Tous les articles et traductions

, by Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)

Is Corporate Citizenship making a difference?

Ralph Hamann

Why the question is important? Corporate citizenship or corporate social responsibility (CSR) may be defined in terms of proactive efforts by business decision-makers to contribute to sustainable development (WBCSD 2002). Many hope or even expect that such efforts will be decisive. For instance, (…)

, by Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN)

Who’s got the Universal Code?

MSN Codes Memo #23, April 2008, 20 p., pdf

Who’s got the Universal Code? examines attempts by multi-stakeholder initiatives and industry associations to develop and promote a “universal” code of conduct that would be applicable to one or more sectors in the globalized economy. Maquila Solidarity Network also compares and contrasts key (…)

, by KARAT Coalition

Gender aspects : production of Next-generation electronics in Poland

Anita Seibert, MakeITfair campaign, December 2007, 38 p. (pdf)

The report focuses on working conditions in the production of consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptops in Poland. Since the majority of workers involved in this production are women, and as the report is prepared by Karat Coalition, a non-governmental organisation focusing on (…)

Key social impacts of electronics production and WEEE-recycling in China

Andreas Manhart, Öko-Institut e.V., June 2007, 33 p. (pdf)

Both, electronics production and WEEE-recycling have major social impacts on workers, neighbouring communities and the Chinese society: While electronics production is a major driver for the country’s economic development and makes up almost two thirds of the country’s export surplus, the (…)

No medal for the Olympics on labour rights

PlayFair 2008, 32 p., pdf

The Olympic Games is both a symbolic and a practical opportunity to ensure that these global sporting games live up to the ideals enshrined in the Olympic charter and that people who enjoy the games can also know that the souvenirs and garments they wear are produced in factories where basic (…)

, by CADTM

World Social Forum in debate

WSF International Council, march 31st to april 3rd, Aubja, Nigeria

Following the first "Global Day of Action", which took place on January 26th, and after 7 years of existence, the World Social Forum is in debate. A political and strategical debate focused on the process of the FSM, the international situation as well as the anti-globalization’s movement as a (…)

, by APCNoticias

Software: free West Africa?

So as to play a part in the information society, free software could drive the computerisation of West Africa. But although migration to free software may be a development alternative, it first has to transit via organising the world of developers and navigate through the interests of (…)

, by International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

The global gender pay gap

February 2008, 54 p., pdf

On the eve of International Women’s Day, a new ITUC report, the Global Gender Pay Gap reveals that on average, women are paid 16% less than their male counterparts. The report includes detailed analysis of statistics from official sources in 63 countries around the world. Data from an online (…)

The economic policy of the Latin American left in government: Venezuela

TNI, November 2007, 52 pages

Venezuela has undergone profound political and social changes since Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency in February 1999. These transformations have been reflected in the fundamental pillars of the government’s economic policy. Chávez’s initially spoke about combating “savage neo-liberalism” and (…)

, by IPS

Indigenous Women Weave Incomes, Self-Confidence

By Inés Benítez

"Before forming part of the association, we were shut up in our houses. Now we have overcome our fear and shame of going out and seeing new places, and we are bringing money in for our families," says Nicolasa Raxtun, a 30-year-old Maya Cakchiquel Indian woman. Read more

, by Third World Network

Developing countries face hard times as US recession looms

by Martin Khor

It is a terrible time for the global economy. The latest sign of this is the deep plunge in the Asian and European stock markets on Monday, 21 January in response to the string of bad news last week in the United States, leading to the conclusion that the US has now slipped into recession. Read more

, by Grain

Whose harvest? The politics of organic seed certification

The vision behind organic agriculture is one in which care for the environment and health are central, and farmers get a fair deal for their efforts. But organic agriculture is also becoming serious business – with marketing tools, like certification, occupying more and more space and influence. (…)

, by Down to earth

Persistent organic pollutants can render vaccines ineffective

Researchers from usa and Denmark have confirmed an association between increased exposure to persistent organic pollutants (pops) like polychlorinated biphenyls (pcb) and decreased antibody production in children vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria. Action against pops was initiated in the (…)

, by BELLO Walden

Why Asia’s farmers deserve protection

Focus on the Global South

One of the terrible truths of the 20th century is that it was a blight on small farmers or peasants everywhere. Before looking at the question of whether Asia’s farmers need protection, it is necessary to consider this historical background.
In both wealthy capitalist economies and in (…)