STAR LETTER: ANTI-PARLIAMENT BILL GETS THROUGH!
Hi Corporate Watch, I see you covered this crazy Bill in a recent newsletter (CW 29, 'Titanic Bill to Sink Parliament'). I'm sorry to tell you that on Tuesday 16th May 2006, the UK Parliament voted through the 'Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill', which was having its final reading in the House of Commons.
MP’s were promised that the final version of the Bill would deliver the government’s 'Better Regulation Agenda' (for business) and nothing more. However, according to Patricia Barratt, a lawyer at commercial law firm Clifford Chance, there was still nothing in the Bill which would prevent future governments from using it to, for example, suspend Habeus Corpus, or abolish trial by jury! A clause in the Bill could give these legislative powers not just to ministers, but to any person - who may be an individual or a corporation. Francis Davey, a lawyer for saveparliament.org says 'the problem is that such sub-delegated legislation need not come before Parliament or be considered by any elected body, nor need it be published.
So maybe they'll eventually sub-contract this law-making to Capita? In such a crazy world, where Parlament votes to basically make itself irrenevant, anything could happen!
Mary Shearer
Rickmansworth
CORPORATE ALTERNATIVES? Hi, my name is Gary Long, I am a fan of corporate watch and hope to do my bit for the world in years to come (I am a student now but I am working hard to get to a place where I can change life). I have ideas, etc. but one idea might be useful to Corporate Watch: Instead of singling out bad corporations why not suggest good places to go? I am unsure where to shop because I dont like Tesco or Asda but I am a student and need somewhere reasonably priced. I need direction not stop signs. Please publish something then I can be aware of decent places - and through friends and family more people will understand that there is more than the big corporate dragons polluting and ripping off the public. Thank you for reading this Gary Long
by email
THAMES WATER: PUMPING PROFITS Dear Corporate Watch
I am deeply concerned about the performance of Thames Water, particularly in light of the recent hose pipe ban. Thames Water loses 914m litres of water a day through leaks and yet it can still afford to pay dividends in 2004/05 of £141.2 million and has a retained profit for the same financial year of £57.3 million. It is a staggering amount of water wastage when water is a precious commodity and the problem is resolvable if they had the commitment to do so - they certainly appear to have the funds. More details are in this online petition I have set up: www.petitionspot.com/petitions/thames-water-protest If you were interested in helping on this campaign, what would be the best way forward? Thank you for your time
Matt King
by email
LETTER OF THANKS Hello I was just wanted to say how useful this resource is and thank all the people who are involved in collecting and maintaining it. Keep up the good work. Thanks Richard Costello
Belfast
Do you have any comments on something you've seen in Corporate Watch? Drop us a line! send your letters to: The Editor
Corporate Watch
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mail@corporatewatch.org Disclaimer: letters printed do not reflect the views and research of Corporate Watch
Rickmansworth
CORPORATE ALTERNATIVES? Hi, my name is Gary Long, I am a fan of corporate watch and hope to do my bit for the world in years to come (I am a student now but I am working hard to get to a place where I can change life). I have ideas, etc. but one idea might be useful to Corporate Watch: Instead of singling out bad corporations why not suggest good places to go? I am unsure where to shop because I dont like Tesco or Asda but I am a student and need somewhere reasonably priced. I need direction not stop signs. Please publish something then I can be aware of decent places - and through friends and family more people will understand that there is more than the big corporate dragons polluting and ripping off the public. Thank you for reading this Gary Long
by email
Hi Gary, thanks for your letter. The research organisation Ethical Consumer does a good job of suggesting the better products and services - you can check out their website at www.ethicalconsumer.org/
THAMES WATER: PUMPING PROFITS Dear Corporate Watch
I am deeply concerned about the performance of Thames Water, particularly in light of the recent hose pipe ban. Thames Water loses 914m litres of water a day through leaks and yet it can still afford to pay dividends in 2004/05 of £141.2 million and has a retained profit for the same financial year of £57.3 million. It is a staggering amount of water wastage when water is a precious commodity and the problem is resolvable if they had the commitment to do so - they certainly appear to have the funds. More details are in this online petition I have set up: www.petitionspot.com/petitions/thames-water-protest If you were interested in helping on this campaign, what would be the best way forward? Thank you for your time
Matt King
by email
Thanks for getting in touch, Matt - I think the main way we can help is draw attention to this issue by publicising your petition in our newsletter. The issue of water companies making huge profits while mismanaging our water resources is surely one of the biggest concerns of our day and is starting to receive coverage in the mainstream media.
If anyone knows of any similar campaigns against the water companies, please get in touch with Corporate Watch as we would be very interested to hear from you.
LETTER OF THANKS Hello I was just wanted to say how useful this resource is and thank all the people who are involved in collecting and maintaining it. Keep up the good work. Thanks Richard Costello
Belfast
Do you have any comments on something you've seen in Corporate Watch? Drop us a line! send your letters to: The Editor
Corporate Watch
16b Cherwell St
OXFORD
OX4 1BG
mail@corporatewatch.org Disclaimer: letters printed do not reflect the views and research of Corporate Watch
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