US Rejected

Indigenous Chileans take mining giant to international court

On Friday 28th 2011, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has opened a trial to determine if Barrick Gold’s Pascua Lama project in Chile violates the fundamental human rights of the indigenous Diaguita community.

Barrick Gold is a Global Compact participant since 2005/06/02.

Barrick Gold CSR report

More:
Indigenous Chileans take mining giant to international court

Monday, October 24, 2011

Guard pleads guilty over prison van death [G4S - SECURICOR]

"In October 2011, a prisoner transport guard working for SECURICOR G4S, has been fined $11,000 after pleading guilty to charges laid over an Aboriginal elder's death from heatstroke in the back of a prison van. (...) In August, G4S and WA's Department of Corrective Services were fined $285,000 each for their part in Mr Ward's death after pleading guilty to failing to ensure non-employees were not exposed to hazards."

Read more on the Sydney Morning Herald website

G4S plc, previously known as Group 4 Securicor, one of the world's largest private security firm, is a Global Compact participant since 2011/02/16

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Oil spills: Nigerians seek $1bn from Shell

Oil spills: Nigerians seek $1bn from Shell: A Nigerian tribal king has filed a lawsuit in a US court seeking $1bn from Royal Dutch Shell to compensate for decades of pollution that sickened his people and damaged their lands, his lawyer says.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is a founding fathers of the U.N. Global Compact since 2000/07/26.

U.N. report: http://www.unep.org/nigeria

Monday, October 17, 2011

Cemex given GBP 200,000 Fine for Cement Death

A GBP 200,000 fine has been given to cement firm Cemex following the death of a worker at a factory in Rugby, Warwickshire, three years ago. (...) An investigation found that Cemex was aware of the potential for blockages to cause explosions as steam pressure built up inside, but took no action to prevent them.

Cemex has been a Global Compact participant since June 2004.


Read the original article on the BBC website

Transparency International: Grieve must not terminate UK-Saudi bribery investigation

On October 10th 2011, Transparency International UK called on the U.K. Government to support a full investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), following serious bribery allegations involving GPT Special Project management, the UK subsidiary of European defence company and Global Compact participant EADS, and the Saudi Royal family,

The Attorney General was reportedly deliberating over whether the SFO should continue to investigate allegations that GPT Special Project management made illicit payments to the Saudi Royal family in order to secure a contract worth GBP 2 billion.

Transparency International U.K. Press Release

More info from the Bribery Library

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Allianz SE Close To Settlement With SEC Over Bribery Allegations

On October 7th, 2011, the WSJ reported Allianz SE, Europe’s largest insurer, is close to reaching a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations that it paid bribes in Indonesia.

Read the WSJ article.

Munich-based Allianz SE is a Global Compact participant since 2002/07/02.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Tata Steel (former Corus) fined for dioxine emissions in the Netherlands

In October 2011, the province of Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, announced it would fine Indian conglomerate Tata Steel in IJmuiden €150,000 for breaching dioxine emission levels.

Tata Steel has been a Global Compact participant since 2001/03/09.

Read more on Dutch News

EPA issues cleanup directive to Enbridge

On October 6, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a directive requiring Enbridge to take additional steps to clean up the July 2010 oil spill that damaged over 35 miles of the Kalamazoo River system. The directive requires Enbridge to submit plans by Oct. 20, 2011 for cleanup and monitoring work expected to last through 2012. Failure to comply could result in civil penalties.

Enbridge has been a Global Compact participant since 2003/12/16.

Read more on the U.S. EPA official press release
or http://www.epa.gov/enbridgespill/

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

DHL Global Sued by EEOC for Harassment and Intimidation of Hispanic Workers, Retaliation

On October 3rd 2011, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it has filed suit against DHL Global Forwarding, a subsidiary of Global Compact participant Deutsche Post DHL for subjecting a class of Hispanic employees to national origin discrimination. The EEOC’s suit also alleges that DHL Global unlawfully retaliated against a non-Hispanic employee by firing him for reporting the treatment of Hispanic employees.


More on the U.S. EEOC website:
DHL Global Sued by EEOC for Harassment and Intimidation of Hispanic Workers, Retaliation

Monday, October 3, 2011

Shell accused of exacerbating violence in Nigeria by paying rival militants

'Platform' a coalition of non-government organisations investigates Shell's alleged payments to rival militants gangs in Nigeria. 


03-10-2011
More in The Guardian 

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

60 international activists occupy Gold Corporation headquarters in Rosia Montana

In September 28th, approximately 60 international activists taking part in the Reclaim the Fields camp, together with the local association Alburnus Maior, from Rosia Montana, Romania, occupied and blocked the entrance to the Rosia Montana Gold Corporation's  headquarters in the village's Old Square. This action was in defiance of the companies continuing attempt to expropriate locals and destroy an area protected by Romanian conservation law.

