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Weekly Updates: Companies we have invited to respond to concerns
Section 1: Companies beginning with A-B
(10 Feb 2005 – 9 Dec 2009)
The following chart lists companies we invited to respond to concerns raised by civil society and highlighted in our Weekly Updates – indicating the country, issue, and whether or not the company has sent us a response – with a link to the allegations and any response. Any company that has not yet responded is welcome to do so at any time.
This section of the chart covers companies with names beginning A-B; the other five alphabetical sections are here:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Update-Charts
Our free Weekly Updates include the latest news and reports on companies’ human rights impacts: positive steps they are taking, and alleged abuses. Over 7500 opinion leaders worldwide have registered for the Updates. You can sign up to receive the Updates at: www.business-humanrights.org/Updates
When we plan to include allegations of misconduct in a Weekly Update, we invite the named company to respond, and any response appears in the Update. This helps ensure balance and encourages companies to address concerns raised by civil society. Since we launched the Updates in February 2005, over 75% of companies have responded. In some cases this has led to further comments, and then a further response by the company. In this way the Updates can help to keep issues alive until they have been addressed on the ground.
A list of the positive steps by companies that have been featured in our Weekly Updates is available here: www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Update-Charts
Company (A-B) / Country / Date of ourUpdate / Issue / Resp-
onse?
ABB
(Sweden) / Sudan / 11 May 2005 / International Rivers Network & Corner House say Merowe Dam in which ABB is involved will displace thousands & has not been adequately assessed for environmental impact.
Click here / Yes
ABB
(Sweden) / Sudan / 26 Apr 2006 / Divest Sudan campaign calls on companies, including ABB, to withdraw from Sudan to avoid complicity in abuses. Click here / Yes
ABB
(Sweden) / Sudan / 26 Apr, 10 May
2006 / 3 civilians killed during protests over Merowe dam. Click here / Yes
ABB
(Sweden) / China / 17 Jan 2007 / Labour groups raise concerns about positions of multinational & their business organizations regarding China’s proposed labour law reform. Click here / No
Abbott
Laboratories
(USA) / Global / 30 May 2007 / Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility report says Abbott Labs faces risks over access to medicines - recommends adopting human rights-based approach. Click here / Yes
Abbott
Laboratories
(USA) / Global / 13 July 2005 / Médecins Sans Frontières says prices of essential new AIDS drugs in developing countries are too high. Click here / Yes
Abbott Laboratories (USA) / Global / 23 Aug, 13 Sep, 8 Nov 2006 / Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility rates 15 pharmaceutical firms on HIV/AIDS, including Abbott - finds none has comprehensive approach. Click here / Yes
Abbott Laboratories (USA) / Global / 29 Nov 2006 / Physicians for Social Justice (Nigeria) says companies’ responses to Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility report are a “cover” for their insufficient action to ensure access to essential medicines. Click here / No
Abbott Laboratories (USA) / Global / 12, 19 Dec 2007 / Oxfam report "Investing for Life" says drug companies not doing enough to provide access to medicines for the poor - makes recommendations for "responsible business practices". Click here / Yes
ACE
(Bermuda) / Burma / 20 Aug 2008 / Burma Campaign UK says firms providing insurance to companies operating in Burma "support dictators". Click here / Yes
adidas (Germany) / Thailand / 5 July 2006 / Thai Labour Campaign study says women making footballs earn “poverty wages”. Click here / Yes
adidas (Germany) / Sudan / 12 Dec 2007 / Olympic Dream for Darfur calls on Olympic corporate sponsors, including adidas, to raise Sudan concerns with Chinese Govt. Click here / Yes
adidas (Germany) / China / 16 Apr 2008 / Allegations of rigged union election at Shunda factory, decline in working conditions since adidas acquired Reebok. Click here / Yes
adidas (Germany) / China / 16 Apr 2008 / Report by Sunday Times (UK) alleges labour abuses at adidas suppliers in Fuzhou, including Shunda factory. Click here / Yes
ADM
(USA) / USA / 24, 31 May 2006 / "Toxic 100" list of corporate air polluters, prepared by Univ. of Massachusetts research institute (PERI): ADM in top 10.
