Press releases
World Bank Must End Support for Honduran Palm Oil Company Implicated in Dozens of Murders
WASHINGTON (DC), MARCH 19 2013 -- Today several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) condemned a statement by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, IFC [1] which defends the record of a Honduran palm oil company, Grupo Dinant, implicated in dozens of murders as well as other human rights abuses. The IFC statement explicitly admits to supporting training for the company’s armed security guards.
Land grabs and human rights violations exposed in Liberia ahead of global development summit
MONROVIA, LIBERIA, February 1st, 2013 – Palm oil companies are grabbing more than 1.5 million acres of land in Liberia and are violating the human rights of local communities, warn Liberian NGOs including Friends of the Earth Liberia (SDI - Sustainable Development Institute), Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) and Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDev).
Dutch Court ruling against Shell a partial victory
THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS, January 30, 2013 – Today a Dutch court ruled that Shell Nigeria is responsible for polluting farmlands in a landmark case brought by four Nigerian farmers and Friends of the Earth Netherlands.
Social and environmental organizations expose new trade agreements between the EU and Central America, Peru, Colombia
BRUSSELS (BELGIUM), SAN JOSE (COSTA RICA), December 11, 2012 – Today, in response to the European Parliament’s passing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia and Peru, and an Association Agreement with Central America, social and environmental organizations warn in a public statement [1] about the negative impacts of these agreements on the people and the environment [2].
Doha climate talks: Industrialised countries block climate action
DOHA, QATAR, December 8, 2012 – Friends of the Earth International has strongly condemned the governments of industrialised countries for blocking action on the climate crisis at a failed UN climate summit in Qatar.
Investors must stop land grabbing, say civil society groups
LONDON (UK), November 30, 2012 – Major farmland investors such as banks and pension funds must stop facilitating land grabs, say civil society groups [1] on the eve of a global farmland investment conference in London on 3-5 December. [2]
New Report: Smartphones devastating Indonesian island people, forests, and corals
LONDON (UK) / BANGKA (INDONESIA) 24 November 2012 – Smartphones sold by best-selling brands almost certainly contain tin from a paradise island in Indonesia where tin mining is destroying forests and farmland, choking coral reefs and devastating many communities, according to a new Friends of the Earth investigation released today: ‘Mining for Smartphones: the True Cost of Tin’ [1]
UN Climate Talks: Urgent Progress Still Not in Sight
DOHA, QATAR, 23 November 2012 – While delegates from around the world prepare to meet for the annual United Nations climate talks in Doha next week, Friends of the Earth International expressed strong concerns over the continued lack of progress by developed countries which are supposed to take the lead to stop climate devastation and avoid catastrophic climate change [1].
International Mission in Guatemala and El Salvador: 'Transnational corporations pillage natural resources and violate human rights'
SAN SALVADOR (EL SALVADOR), November 19, 2012 - An international mission organized by environmental federation Friends of the Earth International in Guatemala and El Salvador has verified systematic human rights violations and criminalization of environmental activists and communities resisting mining and hydroelectric projects.
FoEI Chair Nnimmo Bassey Awarded 2012 Rafto Prize for Human Rights
BERGEN (NORWAY) / LAGOS (NIGERIA), November 4, 2012 – Friends of the Earth International, the world's largest federation of grassroots environmental organisations, is proud to announce that its chair, Nnimmo Bassey, who is also Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Nigeria [1], received the 2012 Rafto Prize for Human Rights [2] in Norway on November 4.
UN Biodiversity Talks Favor False Solutions to Biodiversity Crisis
HYDERABAD, INDIA, October 19, 2012 - After two weeks of talks, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference [1] comes to a close here today with Friends of the Earth International criticizing negotiators for focusing on false solutions to biodiversity loss and favoring corporate polluters over people and the planet.
Food Crisis Talks: Governments Should Scrap Biofuels, Not Push GM Crops
ROME (ITALY) / LONDON (UK), October 16, 2012 – As Governments gather in Rome today, World Food Day, to discuss the global food price crisis, Friends of the Earth International warns in a new report [1] that agriculture donors such as the United States and United Kingdom are pumping money into genetically modified (GM) crops at the cost of farming methods better suited to tackling hunger.
Biodiversity Talks Should Oppose 'Financialization' of Nature
HYDERABAD, INDIA, October 12, 2012 - While ministers start gathering here ahead of a second week of United Nations Biodiversity talks [15-19 October], preparing to discuss where to garner billions of dollars needed to preserve global biodiversity, Friends of the Earth International warns against Nature being ' financialized' (being given a price, bought, sold, and converted in financial mechanisms), which many multinational corporations are lobbying for.
30 January: Verdict Expected in Court Case on Oil Giant Shell's Nigerian Oil Pollution
THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS, OCTOBER 11, 2012 -- For the first time in history, a Dutch court verdict is expected about the case of a European company, Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, which appeared in court today to account for damage it caused abroad, says Friends of the Earth International. [1]
Nnimmo Bassey To Be Awarded Rafto Prize for Human Rights
BERGEN (NORWAY) / LAGOS (NIGERIA), September 27, 2012 – Friends of the Earth International chair Nnimmo Bassey [1] will be the recipient of this year's Rafto Prize for Human Rights. Friends of the Earth International is proud of Nnimmo and his award.
Key Hearing in Court Case on Oil Giant Shell's Nigerian Oil Pollution
THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS, OCTOBER 10, 2012 -- For the first time in history, a European company, Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, will appear in a Dutch court to account for damage it caused abroad, Friends of the Earth International announced today.
Gates foundation-led green revolution promotes false solutions to hunger in Africa
Friends of the Earth International warns against damaging industrial farming promoted by the Gates Foundation at the Agricultural Green Revolution Forum 2012, Arusha, Tanzania on 26-28 September.
Rio+20 Summit Condemned as Sell Out of People and the Planet
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), June 22, 2012-- Friends of the Earth International today strongly condemned world leaders for selling out people and the planet in their Rio+20 declaration which falls way short of the action needed to tackle the planetary crisis we face, and does not include any of the real solutions demanded by the people at the alternative Peoples Summit. [1]
Rio+20: Protest Against ‘The Future Corporations Bought’
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), June 22, 2012 – Friends of the Earth International delegates joined on June 21 a key protest by a group of young people and civil society organisations denouncing world leaders’ failure to tackle the planetary crisis at the UN Rio+20 Summit. [1]
Rio+20 Declaration: A Gift to Corporate Polluters
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), June 20, 2012 – The deal on the table at the Rio+20 Summit [1] does nothing to address the environmental and social crises that the world is facing; it simply allows multinational corporations to continue exploiting people and the planet without restraint, according to Friends of the Earth International.