Rosia Montana Gold Corporation is 19.31 percent owned by the Romanian state with the remaining shareholders including Gabriel Resources, Newmont and Barrick Gold all three companies being Global Compact participants. The consortium itself is registered as as a Global Compact participant since 2005.

More information:
Indy Media U.K
Rosie Montana (Wikipedia)

Merck to Pay USD 1.5 Million Penalty for Environmental Violations at Two Pa. Pharmaceutical Plants

On September 28 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice  announced that Global Compact participant Merck & Co. has agreed to pay a USD 1.5 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of federal environmental laws at its pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Riverside and West Point, Pennsylvania, U.S.


The complaint alleges that Merck did not comply with Clean Air Act emissions reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The complaint also asserts that Merck discharged pollutants in excess of limits in its Clean Water Act permit; failed to notify local officials of hazardous substances released; and failed to properly label and store hazardous waste.  


Read more.
from U.S. EPA

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

China's ZTE wins two contracts despite corruption allegations

Despite mounting allegations of corruption and criticism of illegally bringing Chinese foreign nationals to work on its telecom projects in Africa, China's ZTE has been awarded contracts to build nationwide fiber networks in South Africa and Burundi.


ZTE Corporation is a Global Compact participant since 17-02-2009

27.09.2011
Read more:
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=B4E49F23-1A64-67EA-E4ECEE36E84807FD

Hunger Strikers Protest Lafarge’s French Cement Plant Closing

French trade unionists employed at Global Compact participant Lafarge last week began a hunger strike at the headquarters of the company in the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud. Some 12 unionists from the company’s Frangey cement plant near LĂ©zinnes, L’Yonne province, are protesting the company’s decision to close that facility.


26-09-2011


Read more:
http://www.icem.org/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4676-Hunger-Strikers-Protest-Lafarge-s-French-Cement-Plant-Closing

Monday, September 26, 2011

June 2011: China court gives verdict in Siemens bribery case

In June 2011, a former senior executive with state-owned Global Compact participant China Mobile has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes from another Global Compact participant Siemens AG, Caixin magazine reported.


The Higher People's Court of Henan Province upheld an earlier verdict on Shi Wanzhong, former general manager of China Mobile's human resources department, for taking a total of US$5.06 million in bribes together with Tian Qu, a middleman, when Shi was head of China Mobile's Anhui branch from 2002 to 2009.


Note: the Siemens corruption cases have been cleared up after large sanctions were upheld against the company. The company since then set up a Integrity Fund, managed by the World Bank.


Source: Shanghai Daily


http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7417043.html

DHL accused of double standards on international human rights


International trade unionists have denounced Global Compact participant Deutsche Post DHL for using lie detectors on its staff outside Germany.

DHL accused of double standards on international human rights

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Royal Bank of Scotland severs ties with makers of cluster bombs

The Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to pull out of conducting further financial deals with cluster-bomb manufacturers after its investments in the controversial industry were exposed by The Independent and arms campaigners. The campaign was led by Amnesty International.

Royal Bank of Scotland has been a Global Compact participant since October 2003.

Read more: article from the Independent

Goldcorp Removed from Dow Jones Sustainability Index | MiningWatch

Effective September 19th, Goldcorp has been removed from the Dow Jones North America Sustainability Index. The announcement comes in the context of ongoing allegations of human rights violations and evidence of environmental contamination in communities affected by Goldcorp’s mining activities. (...) “Goldcorp’s deletion from this index less than nine months after it was added should tell Wall Street something the communities have known for years – Goldcorp’s operations in Guatemala and Honduras are not sustainable for communities, the environment, nor ultimately for responsible investors,” says Amanda Kistler, mining campaigner for the Center for International Environmental Law.

Canadian mining company Goldcorp is a Global Compact participant since 2009/06/09.

Read more:
Goldcorp Removed from Dow Jones Sustainability Index | MiningWatch

Friday, September 23, 2011

Overtime Lawsuit against Scotiabank Gets Green Light

In June 2011, the Global and Mail reported Bank of Nova Scotia lost a bid to quash a massive class-action lawsuit that claims Global Compact participant Scotiabank unfairly denied more than 5,000 of its employees compensation for overtime work.


Read more:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/the-law-page/law-page-archive/scotiabank-loses-appeal-of-overtime-lawsuit/article2048871/

http://www.canadianclassactionslaw.com/employment/ontario-court-certifies-overtime-class-action/

Thales SA Agree To Pay 630 Million Euros In Frigate Case

In June 2011, the French government and defense electronics company and Global Compact participant Thales SA agreed to pay EUR630 million to Taiwan in compensation, capping a 20-year-old bribery scandal over frigate sales, The Wall Street Journal reported.