Click here / Yes
ADM
(USA) / USA / 30 April 2008 / "Toxic 100" list of top air polluters, by Political Economy Research Institute, Univ. of Massachusetts - we invited top 10 to respond, including ADM. Click here / Yes
Aegis
(UK) / Global / 30 Jan 2008 / "Private Security Contractors at War: Ending the Culture of Impunity", report by Human Rights First. Click here / Yes
Aegon
(Netherlands) / Global / 15 Jul 2009 / SOMO "Overviews of controversial business practices in 2008" on companies including Aegon. Click here / Yes
AES
(USA) / Panama / 22 Apr 2009 / Changuinola dam project - Cultural Survival says AES "using unscrupulous methods" to take indigenous people's land, "breaking up communities". Click here / Yes
AES
(USA) / Panama / 6 Feb 2008 / Cultural Survival says AES dams will harm Ngobe people - "unscrupulous techniques" used to move them. Click here / No
Afrimex
(UK) / Dem. Rep. of Congo / 6 Jul 2005 / Channel 4 report says tin ore miners, supplying Afrimex, work in appalling conditions, sometimes at gunpoint. Click here / No
Aguas Claras
(Chile) / Chile / 20 Feb, 5 Mar 2008 / Conflict between Aguas Claras and its workers over labour conditions. Click here [Spanish only] / Yes
Ahold (Netherlands) / Global / 15 Jul 2009 / SOMO "Overviews of controversial business practices in 2008" on companies including Ahold. Click here / Yes
AkzoNobel (Netherlands) / Global / 15 Jul 2009 / SOMO "Overviews of controversial business practices in 2008" on companies including AkzoNobel. Click here / Yes
Al Wasl
(United Arab Emirates) / Burma / 20 Aug 2008 / Burma Campaign UK says firms providing insurance to companies operating in Burma "support dictators". Click here / Yes
Aldi
(Germany) / Asia / 18 Mar 2009 / Clean Clothes Campaign report "Cashing in" says discount model leads to labour abuses at factories in Asia supplying Aldi, Carrefour, Lidl, Tesco, Wal-Mart. Click here / Yes
Alcan
(Canada) / India / 3 Aug 2005 / Residents oppose proposed Utkal bauxite mining & alumina refinery project over environmental, displacement concerns. Click here / Yes
Alcan
(Canada) / India / 13 Dec 2006 / Indian People’s Tribunal report on alleged human rights and environment violations involved in Utkal aluminium project. Click here / Yes
Alcan
(Canada) / India / 4 Apr 2007 / Report by former World Bank advisor Robert Goodland raises serious human rights & environmental concerns about Utkal bauxite & alumina project. Click here / Yes
Alcoa
(USA) / Brazil / 15 Jun 2005 / Barra Grande dam: Terra de Direitos and Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens file OECD Guidelines complaint raising social & environmental concerns. Click here / Yes
Alcoa
(USA) / USA / 24 & 31 May 2006 / "Toxic 100" list of corporate air polluters, prepared by Univ. of Massachusetts research institute (PERI): Alcoa in top 10. Click here / Yes
Alcoa
(USA) / Suriname / 10 Jan 2007 / Indigenous peoples NGOs’ submission to UN Special Representative raises social & environmental concerns about Bakhuys project. Click here / Yes
Ali Baba Foods
(So. Africa) / So. Africa / 15 Oct 2008 / Union says members shot while protesting lock-out by Ali Baba Foods. Click here / Yes
Almedahls (Sweden) / India, Pakistan / 2 May 2007 / SwedWatch report reveals Swedish local govts. sourcing equipment & textiles for healthcare manufactured in poor working conditions in India, Pakistan. Providers include Almedahls. Click here / No
Alstom
(France) / Sudan / 26 Apr 2006 / 3 civilians killed during protests over Merowe dam. Click here / No
Alstom
(France) / Sudan / 11 May 2005 / International Rivers Network & Corner House say Merowe Dam in which Alstom is involved will displace thousands & has not been adequately assessed for environmental impact.
