As the US and EU apply sanctions on Russia over its annexation' of Crimea, JP Sottile reveals the corporate annexation of Ukraine. For Cargill, Chevron, Monsanto, there's a gold mine of profits to be made from agri-business and energy exploitation.
… a gold mine of profits to be made from agri-business and energy exploitation. On 12th … Times reported a major deal for US agribusiness titan Cargill. Business confidence never faltered Despite the …
A new Trade Secrets law to be voted on next week by the European Parliament threatens a massive clampdown on journalists and whistle-blowers, write Anne Friel & Anaïs Berthier, giving corporations the right to sue those who disclose private information even in the public interest to protect health, safety and environment.
… to access information on the risks posed by business activities to make informed decisions … The stated aim of the Directive is protect businesses from industrial espionage and … into research and development by European businesses should be protected from …
Dissent over the massive USA-EU TTIP trade deal is focused on the 'corporate courts' allowing investors to sue national governments, But largely neglected has been the equally serious issue of 'Regulatory Cooperation' - which would impose a huge burden of 'red tape' on EU and US legislatures, while forcing down health, safety, social and environmental standards.
… or reduce their impacts on, and costs for, business. Burdens and hoops for governments, … Of course, this is not about barriers for business, as the raison d'etre for this … It also gives unprecedented influence to business lobby groups which would receive …
Far from creating a 'level playing field' for business, TTIP favours foreign corporations over domestic ones - while undermining governments' right to legislate for public health, safety and wellbeing. Australia got the message in 2011 after being sued for its anti-smoking policies - now Europe must catch up!
… Far from creating a 'level playing field' for business, TTIP favours foreign corporations … both for growth and the ease of doing business. Currently, however, negotiations … would confer greater legal rights on foreign businesses than those available to domestic …
Ecocide is a global problem, writes Bukola Saraki, and laws are desperately needed to hold companies to account for the damage they cause. Nigeria - long despoiled with impunity by the oil industry - is just the place to start.
… must be pubished I firmly believe that businesses need to be held accountable … who through negligence or irresponsible business practices cause damage to the … stated aim of the Ecocide Campaign is to stop businesses using environmental damage risk in …
Brussels is a city of ruthless, well-resourced corporate lobbyists. And unlike ordinary EU citizens, they enjoy priviliged access to officials, negotiators and parliamentarians, and are used to getting their own way. That's a state of affairs that David Lundy & Olivier Hoedeman are determined to end with their 'citizens tours' of EU Lobbyland ...
… - the vast majority of whom are acting for business associations and corporations. The … area has been the subject of the bulk of business lobby efforts since the talks on TTIP … it will mean big profits for large scale agribusiness. Corporate farming knows from …
A Greenpeace investigation has exposed the massive efforts of global food and drink giant Coca Cola to defeat popular proposals to require deposits on single-use plastic bottles, writes Maeve McClenaghan. In fact, deposit schemes are working fine in many countries in which the company operates - it's a simple case of corporate profit before environment, oceans and wildlife.
… arguing it could negatively impact their business. Beyond the leaked plans, Energydesk … only valuable, but is also essential for our business and vital for people to be able to … EU policies that could impact the company's business. Circled by the label 'Fight back' is …
The EU referendum debate is taking place between different wings of the corporate elite, dominated by assumptions in favour of big business, free trade and endless economic growth, write Helena Norberg-Hodge, Rupert Read & Thomas Wallgren. But to vote for a sustainable future we must adopt a very different, local perspective - one you'll never find in UK's 'mainstream' media.
… dominated by assumptions in favour of big business, free trade and endless economic … of the Second World War, political elites and business leaders promoted the notion that … regulations made trade difficult for big business, while the diversity of languages and …
The EU's nature directives provide effective protection for endangered species and habitats, writes Leonardo Mazza. So why the Commission's decision to 'review' and 'modernise' the laws? With its commitment to business-friendly deregulation and uninterest in the environment, the aim is surely to gut them - something only EU-wide citizens' mobilisation can prevent.
… 'modernise' the laws? With its commitment to business-friendly deregulation and uninterest … efficiency by removing so-called 'burdens' on business or 'barriers' to trade. But such … Nature laws don't even make the 'top ten' of business burdens The facts show that these …
As the EU comes down for neoliberalism, austerity and capital against popular will, Greens and other 'progressives' must consider switching sides in the 'in or out' debate, writes Jenny Jones. A Union that stands for TTIP, corporate empowerment and the trampling of Greek democracy is one we are better off leaving.
… will of the people to be struck down by big business ; is in its very essence a project of … and the 'Stability and Growth pact') a pro-business front, a vehicle for organisations … of one-planet ecological sanity over business profit - would leave the EU more of a …
When 97% percent of respondents to a European Commission 'consultation' on the TTIP EU-US trade deal opposed it outright the Commission accused them of 'hijacking' the process, writes Nick Dearden - and pressed ahead with negotiations. Whose Europe is it anyway?
… in history, as well as nearly 450 businesses, campaign organisations, think … that this really is a battle between big business and the rest of us. The exclusion of … "strongly opposed by a significant number of business associations who want to see …
The recent closure of five US power stations is forcing the industry to confront big questions about radioactive waste, writes Paul Brown. Who is to pay the mounting costs of managing the wastes and keeping them secure? And precisely where will be their final resting place?
