Loukas

IN BRIEF

SODEXHO CENSORSHIP?
Has your school or college canteen been taken over by Sodexho? In that case, try searching on your educational institution's computers for the details on their murky activities. You might get less information than you think. Corporate Watch is receiving reports that, in some places where the infamous 'facilities management company' – that runs prisons and refugee detention centres – has won contracts, searches on the student-accessible computers for terms such as 'sodexho corruption' have come up with results blocked. If this has happened at your place of study, write in and let us know.

RICHES FROM RUBBLE
The UK government's 'Pathfinder' housing strategy is to be the subject of a probe by the National Audit Office, to see whether the proposed compulsory purchase and demolition of thousands of homes across midland and northern England is value for taxpayers' money.[1] Dr Peter Brown, of Merseyside Civic Society, quoted in the Big Issue, called Pathfinder 'an asset stripper's charter. As argued in past issue of Corporate Watch (see number 33 'Demolishing the Community'), Pathfinder is good news for construction companies and regeneration consultants but bad news for the residents of areas in the proposed demolition sites, such as Edge Lane in Liverpool.'[2]

SHELL: HELL FROM THE NIGER TO THE TIGRIS
Shell oil posted quarterly profits of ￡3.65bn earlier this month.[3] Meanwhile the source of these profits - Shell policies in oil fields from Africa to the Middle East - continue to harm people and the environment. Friends of the Earth reports that Shell has ignored a Nigerian High Court order to stop gas flaring - which can cause leukemia and acid rain - in the Iwherekan community. And in Iraq, Shell is active in lobbying for corporate control of the country's oil. The oil law is currently being debated by Iraq' parliament – but Shell reportedly saw a draft of the law months before. Hands Off Iraqi Oil will be protesting at Shell's AGM,on Tuesday 15 May 2007, 8.30am - 12 noon, Novotel Hotel, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR (Nearest tube – Hammersmith) www.handsoffiraqioil.org/

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saving Iceland, the campaign against ecologically destructive hydro damsis holding a conference, 'Consequences of Heavy Industry, a global perspective', aiming to connect with campaigns against similar developments, from India to the Caribbean. Saturday & Sunday July 7 - 8th, 2007 at the 2007 Iceland Action Camp. Exact location will be announced closter to the date. See www.savingiceland.org/conference

A new report by the US-based CorpWatch focuses on Barrick Gold, a Canadian mining giant that threatens both the environment and indigenous people in its modern day rush for gold. Read the full report at http://corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14466

References
[1] www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314968018.html
[2] 'Watchdog to probe Prescott demolition scheme', Charles Clover, Big Issue, 10/04/2007
[3] Shell Earnings Climb 5.7 Percent in 1Q, TOBY STERLING 05/03/07