Click here / No
Alstom
(France) / Sudan / 12 Sep 2007 / UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing concerned about forced evictions & other abuses related to the Merowe dam project. Click here / Yes
Aluminij
(Bosnia & Herzegovina) / Bosnia & Herze-govina / 15 Feb 2006 / Amnesty International report finds discrimination in employment. Click here / Yes
Aluminij
(Bosnia & Herzegovina) / Bosnia & Herze-govina / 7 Jun 2006 / Amnesty Intl. writes follow-up letter to Aluminij, regarding Aluminij’s response to Amnesty’s report on ethnic discrimination in employment. Click here / No
AMCOR
(Philippines) / Philippines / 12 Nov 2008 / CAFOD report on impact of proposed BHP Billiton, AMCOR project on local livelihoods & environment. Click here / No
Amazon
(USA) / Global / 30 Nov 2006 / BBC reports that third-party seller on Amazon is selling “tour guide for paedophiles”. Click here / Yes
Anchor
(USA) / Cambodia / 7 Jun 2006 / Australian Council of Trade Unions campaign raises concerns about health & working conditions of "beer promotion women". [Note: Anchor US confirmed by telephone that they do not market their beer in Cambodia and were mentioned erroneously in the ACTU campaign]. Click here / Yes
Anglo American
(UK) / Global / 18 Jul 2007 / Report by Reuters examines HIV/AIDS in the mining industry. Includes comments on prevention efforts of Anglo American. Click here / Yes
Anglo American
(UK) / Global / 15 Aug 2007 / War on Want report alleges Anglo American "profits from abuse, murders". Click here / Yes
Anglo American
(UK) / Global / 12 Dec 2007 / "Fanning the Flames": War on Want report alleges UK mining companies, including Anglo American, involved in human rights abuses overseas. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 15 Jun 2005 / Communities raise concerns about environmental & health impacts of mining operations. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 18 Jan 2006 / Concerns about police violence near Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti mining concessions (Ghana News Agency).
Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 26 Jul 2006 / BBC report alleges multinational mining firms including AngloGold Ashanti "prepared to use extreme violence to protect their property". Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 18 Oct 2006 / ActionAid report alleges AngloGold Ashanti operations exacerbate poverty, harm health & environment in Obuasi. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Global / 12 Dec 2007 / "Fanning the Flames": War on Want report alleges UK mining companies, including AngloGold Ashanti, involved in human rights abuses overseas. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 4 Jun 2008 / NGOs say mining companies have impeded food production, led to serious human rights abuses by the military. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Tanzania / 19 Nov 2008 / Report says tax evasion by mining companies leading to negative social impacts. Click here / Yes
AngloGold Ashanti
(South Africa) / Ghana / 12 Aug 2009 / NGO makes several allegations against AngloGold Ashanti, including pollution; intimidation of villagers and displacement by govt. security forces. Click here / Yes
Anglo Platinum (South Africa) / South Africa / 18 Jul 2007 / Bench Marks Foundation report says platinum mines in North West Province owned by companies including Anglo Platinum putting workers' & communities' health at risk. Click here / Yes
Anglo Platinum (South Africa) / South Africa / 15 Oct 2008 / Local leader claims Anglo Platinum plan to construct dam on community land will destroy cultural heritage. Click here / Yes
Anglo Platinum (South Africa) / South Africa / 4 Nov 2009 / Case study examines Anglo Platinum's changing strategies to address displacement & resettlement at Mogalakwena mine following investigation by So. African Human Rights Commission. Click here / Yes
Anheuser-Busch
(USA) / Cambodia / 7 June
2006 / Australian Council of Trade Unions campaign raises concerns about health & working conditions of "beer promotion women". Click here / No
Anheuser-Busch
(USA) / Sudan / 12 Dec 2007 / Olympic Dream for Darfur calls on Olympic corporate sponsors, including Anheuser-Busch, to raise Sudan concerns with Chinese Govt. Click here / Yes
Ankur
(India) / India / 17 Oct 2007 / Over 400,000 children working in cottonseed fields, often bonded labour. Click here / No
Anvil Mining (Australia) / Dem. Rep. of Congo / 8 Jun, 24 Aug,
5 Oct, 2 Nov 2005 / Rights & Accountability in Development raises concerns over alleged involvement of Anvil Mining in army clampdown that left over 100 dead. Click here / Yes
ANZ
(Australia) / Philippines / 29 Oct 2008 / Oxfam Australia says Philippines mine bankrolled by ANZ destroys local people's livelihoods. Click here / Yes
Apple
(USA) / China / 30 Aug, 6 Sep 2006 / Apple supplier Foxconn sues two journalists who raised concerns about working conditions at Foxconn iPod factory. Reporters Without Borders calls on Apple to intercede. Click here and here / [1]
Apple