933 words
15 April 2008
M2 Presswire
English
(c) 2008 M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
The UK-based mining giant Anglo American today faces growing pressure
over allegations that the corporation is making huge profits while its
operations are worsening poverty, damaging the environment and fuelling
conflict and human rights abuse.
Activists will target Anglo American's annual meeting as campaigners
urge the British government to introduce regulation that will hold such
corporations to account. This push will come this morning (Tuesday, 15
April) when Anglo American holds its AGM amid claims that the firm is
complicit in the abuse of poor people and the environment in Latin
America, Africa and Asia.
The London Mining Network, a coalition of human rights, development and
environmental groups, the anti-poverty charity War on Want, members of
London's Philippine community, and Colombians from communities affected
will stage a protest outside the meeting. They claim the multinational
has profited at the expense of poor communities in developing
countries.
In conflict-hit countries such as Colombia and the Democratic Republic
of Congo, the LMN and War on Want say Anglo American continues to
profit from human rights abuses which condemn local communities to
insecurity and terror. In the Philippines and South Africa, communities
with livelihoods threatened by Anglo American mining have faced severe
repression in a fight to stay on their land. And in Ghana and Mali,
communities see little of the big money earned by Anglo American's
former subsidiary AngloGold Ashanti, until recently 41% owned, and
still 17% owned by the London-based company. They suffer fear and
intimidation and the harmful impact of mining on their employment and
health and the environment.
London, home to some of the world's largest mining companies, provides
much of the finance for the industry. Yet the LMN and War on Want
contrast the deepening poverty of people hit by Anglo American with the
company's $10.1 billion record operating profit last year. They point
to the way Anglo American claims to represent good citizesnship
business principles in order to promote itself as a responsible company
in the global economy. But, according to the LMN and War on Want, this
promotion means little to the communities who face the negative effects
of the company's activities.
Ruth Tanner, senior campaigns officer at War on Want, said: "While
Anglo American reaps massive gains overseas, the firm is complicit in
the dreadful cost to the poor and the environment. We cannot rely on
companies' voluntary action to ensure responsible operations in
developing countries. If Gordon Brown wants to tackle global poverty
and climate change, he must bring in regulation to halt this abuse."
Richard Solly, secretary of the London Mining Network, said: "Anglo
American prides itself on its reputation for corporate social
responsibility. The company and its subsidiaries and associates need to
be accountable to the communities that are telling them to stay away or
to get out. If communities freely accept these companies' presence,
community members must be treated with decency and justice."
NOTES TO EDITORS
--War on Want's report on Anglo American is available at the link below
Top20UK20firm2027profits20from20abuse2C20murder s27+14770.twl
--The London Mining Network and War on Want, with Colombian activists,
will demonstrate from 10.15-11.00 am on Tuesday, 15 April outside the
Anglo American AGM at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace,
London SW1Y 5AG. The charity ActionAid will join them with South
African campaigners. The meeting begins at 11.00 am.
--This protest will launch a week of LMN action.
--The LMN and War on Want will also protest at the annual meeting of
another mining giant, Rio Tinto, on Thursday, 17 April. They say Rio
Tinto earned $122 million from its stake in a gold and copper mine in
West Papua, where local people have suffered years of human rights and
environmental abuse. The demonstration will take place with Friends of
the Earth, which is concerned about Madasgascar, where, the
organisation claims, Rio Tinto is increasing poverty and threatening
unique biodiversity. The protest will take place from 10.15-11.00 am on
Thursday, 17 April at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad
Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE. The meeting starts at 11.00
am.
--Speakers from Argentina, Colombia, South Africa, West Papua and the
US will address a public meeting next week on UK mining companies
profiting from abuse. The LMN meeting will take place at 7.00 pm on
Thursday (17 April) at Amnesty International UK, The Human Rights
Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA.
War on Want fights the root causes of global poverty.
Join us. Go to www.waronwant.org/joinus Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0555 (reg
charity) Registered office and head office: Development House, 56-64
Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT
War on Want is a company limited by Guarantee registered in England
Reg. No. 629916, Charity No. 208724.
War on Want - Fighting Global Poverty
M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided
within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further
information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net
on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.
Paul Collins, War on Want, media officer | Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0584 |
Tel: +44 (0)79 8355 0728 | Richard Solly, secretary of the London
Mining Network | Tel: +44 (0)79 2902 3214 | Paul Collins, Media
officer, War on Want | Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0584 | Tel: +44 (0)79 8355
0728
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