Babylonian TimesFRIENDLY FIRE?
Hurrah for the environmentally minded American Armed Forces, who have recently developed a ‘green bullet’. Yes indeedy, instead of lead, the new ammunition is made of tungsten alloy, which poses little hazard to the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency has closed hundreds of firing ranges across the US, including one where lead was shown to be affecting the water supply.
But don't worry, quality isn't affected. Myra Hess, spokeswoman for the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Centre says, the new projectile is "an environmentally friendly and safer bullet with the same performance, more accuracy, and same lethality as its lead counterpart".
Well we at CW recommend they do us all a favour and return to the potato gun. The Globe, 25.7.99
BR IN HEADLESS CHICKEN DEBACLE
Well, how do they test aircraft windscreens against the 'dangers' of flying birds?
They have a chicken gun. No, really. The 'boys' from the Civil Aviation Authority pop down to their local dupermarket, pick up a couple of oven readies, and fire them at high velocity at the planes.
So, when the R&D department at BR (or what's left of it) were recently developing a new high speed train they asked the CAA to lend them the chicken gun to test their prototype. Whoops. CAA got back an angry report from BR saying the chicken had smashed through the windscreen, destroying an extremely expensive control panel, and had embedded itself in the back wall of the cabin. BR received a one line reply - "Next time, use a thaw ed chicken". Executive Flyer, Spring 98
A LIGHTER SHADE OF GREEN
As from next July, all occupational pension schemes will be required to disclose the extent (if any) to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are taken into account in their selection of investments. However, the goal posts have been helpfully widened as to exactly how ethical is defined. Rather than meaning companies which are not involved in any unethical activities, it is now simply “best in class”. In other words, it is now as easy to gain a guilt free retirement package as one from those nasty people. Marvellous. Observer 19.9.99
RACE TOO SLOW
Ford have finally accepted liability for the treatment of an Asian worker in their Dagenham factory in Essex. Mr Sukhjit Parma was systematically abused, including verbal and physical assaults, followed by the threat of dismissal and having his legs broken if he reported any of his tormentors. Earlier this month – 19 months after Ford was forced to carry out an internal investigation - a supervisor was sacked and a foreman demoted in connection with the case. The tribunal has been adjourned until February to allow for a settlement to be discussed.
The leader of the TGWU , Bill Morris, has called for urgent talks with Ford’s president over a number of recent accusations of institutional racism. Three years ago, Ford had to compensate four black workers when white faces were superimposed over their’s in a sales brochure. Two years ago, TGWU pressured Ford into changing to independent recruitment procedures, but little has changed. The Commission for Racial Equality have launched an investigation. Guardian, 24.09.99
Mc SENSITIVE
Don’t believe everything that you hear – or not if you’re listening to radio 2UE in Australia, anyway. After gaining a $170,000 advertising contract with McDonalds, a memo was sent out to all talk-show hosts insisting that they did not make derogatory comments about McDonalds on air. It would seem that this directly contravenes the Commercial Radio Code of Practice, which states that stations must “present significant viewpoints when dealing with controversial issues”. However, this little misunderstanding was of course cleared up by the station’s programme director, Mr Brennan, who said he didn’t intend to “curtail editorial comment”, and was merely trying to deter broadcasters from ‘sending up’ the advertisements.
The station has recently been in more trouble over one of the morning broadcasters, Mr Laws, being paid $500,000 by bankers to make positive statements about the banking industry. However, the broadcasting remains completely impartial. Honestly.
The Age 25.9.99
WHAT SAND?” SAID THE OSTRICH.
Six senior employees on the 22 year-old Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) have written to BP Amoco's chief executive Sir John Browne and 3 US Congressmen warning of an imminent ecological disaster far worse than the Exxon Valdez catastrophe in Alaska 10 years ago.
