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a handful of corporate criminals

On the next pages, six particularly unruly corporations are spotlighted, and information is provided about ongoing campaigns and actions around the world directed at these TNCs. This is only the tip of the iceberg: activists, farmers, workers, consumers and communities are taking on numerous corporations in a variety of creative and successful ways. Inspire yourself with these examples, and inspire others with your own actions!

rio tinto

the dirt: Rio Tinto, the largest mining conglomerate in the world, has
for long years disregarded human rights and devastated unique environments around the world. Rio Tinto's range of destruction extends to countries including:

• West Papua, where the company dumped 40 million tonnes of toxic waste in the Otomona-Ajkaw river.
  
• Papua New Guinea, where they opened a copper mine that caused a civil war killing 15,000 islanders.
  
• Madagascar, where they propose to mine Titanium Dioxide in forests that are home to many rare and unique species.
  
• Australia, where they are planning to mine uranium in Kakadu national park, owned by the Mirrar Aboriginal people and one of the country's most valuable wildlife sites.
  

dig deeper

• Rio Tinto Threatens Aboriginal Homeland, FoE EWNI, March 2001, available as a PDF file at www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/case_studies/rio_tinto.
  
• Project Underground writes regular updates about Rio Tinto's activities around the world. Visit www.moles.org.
  

get active!

• FoE England, Wales and Northern Ireland has an e-mail campaign asking Rio Tinto to hand Jabiluka back to the traditional owners. Visit: www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/case_studies/rio_tinto/
  

(Information from FoE EWNI)

shell

the dirt: This Anglo-Dutch oil giant is covered in mud. Shell received global attention for its involvement in the unfair trial and execution of the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni people by the Nigerian military government in November 1996. Nonetheless, Shell continues to operate in the country, with a June 2001 oil spill in Ogdobo destroying the only source of drinking water for 150,000 people.

Shell has proven vulnerable to public opinion in recent years. In May 2001, Shell dramatically withdrew its plans to explore for gas in Kirthar National Park, the oldest national park in Pakistan. This sudden move was welcomed by FoEI, which was pursuing a major legal case against Shell in Pakistani courts. And in November 1999, Shell abruptly pulled out of the controversial Chad-Cameroon pipeline, also likely due to public pressure.

dig deeper

2. Background information about Shell in Nigeria at Environmental Rights Action/FoE Nigeria's website: www.essentialaction.org/shell/era/era.html.
   
3. Project Underground keeps regular tabs on Shell's whereabouts and activities: www.moles.org.
   
4. Subscribe to OilResistance-Africa-subscribe@topica.com by sending a blank e-mail to that address.
   

get active!

2. Tell Shell what you think by sending them an e-mail: Tell-Shell@si.simis.com. Or give them feedback via their website: www.shell.com.
   

nestlé

the dirt : The Swiss-based Nestlé company has interests in dozens of countries and is perhaps best known for its food products, breakfast cereals and coffee. The biggest criticism of Nestlé is the company's complete disregard for the health of infants shown by its irresponsible marketing of breast milk substitutes. Acording to UNICEF, reversing the decline in breastfeeding could save the lives of 1.5 million infants every year.

The company holds about 50 percent of the world's breast milk substitute market. A major international boycott is in effect for Nestlé's continued breaches of the 1981 World Health Organization Code regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes.

dig deeper

• Visit the site of the International Baby Food Action Network at www.ibfan.org.
  
• For a complete list of Nestlé products and more details about the company's activities, see www.mcspotlight.org.
  

take action!

• Write to Nestlé, collect petition signatures, hold a day of action in your town, boycott Nestlé products. Information at http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html.
  