More on:
http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2011/06/09/france-thales-sa-agree-to-pay-630-euros-in-frigate-case/

Brazil bank Banco do Brasil sued for 'funding deforestation in the Amazon' - What's On Tianjin

In April 2011, public prosecutors reported Global Compact participant Banco do Brasil - was being sued for allegedly funding deforestation in the Amazon. Prosecutors in the state of Para said they had uncovered 55 loans worth nearly $5m (£3m) that the Banco do Brasil approved to farms that had broken environmental and employment laws.

Read more:
Brazil bank Banco do Brasil sued for 'funding deforestation in the Amazon' - What's On Tianjin

Pfizer Confesses About ‘Potential’ Overseas Bribes

In August 2011, Global Compact participant Pfizer “voluntarily” provided the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission with information concerning “potentially improper payments” made by Pfizer and Wyeth personnel in connection with certain unspecified sales activities outside the US....


Read more:
http://www.pharmalot.com/2011/08/pfizer-confesses-about-potential-overseas-bribes/

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Nokia accused of violating Chinese labour laws over employee layoffs

Finnish mobile giant and Global Compact participant Nokia has been accused by some of its employees of violating Chinese labour laws following new plans to cut a number of employees working at Nokia China, the National Business Daily reports. 


Read more

China probes Johnson Controls unit for alleged lead pollution

On September 15th 2011, a China unit of  lead-acid battery maker and Global Compact participant Johnson Controls JCI.N  halted production at its Shanghai factory as authorities were investigating into an alleged lead pollution case.  


More on Reuters (or here if link is broken)

$2.6 million-worth of bribes China Mobile Communications Corporation

China on in late August 2011, sentenced to death the former chairman of a branch of state-owned telecom group China Mobile Communications Corporation for accepting $2.6 million-worth of bribes. Li Hua, chairman and general manager of the Sichuan branch of China Mobile Communications Corporation, was convicted of receiving bribes totalling 16.48 million yuan, Xinhua reported. 


More on the Bangkok Post

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

DatacenterDynamics | Accenture settles US federal-contracting kickback lawsuit

In September 2011, Accenture settled a lawsuit with the US Department of Justice, which accused the vendor of having received kickbacks for recommending certain vendors' hardware and software to government agencies, inflating prices and rigging contract bids. Accenture agreed to pay about USD 63.7m. Accenture is a member of the UNGC Anti-Corruption Working Group.

Read more at: DatacenterDynamics | Accenture settles US federal-contracting kickback lawsuit

Global Compact Critics: Roquette lockout ends after agreement reached with union members

Global Compact Critics: Roquette lockout ends after agreement reached with union members

Top Ten List of Corporate defendants in the FCPA

On April 8, 2011,  the FCPA blog listed the current top ten list of corporate defendants in an FCPA-related forfeiture. Among them, 5 were U.N Global Compact participants Siemens (a long story...), ENI S.p.A ,Technip S.A., Daimler AG, and Alcatel-Lucent.  ABB Ltd., one of the Global Compact founding fathers was listed in the 11th position, thus not on the list. 

Read the FCPA Blog Entry here.
Official Press release from the S.E.C.:
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2010/lr21588.htm

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

French giant Veolia cut down to size for abusing Palestinian rights

Private companies have long been heavily involved in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, such as building and maintaining the illegal settlement infrastructure, and the wall built on Israeli-occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank. The campaign against UN Global Compact participant Veolia was initiated in response to the company’s five percent stake in the consortium that is constructing the light rail project that links West Jerusalem with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the surrounding West Bank. Veolia holds a thirty-year contract for the operation of its first line, due to open later this month. Veolia and its subsidiaries also operate bus services, waste management and a landfill all deep within the occupied West Bank, and all for the use of Israeli settlers. More

Carrefour fined over minimum wage

On June 2011, UN Global Compact participant CARREFOUR was fined EUR3.66m by a court in Evry, south-east of Paris for failing to pay some of its staff the legal minimum wage. Source

China Fines Wal-Mart, Carrefour for Misleading Prices

On January 2011 China’s top economic planner ordered Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Carrefour SA to be fined for misleading pricing at some of their stores in the nation, as the government works to rein in rising prices for consumer goods. Source. Bloomberg

Security firm G4S confirms involvement in Israel's occupation

Danish-British security firm and Global Compact participant G4S recently confirmed in a letter its involvement in the Israeli occupation and violations of international law --reported on last month by The Electronic Intifada.
Source

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

AngloGold, Gold Fields Face Court Battles Against Miners With Lung Disease


 Aug 19, 2011
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd.  and Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) are among South African producers threatened with costly court battles as rights groups enlist thousands of former miners with work-related lung disease for a class-action suit. More on Bloomberg.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Shell’s poor safety record in the UK


from Sunday Herald, 21 August 2011
Shell has been officially censured for breaking safety rules 25 times in the last six years and has one of the worst safety records of the major oil companies in the UK, an investigation by the Sunday Herald has revealed. Read more.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Amnesty International ‘regrets’ accusing Aviva of investing in cluster bomb-makers

Yesterday, Amnesty International  said that it was mistaken in accusing Aviva, which trades in Ireland, of investing in cluster bombs. However, has it removed its claim RBS, a Global Compact participant, "recently agreed a US $80million (€56 million) loan to US companies that produce cluster munitions or their components?" To investigate.... 
Read more.

