Lonmin Mine Death Toll Reaches 34 As Police Kill Strikers

South African police killed 34 striking workers at Lonmin Plc (LMI)’s Marikana platinum-mining complex yesterday, the worst death toll in police action since the end of apartheid in 1994. At least 78 people were injured in the clashes, Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega told reporters in Marikana in North West province today. More on Bloomberg. Lonmin plc is a Global Compact participant since 2008/08/22. Lomin plc (LMI:London) was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2011.

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Johnson Controls Battery Group for exposing workers to lead, other hazards at Holland, Ohio, plant

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc. for 11 alleged health violations - including one willful and two repeat - following an Oct. 25 inspection that was initiated based on a complaint. Inspectors found workers overexposed to lead at the company's Holland plant due to a lack of engineering controls and poor housekeeping practices. Proposed fines total $188,600. More on U.S. OHSA. Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc. is a unit of Johnson Controls(JCI:NYSE) a Global Compact participant since 2004/03/31.

Veolia fined after agency worker sustained serious burns

Waste management provider Veolia Environmental Services has been fined after an agency worker was seriously burned by hot ash at an incineration depot in Deptford, U.K. More on Safety News. Veolia Environmental Services is a subsidiary of Veolia Environment, which is a Global Compact participant since 2002/05/10. Veolia Environment was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2010, and a 5,000 contributor in 2008, and 2006.

Siemens makes illegal windmill deal in occupied Western Sahara

The German multinational, Siemens, has landed an order for the construction and maintenance of 22 windmills to be built in a wind farm in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.The problem is that, according to international law, it is illegal to trade or dispose of resources in occupied Western Sahara without the consent of Western Sahara’s indigenous population, the Saharawis, who also have to benefit from any such dealings. More on News Time Africa. Siemens (SIE:GR) is a Global Compact participant since 26-11-2003.

Palestinian organisations call for action against G4S over role in Israeli jails

On April 17th 2012, Palestinian organisations today called for action to be taken against G4S, the British-Danish security corporation that is contracted to provide security equipment to Israeli prisons at which Palestinian political prisoners are held. More on EI. Both G4S Israel and its parent company G4S plc are Global Compact participants. G4S Israel became a participant in 2010/09/27 and the company is non-communicating (i.e. it has not yet communicated its progress). G4S plc was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation of the Global Compact in 2011 and 2010.

Implats charged with culpable homicide over miner's death

South Africa's Impala Platinum, the world's second-largest producer of the precious metal, confirmed on Wednesday that it had been charged with culpable homicide following a fatality at one of its mines five years ago. More on Reuters Africa. Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) (IMP:SJ) is a Global Compact participant since 2008/04/08.

Chinese firm helps Iran spy on citizens (ZTE Corporation)

A Chinese telecommunications equipment company has sold Iran's largest telecom firm a powerful surveillance system capable of monitoring landline, mobile and internet communications, interviews and contract documents show...

More on Reuters.

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

Coca-Cola accused of propping up notorious Swaziland dictator

"The multibillion dollar beverage company owns a concentrate-manufacturing plant in Swaziland, an impoverished kingdom ruled by Africa's last absolute monarch, Mswati III.

The king has travelled to Coca-Cola's headquarters in Atlanta in the US, much to the disgust of Swazi political activists who blame him for human rights abuses and looting the nation's wealth."

More on the Guardian

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

Dutch pension fund puts Walmart, PetroChina on investment blacklist

Civil service pension fund ABP has put American supermarket chain Walmart and oil giant PetroChina on its investment blacklist. (...) PetroChina is on the blacklist because of ‘the activities of its parent company CNPC in Sudan and Burma’, the statement said.

More on Dutch News.nl

PetroChina is a Global Compact participant since 2007/08/01.

More on ABP website (Dutch)

Also read the discussion on the PetroChina case on the Global Compact website

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