• Send a message to the company via Nestlé's home page: www.nestlefaq.com.
  

exxonmobil

the dirt: ExonMobil (Esso in some countries), the largest TNC in the world, has also been the most aggressive of the oil companies trying to kill the Kyoto climate change agreement. The US-based company contributed more than US$1 million to get Bush into the White House, with the result that Bush's energy plan (including drilling in the Arctic Refuge) is nearly identical to that of ExxonMobil. The company has still not completely paid for the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska that occurred more than a decade ago, and has been complicit in the Indonesian military's human rights abuses as well as many other environmental and social disgraces around the world. ExxonMobil is also part of the international consortium of oil companies involved in the controversial Chad-Cameroon oil and gas pipeline, and has wreaked environmental and social destruction throughout Nigeria among other countries.

dig deeper

• Information on ExxonMobil's role in the Chad-Cameroon pipeline can be found on FoEI's website (www.foei.org/ifi) and at www.foe.org/international/omg/casestudies.html#anchor441357.
  
• Information on ExxonMobil's activities in Indonesia can be found at www.gn.apc.org/dte/49Ach.htm and www.gn.apc.org/tapol.
  
• Information on the activities of Exxon's 100 percent owned mining subsidiary Intercor in Colombia can be found at www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/action9.htm.
  
• Information on ExxonMobil's activities in Nigeria can be found at www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/oil/exxonmobil/erafown010711.html or by contacting FoE Nigeria (eraction@infoweb.abs.net).
  

get active!

• Many FoE groups are active in the boycott of Exxon, Esso and Mobil petrol stations. Visit www.stopesso.com for details about the boycott and other actions concerning ExxonMobil.
  
• On-line letters to ExxonMobil fatcats can be sent from www.campaignexxonmobil.org/action.
  

monsanto

the dirt: In the 1980s, Monsanto's name was already sullied due to its production of dangerous PCBs, dioxin and pesticides.
In the past, this US-based agro-chemical and foods conglomerate Monsanto has also been criticized for its production of the carcinogenic artificial sweetener NutraSweet and rBGH, a genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone. Monsanto has sued farmers, retailers and the state of Vermont for labeling products as rBGH-free.

Currently, however, the flames have been fanned by Monsanto's moves into the world of GMOs. The company produces the genetically manipulated “RoundUp Ready” soybeans that are omnipresent in food products around the world today, and which provide the company with 40 percent of its operating profit.

dig deeper

• Rachel's Environment and Health Weekly writes regular articles about Monsanto and its products.
  
• The US-based Pure Food campaign has lots of background and current information about Monsanto. Visit: www.purefood.org/monlink.html.
  
• The Ecologist (www.theecologist.co.uk) has done a special issue on Monsanto, a spanish version of which is available at www.nodo50.org/ecologist.
  

get active!

• Support the Monsanto vs. Schmeiser case (for background see LINK 97) at www.percyschmeiser.com.
  
• Write to Monsanto: postmaster@monsanto.com.
  
  

"Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible." Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate
communications in the New York Times.

philip morris

the dirt: Philip Morris is one of the world's biggest tobacco companies, with 45 percent of the US market and 12 percent of the world market For decades, Philip Morris has made false promises in order to fend off regulations, and has denied and covered up the real (teenaged) targets of its massive marketing and promotional campaigns.

dig deeper

• Find out about the INFACT's tobacco industry campaign at www.infact.org.
  
• Visit www.tobacco.org for background information on the tobacco industry as well as for extensive action ideas.
  

get active!

• Support an Effective Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. A sample letter can be found at www.infact.org.
  
• Help stop the tobacco industry from marketing to kids by signing a petition at: www.infact.org.
  
• Sign a petition asking the New York State Attorney General to revoke Phillip Morris' corporate charter at: www.adbusters.org/campaigns/corporate/rewritecode/spotlight/petition.html
• Download a poster showing the other popular food brands owned by Philip Morris, and hang it in your local supermarket at: www.adbusters.org/campaigns/corporate/rewritecode/spotlight/products.html.
• Send a letter directly to the company via www.philipmorris.com.
  

(Info from www.mcspotlight.org.)