Home > Campaigns > Corporates > Resource > Past Briefings
For ease of navigation we have provided this page of past briefings in chronological order.
Recent information can be found on the current resource pages:
UKplc
in Latin America
(PDF† 766K) September
2003
The EU, backed heavily by the UK, continues to push hard for a new WTO
investment agreement while British multinationals plough on with the
kind of investment such an agreement would promote. Friends of the Earth
exposes the plans, demands the accountability of those responsible,
and shows up the WTO investment agreement myth.
UKplc: BAA
(PDF†) July 2003
This briefing shows how British Airports Authority (BAA) has misled
the public and seeks expansion at the expense of communities, wildlife
and the environment.
UKplc:
Cosmetics industry risks tiger forest
(PDF†) June 2003
Exposes cosmetics companies for selling illegally mined talc products
from India's precious tiger habitats.
Open
wide, this won't hurt a bit
(PDF†) June 2003
This briefing explains what a WTO investment agreement would look
like and why we don't need it.
Investing
in a Better Future - Ethical pensions, insurance and investments
(PDF
- 152K) May 2003
Guide to investing in companies with a good environmental and ethical
policy.
UKplc: HSBC
(PDF† 156K) May
2003
HSBC has financed companies destroying rainforests in Indonesia and
oil companies linked to human rights atrocities in Sudan.
UKplc: BAT
(PDF†) April 2003
This briefing shows how British American Tobacco (BAT) puts profits
before human rights, health and the environment.
UKplc: AGM Season
(PDF† 190K) April
2003
An introduction to Friends of the Earth's activities at Annual General
Meetings throughout Spring 2003. Contains a list of the companies being
targetted and the reasons why.
UKplc: ABP
(PDF†) February 2003
This briefing shows how Associated British Ports (ABP) is pushing ahead
with plans that will destroy the quality of life of local communities
and damage wildlife site.
War in Iraq - Why Friends
of the Earth is opposed
(PDF† 110K) February
2003
Explains the rationale behind Friends of the Earth's opposition to a
war in Iraq including the possible social and environmental impacts.
The World For
Sale
(PDF†) January 2003
This briefing is a beginner's guide to corporate globalisation, looking
at the reasons why corporate globalisation is happening and its ensuing
impacts.
Prestige
oil spill - who foots the bill?
(PDF†) November 2002
This briefing looks at who is liable for the environmental disaster
that has unfolded.
GATS Gotta Go
(PDF†) November 2002
This briefing gives essential background information about GATS and
suggests more ways individuals and groups can help halt this latest
push in the WTO's expansion.
GATS Primer - Understanding
the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services
(PDF†) November 2002
This primer looks at GATS and how it relates to social and environmental
concerns. The issues and obligations that make up GATS and the possible
implications of GATS on local communities and the environment are discussed.
The
Earth Summit - Will world leaders save the planet?
(PDF†) August 2002
The largest conference ever held - but will it succeed in tackling
the top issues of sustainable development - poverty, development and
environmental degradation?
Undemocratic,
ineffective & inherently weak - the voluntary approach
(PDF† 94K) August
2002
This briefing takes a critical look at the arguments made in support
of the voluntary approach and identifies the major weaknesses with it.
Climate change,
Crisis and Southern Africa
(PDF†) August 2002
How the effects of climate change are likely to impact on Africa
- including the production of food.
Short on
Sustainability
(PDF†) August 2002
Friends of the Earth responds to the criticisms of Clare Short,
Secretary of State for International Development.
Finance
Initiatives for Sustainable Development
(PDF† - 2.5MB) August
2002
Private finance has usually been given for profit driven development
with little regard for its environmental and social impacts. This briefing
looks at some finance initiatives intended to promote sustainable development
rather than maintain the status quo.
Challenging
Corporations: Introduction to FOE's Corporates Campaign
(PDF†) June 2002
Introductory information on the Corporates Campaign for Friends of the
Earth local campaigners.
Global rights
for people, global rules for big business
(PDF†) May 2002
Why new rules for binding corporate accountability must be agreed at
the Johannesburg Earth Summit.
