2012
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]
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.
Rio+20: Friends of the Earth International to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: "Stop the business lobby at the UN"
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), 19 June 2012 – On June 22 Friends of the Earth International chair Nnimmo Bassey will meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and deliver a civil society statement denouncing the corporate domination of the United Nations.[1]
Rio+20 summit under corporations' undue influence
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), JUNE 18, 2012 – One the eve of the Rio+20 United Nations Earth Summit [1] on June 20-22, Friends of the Earth International warns world leaders that multinational corporations such as oil giant Shell have an undue influence over the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
Rio+20 summit must listen to People's Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), JUNE 16, 2012 – While world leaders and the business sector gather for the Rio+20 Earth Summit due to take place here on June 20-22 [1], Friends of the Earth International campaigners are gathering with social movements from around the world at an alternative Summit [2] focused on human rights and environmental justice on 15-23 June.
Rio Summit participant denied entry in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL), JUNE 15, 2012 – A participant of the UN Summit in Rio de Janeiero was denied entry into Brazil by the Brazilian authorities.
