Home > Press releases > Archived press releases > 2003 > Smoking firm under fire
15 April 2003
Friends of the Earth and the Burma Campaign will challenge British American Tobacco's social and environmental record at the company's AGM in London on Tuesday 15 April.
Campaigners, with shares in the company, are keen to question Kenneth Clarke MP (former Conservative leader candidate and Deputy Chair at BAT) about the company's record. In particular, Friends of the Earth will be asking questions about the effects that pesticides are having on the health of tobacco workers in Brazil.
Friends of the Earth is also campaigning for a fundamental change to UK company law so that corporations are accountable to communities for their negative impacts.
Craig Bennett, Corporates Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"BAT's appalling social and environmental record should be put in the spotlight. We will ask its directors, including Kenneth Clarke, to justify its activities to shareholders attending the AGM.
"We also want the Government to amend UK company law to make business accountable to affected local communities for their damaging practices."
For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Discuss "Smoking firm under fire" in our forum
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Contact us | Support us | Privacy policy
Copyright © Friends of the Earth Trust/Limited