What
did the Rio Earth Summit do for Indonesia's forests?
(PDF†) May 2002
Rainforest conservation was recognised a top priority at the
last Earth Summit. Since then the destruction of Indonesia's rainforests
has accelerated.
Earth Summit
- Frequently asked questions
(PDF† 171K) May 2002
To help you cut through the jargon, campaigners have produced
this briefing outlining what the Earth Summit is in plain language.
Earth Summit - from
Rio to Johannesburg
(PDF†) May 2002
Friends of the Earth works on a range of issues that will be
discussed at the Earth Summit in August 2002. Looks at the progress
(or lack of) since the last in Rio in 1992.
AMEC and the
Yusufeli Dam
(PDF†) March 2002
This briefing note gives an introduction to the Yusufeli dam which AMEC
is planning to build in Turkey.
Paper Tiger, Hidden
Dragons 2: April Fools
(PDF†) Feb
2002
Briefing summarising the forest destruction and damaging social impacts
of APRIL.
Towards
Binding Corporate Accountability
(PDF†) January 2002
Briefing examining the case for an effective legally binding international
framework to deliver corporate accountability.
The
problem with corporations
(PDF†) January 2002
Summarises the rationale behind Friends of the Earth's Corporates
campaign - including problems and solutions.
Dirty Water
(PDF†) December 2001
This briefing looks at the environmental and social records of four
multinational water companies - Vivendi, Suez, Enron and Thames Water.
Democracy
and Corporations
(PDF†) December 2001
In addition to impacts of specific companies on the environment and
communities, Friends of the Earth is concerned about the democratic
deficit created by corporate globalisation. This outlines proposals
for new laws to hold corporations accountable to people in order to
ensure citizens' rights and high operating standards.
Stealing our
Water - Implications of GATS for Global Water Resources
(PDF†) October 2001
GATS is part of the WTO and liberalises trade in services, including
water which means more water privatisation. Water companies already
have bad track records. This briefing details why they shouldn't be
handed further control of the world's water.
UK Democracy
Plc - How the corporate juggernaut is crushing our democracy
(PDF†) October 2001
There are many links and associations between politicians, the political
process and corporations. This briefing details some specific links
between Labour and the Conservative party and "unethical"
companies.
Asia Pulp
and Paper
(PDF)
August 2001
This briefing examines the destructive practices of Asia
Pulp & Paper (APP) and the Indonesian pulp and paper industry.
US Corporation
Still Taking the Peat
(PDF)
August 2001
There are clear indications that the US based Scotts
Company is delaying the UK Government new designation of our three
largest lowland raised peatbogs as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Balfour
Beatty and the World Commission on Dams
(PDF†) August 2001
Friends of the Earth's shareholder resolution to Balfour
Beatty's AGM regarding the World Commission on Dams' guidelines.
Balfour
Beatty's response is also available.
Top 100
UK pension funds - how ethical are they?
(PDF)
July 2001
A review of the current pensions available and an explanation
of how they were ranked.
Import of
illegal tropical timber to the UK
(PDF)
June 2001
This briefing makes an assessment of the approximate amount of illegal
tropical timber entering the UK.
Rio Tinto Threaten
Aboriginal Homeland
(PDF†) March 2001
Rio Tinto, has just bought the lease to a proposed uranium mine at Jabiluka
in the Northern Territory of Australia. The uranium mine will be a nightmare
with a devastating effect.
Life
and Death on the Final Frontier
October 2000
Duncan McLaren puts the concept of a 'sustainable company' into
a political context. Article for Accountability Quarterly.
The
OECD's revised 'Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises': A step towards
corporate accountability?
June 2000
The OECD's Guidelines cover almost the whole range of corporate
behaviour from environmental impacts to treatment of workers, and from
transparency and reporting to tax avoidance.
Investing
in a Better Future - Your money and the global environment
(PDF)
January 2000
Guide to investing in companies with a good environmental and ethical
policy.
Sustainability
in Business: principles for profit
September 1999
This paper outlines the problems of unsustainable development and the
scale of the challenge, and then turns to the role of business in meeting
that challenge.
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