… to haunt the industry. Nuclear waste as a business opportunity Not that everyone sees it … waste as a welcome and highly profitable business opportunity. Either way, because of … income for companies in the nuclear waste business, stretching to the end of this …
Myth Number 5: INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE IS EFFICIENT
… Economy Community Small Farms EU Farming Agribusiness Animal Husbandry Factory Farming Agribusiness Organics Gm Products EU Community … cost of efficient food production. And agri-business advocates don't just promote big …
The investor protections in the US-EU TTIP treaty would privilege US corporations over the EU's own citizens and businesses, writes Laurens Ankersmit & Oliver Tickell. That would sideline EU courts and undermine the completion of the internal market. It is therefore essential that the EU Court be asked to rule whether they are legal.
… corporations over the EU's own citizens and businesses, writes Laurens Ankersmit & Oliver … over decisions based on EU law, and gifts businesses with a quick route to enormous … against European citizens, workers and businesses as only foreign investors can use …
The EU-US TTIP trade agreement would 'protect investors' by giving them the right to sue national government for changes in the law that reduce their returns, writes Cécile Toubeau - putting an end to progress on environment and human development.
… TTIP: Europe and America do not need business vs. state dispute rules Cécile …
Sanctions against Russian natural resource tycoons could be good for the environment, writes eco-campaigner Konstantin Rubakhin - if only they would target the right people. But so far, the EU has been turning a blind eye to powerful Kremlin insiders with an open licence to pollute and destroy.
… against several Russian companies and businessmen could actually improve both the … traffic spirited out of Russia by powerful businessmen, suspiciously wealthy civil … disease than the symptoms: cut off Russia's business tsars, who are profiting from the …
Sir Nicholas Stern was asked to find out what way of averting climate change was economically feasible. A loaded question that has allowed him to find a perverse solution to a fatal problem.
… review he studies three scenarios: firstly, business as usual; secondly, stabilising … and 550ppm. The outcome of carrying on with business as usual is, he says, ‘catastrophic’, … fallacious argument. Firstly, it presupposes business will continue as usual. And secondly, …
BRENDAN MONTAGUE investigates how Brexiteers are seeking to redefine protected wildlife as a “scourge” to industry in part one of a new three-part series on EU environmental protections
… which is now under threat. It is small minded businessmen, obsessed with non-existent “red … financial crisis, with one third going out of business between 2007 and 2009, according to … regulation, newt regulation. Champion of business Stories about the absurdity of the …
The UK dairy industry is in crisis, writes Megan Perry, with falling prices forcing many farmers out of business. Smaller, more sustainable farms have been the worst casualties, while the large, intensive producers survive. We must ditch market-driven 'survival of the fittest' attitudes - and recognise both the real costs of intensification, and the true value of traditional farming.
… falling prices forcing many farmers out of business. Smaller, more sustainable farms have … of Britain's dairy farms have gone out of business during the past ten years, and many … seem strange that farmers are going out of business. But with access to global milk …
British MPs have rebuked the government for its secretive and apathetic response to public concerns over the TTIP EU-US trade deal, demanding that nations' 'right to regulate' for health, environment and the wider public interest must stand at the heart of any future agreement.
… future agreement. MPs in the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) … investors to sue governments for enacting 'business unfriendly' legislation. Where … Investment Partnership ', House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, …
Europe's most important laws for wildlife, the EU's Nature Directives, are under threat in from a recently launched 'review', writes Martin Harper. The official purpose is to make the laws more effective, but in reality it's all part of the Commission's agenda to strip away regulations that impede business in its pursuit of profit.
… agenda to strip away regulations that impede business in its pursuit of profit. On Saturday … for wildlife, good for people and good for business. Challenging the Commision's … weaker protection for wildlife is good for business. This would be bad for business, and …
The TTIP - a massive trade and investment deal under negotiation between the US and the EU - could be the end of democracy as we know it, writes Morton Thaysen, as corporate rights will supplant those of ciizens and elected governments. Join a global day of action today!
… of the NHS that has been sold off to big business, tackle the spiralling energy prices … argument that politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders have made in TTIP's favour is … week George Osborne attempted to rally big business to publicly defend the free market …
Environmentalists are near unanimous in believing the UK should remain in the EU, writes Harry Blain. Yet that puts us in the same camp as many of our fiercest enemies - neoliberal governments and corporate lobbyists for fossil fuels, cars and other polluting industries. Meanwhile the EU itself is increasingly undermining its own environmental protections as it pursues 'free trade' agreements around the world. Time for a rethink? You bet!
… to the amassed power of the world's biggest businesses." Looking at these arguments, and … And why is Brussels promoting such aggressive business-friendly legislation when not long … or other organisations with links to big business" . People such as Viviane Reding, who …
With the Wall Street Journal warning that the GMO crop boom may be over in the face of superweeds, higher seed prices, falling yields and farmer antipathy, writes Pat Thomas, the Monsanto-Bayer merger is a sign of weakness as both companies struggle to deliver growth and profits to match shareholder expectations. We had better be ready to press home our advantage!
… $66bn takeover of its GM seeds business by rival Bayer. The deal - if it is … see that these proposed mergers are bad for business, bad for farming and ultimately bad … public interested in the machinations of big business is hard work (as the campaigns …