UN confirms massive oil pollution in Niger Delta | Amnesty International USA

UN confirms massive oil pollution in Niger Delta | Amnesty International USA

Supreme Court Set to Decide Corporate Liability for Human Rights Violations | AHN

Supreme Court Set to Decide Corporate Liability for Human Rights Violations | AHN

The Supreme Court is expected to decide within weeks whether it will hear a case on the liability of U.S. corporations for human rights violations in other countries. (...) The dispute came to a head in recent lawsuits against oil companies Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp. for their oil exploration in Nigeria and Indonesia.They are accused of trampling the health and livelihoods of native people and using soldiers to intimidate them.  Read more


Royal Dutch Shell PLC is considered as a 'founding father' by the UNGC

Statoil will admit to oilsands infractions - Business - CBC News

Statoil will admit to oilsands infractions - Business - CBC News

An Edmonton court has been told that Norwegian energy giant Statoil will admit to at least some environmental infractions in relation to its oilsands operations in northern Alberta (more from CBC News)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

China to sue for oil leak compensation

China's maritime authority on Tuesday confirmed that it will sue companies responsible for oil leaks in the Bohai BayChina's maritime authority on Tuesday confirmed that it will sue companies responsible for oil leaks in the Bohai Bay. (...) ConocoPhillips Chinaa subsidiary of US energy giant ConocoPhillipsfirst reported spills to authorities in June (...). Oil-drilling operations in the field are conducted by ConocoPhillips Chinapartnering with Global Compact participant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Read more

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine Kills Galamsey Suspect

Wacam, a human rights and mining advocacy nongovernmental organisation, has condemned the killing of Kwame Eric, a galamsey suspect, at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine. (...) "On Wednesday, 10th August, 2011, a security official working with Ghanatta Security Services which had been contracted by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine to provide security services at the mine's South Tailings Storage Facility at Dokyiwa, shot a 23-year old galamsey suspect by name, Kwame Eric. More...

New Zealand Leader Wants Brazil's Petrobras Out After Deadly Explosion

Manu Caddie, a Gisborne District Councilor in New Zealand, has renewed his call for the government to suspend the East Coast exploration permit for Brazilian state-controlled oil and gas multinational Petrobras following a lethal explosion at a Petrobras refinery in Argentina, which left an employee dead and another gravely wounded.
More...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Alcoa Mill Products to pay more than USD 540,000 to settle discrimination case with US Department of Labor

On August 2nd 2011, Alcoa Mill Products, a subsidiary of Global Compact participant Alcoa Inc, was ordered to pay more than USD 540,000 to settle a discrimination case with the U.S. Department of Labor (more  from the DoL...). Alcoa Mill Products Inc. would have to pay USD 484,656.19 in back wages to 37 Hispanics and African-Americans as well as USD 35,516.88 to two women who all were rejected for job positions at the company's plant in Lancaster, Pa. The settlement resolves a finding by the U.S. Department of Labor that the company discriminated against Hispanic, African-American and female applicants for material handler positions. Alcoa Mill Products is part of Alcoa Inc., the world's leading producer of aluminum.  

Shell Liable for Two 2008 Oil Spills in Nigeria

On August 3rd 2011, an article from the Guardian (U.K) reported Royal Dutch Shell plc accepted its liability for two major oil spills in Nigeria (more). This is occurring while a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report is expected  to be released  on the impacts of oil pollution in the Ogoniland region of the Niger Delta.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Dow Chemical Agrees to Pay $2.5 Million to Resolve Air, Water and Waste Violations at its Midland, Michigan Complex

On July 29th 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced that Dow Chemical Company (Dow) has agreed to pay a USD 2.5 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at its chemical manufacturing and research complex in Midland, Mich. 
Read U.S. EPA News Release

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Global Compact Critics: Unions file complaint against Deutsche Post DHL

Global Compact Critics: Unions file complaint against Deutsche Post DHL

Diageo Agrees to Pay USD 16 Million to Settle Corruption Claims from the S.E.C.


Diageo Plc (DGE.L), will pay more than $16 million to resolve U.S. regulatory claims the firm bribed officials in South Korea, India and Thailand to win sales and tax benefits.
On July 27 2011, a press release from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission deplored violations of the Foreign CorruptPractices Act (FCPA) stemming from more than six years of improper payments to government officials in India, Thailand, and South Korea.


More here.