The letter contains evidence of compliance failures, falsified safety and inspection records, intimidation of workers who speak out, and persistent violations of procedures and government regulations. The six whistleblowers, who are risking their careers, warn of the looming danger to human life and the Alaskan environment. "It's not a matter of if it is going to happen, it's when it's going to happen" said one. Alyeska, who run the installation, are owned by BP Amoco (50%), and Exxon and Arco. Surprisingly, at the time of publication, BP Amoco were unavailable for comment. Guardian. 12.7.99
“GET SICK AND YOU’RE SACKED”
NCS, Tarmac's labour arm, has withdrawn its 'get sick and you're sacked' contract after being rumbled by construction union UCATT. The contract stated that NCS workers would cease to be engaged by the company during absences caused by illness – which, as George Brumwell of UCATT pointed out, was dangerous, as it would force sick employees to work, putting themselves and others at risk.
UCATT reacted loudly and publicly in the press, threatening an industrial tribunal. Coincidentally, a few weeks later a spokesman for NCS said, "Following guidelines by the Federation of Recruitment Services, we are introducing sick pay". Hmmmm. Building 1.4.99
GENETICALLY MODIFIED LEOPARD CHANGES SPOTS
Recent press has been full of surprised articles about Monsanto’s supposed U-turn over genetic modification. Apparently, European ‘bio-angst’ has been too much for the soft-hearted company, and there are fears that it may travel to North America. To find out how to please its public, Monsanto bosses have been in secret meetings with UK environmental groups (though the only known suspect thus far is the Soil Association) looking at ways of using their DNA knowledge to the good of the people. There have been talks about either using their knowledge of genomics to assist farmers with traditional crossbreeding, or to create biodegradable plastic bags. How thoughtful.
A Greenpeace press release points out that biodegradable, non-oil based plastic is already on the market. Their director, Sarah Burton says “the agrochemical industry is in trouble and this is a desperate attempt to get GM technology through in any way they can.” Reuters, 27.09.99
WHAT ARE THEY SO SHY ABOUT?
The corporations active within political groupings like the European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are extremely unwilling to inform the public about their lobbying operations. This is the indisputable conclusion of a study by Corporate Europe Observatory. After extensive correspondence with over 50 well known European corporations, the majority either refused to admit or elaborate on their membership in multiple lobbies, or some, such as Nestle, denied that their work in business associations constituted a political activity at all.
So what are they doing scuttling around the corridors of power then? Hangin' out with the in crowd, discussing the finer points of macrame? ...er probably not. Corporate Europe Observer 3, June 99
“THE MAN FROM DEL-MONTE SAYS NOTHING
Local people in the agricultural areas surrounding Buenos Aires have been blanked by Pindeco S.A., a subsidiary of Del Monte, after repeated requests for meetings regarding concerns about harmful levels of agrochemicals.
A mixed group of interested farmers, teachers, indigenous rights workers etc, using two members of the clergy as witnesses, have repeatedly tried to contact the company. They want to address issues such as company expansion resulting in the disruption of local economies: levels and transportation of dangerous chemicals including the use of toxins next to children’s schools. There are also ex-workers involved, some claiming they were sacked after suffering health problems from exposure to the chemicals used in these non-inspected conditions, and many being pressurised against joining a union. El Picudo. May 99
BECAUSE THEY'RE WORTH IT
A report from Europe's largest bank has advised the world’s largest investors to sell their shares in the leading companies involved in the development of GMOs. Deutsche Bank has said that "growing negative sentiment" is creating problems for leading companies such as Monsanto and Novartis. Shares in the named companies have fallen, against the rising trend in stock markets generally. Novartis, along with Astra Zeneca, is now said to be considering selling their GM divisions due to lack of returns. Guardian 25.8.99
NEWS ON SCHMOOZE
A fabulous new links group, bringing together business and the UN, the Business Humanitarian Forum, was formed in January this year to show us all that business really cares. The more cynical amongst you may suggest that this is an attempt by corporations to have the UN riding in their pocket, but it is, the group inform us “built on the conviction that expanding markets and human security and well being go hand in hand”.
For those who are still not convinced, it only takes a glance at some of the members, many of them well-known humanitarian and environmentally friendly groups such as Rio Tinto and Nestle, to set the mind at ease. For all those who want to gaze gratefully at the master plan which will “benefit us all”, a UN web site aimed at the private sector is at: www.un.org