Commitments to improved transparency in the forest sector must be acted on</h1> <article> <h1>Commitments to improved transparency in the forest sector must be acted on</h1> <p>oliver.courtney — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:46:30 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">8th February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Forest dependent communities are still in the dark about how their forests are being managed, despite additional commitments from governments to publish information about their policies and practice, says a report published by Global Witness today. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Forest dependent communities are still in the dark about how their forests are being managed, despite additional commitments from governments to publish information about their policies and practice, says a report published by Global Witness today.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/commitments-improved-transparency-forest-sector-must-be-acted" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Oil companies lobby for less transparency as Global Witness exposes the need for more</h1> <p>t.pursey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:51:22 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">8th February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> More transparency is needed in the oil, gas and mining industries to prevent the international scramble for Africa's natural resources from fuelling still deeper corruption and instability, according to a new report from Global Witness published today. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/rigged/">READ THE REPORT</a></p> <p>More transparency is needed in the oil, gas and mining industries to prevent the international scramble for Africa’s natural resources from fuelling still deeper corruption and instability, according to a new report from Global Witness published today.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/oil-companies-lobby-less-transparency-global-witness-exposes-need-more" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>International NGO letter regarding the sale of confiscated precious wood in Madagascar</h1> <p>t.pursey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:02:52 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">3rd February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> This is a letter from seven international non-governmental organizations, experts on the topic of illegal logging in Madagascar, to the Minister of Environment and Forests of Madagascar, regarding the risk that a proposed poorly managed sale of illegally-sourced ebony and rosewood currently poses. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Include in Homepage Featured Items feed </div> </div> </div> <div> <p><span>Please see the attached letter from seven international non-governmental organizations, experts on the topic of illegal logging in Madagascar, to the Minister of Environment and Forests of Madagascar, regarding the risk that a proposed poorly managed sale of illegally-sourced ebony and rosewood currently poses.</span></p> </div><p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/international-ngo-letter-regarding-sale-confiscated-precious-wood-madagascar" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Rigged: The Scramble for Africa's Oil, Gas and Minerals</h1> <p>t.pursey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:43:24 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">8th February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> The intensifying competition for commercial access to the world’s remaining deposits of oil, gas and minerals brings with it a serious risk of exacerbating corruption and violent conflict. Our new report shows that in Angola and Nigeria there is a risk that complex deals struck between governments and corporations for access to natural resources could be used corruptly to benefit vested interests in these countries, rather than the citizens. The report also points to major concerns over opaque sales of mining assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo to offshore companies. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Include in Homepage Featured Items feed </div> </div> </div> <p><span><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/oil-companies-lobby-less-transparency-global-witness-exposes-need-more">READ THE PRESS RELEASE</a></span></p> <p><span><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/rigged">READ THE REPORT </a></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/rigged-scramble-africas-oil-gas-and-minerals" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Des victimes congolaises du massacre de Kilwa réclament justice à la Cour suprême du Canada</h1> <p>t.pursey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:20:06 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">1st February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> L’Association canadienne contre l'impunité (ACCI), a exprimé sa profonde déception suite à la décision prise la semaine dernière par la Cour d'appel du Québec rejetant la décision de la Cour Supérieure du Québec dans la cause qui l’opposait à Anvil Mining. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>L’Association canadienne contre l'impunité (ACCI), a exprimé sa profonde déception suite à la décision prise la semaine dernière par la Cour d'appel du Québec rejetant la décision de la Cour Supérieure du Québec dans la cause qui l’opposait à Anvil Mining. Tout en reconnaissant les difficultés rencontrées par les victimes dans leur tentative pour obtenir justice, la Cour d’appel a statué que le Québec ne disposait pas de la législation nécessaire pour entendre leur cause.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/node/7907" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Congolese massacre survivors to pursue justice at the Supreme Court of Canada</h1> <p>t.pursey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:01:19 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">1st February 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> The Canadian Association Against Impunity (CAAI), expressed its profound disappointment with last week’s decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal overturning the decision of the Quebec Superior Court in the case against Anvil Mining Limited. While acknowledging the difficulties that the victims have encountered in their attempt to obtain justice, the appeal Court ruled that they lack the necessary legislation to allow the case to proceed in Quebec. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Montreal, January 31, 2012 - The Canadian Association Against Impunity (CAAI), expressed its profound disappointment with last week’s decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal overturning the decision of the Quebec Superior Court in the case against Anvil Mining Limited. While acknowledging the difficulties that the victims have encountered in their attempt to obtain justice, the appeal Court ruled that they lack the necessary legislation to allow the case to proceed in Quebec.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/congolese-massacre-survivors-pursue-justice-supreme-court-canada" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Principles for Independent Monitoring of REDD (IM-REDD)</h1> <p>t.pursey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:32:03 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">3rd June 2010</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Governance is key to REDD+. Through internationally agreed principles, safeguards and standards, a roadmap for progress towards the good governance required for successful REDD+ will be developed. Importantly, it will be owned by the countries concerned. A clear conflict of interest exists if governments monitor their own performance. A set of 10 principles can be dervied from Independent Forest Monitoring, developed over the decade to address precisely this problem.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/principles-independent-monitoring-redd-im-redd" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>EU takes step towards conflict-free supply chains</h1> <p>oliver.courtney — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:32:24 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">27th January 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Global Witness and CCFD-Terre Solidaire welcomed a commitment today by EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Development Commissioner Piebalgs to make supply chains more transparent, a move that will help prevent natural resource-fuelled conflict. The two groups called on the Commission to swiftly roll out regulation requiring companies sourcing minerals to do checks – known as due diligence – on their supply chains. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Global Witness and CCFD-Terre Solidaire welcomed a commitment today by EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Development Commissioner Piebalgs to make supply chains more transparent, a move that will help prevent natural resource-fuelled conflict. The two groups called on the Commission to swiftly roll out regulation requiring companies sourcing minerals to do checks – known as due diligence – on their supply chains.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/eu-takes-step-towards-conflict-free-supply-chains" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>The Economist backs moves to stop wrong-doers from hiding their ill-gotten gains</h1> <p>oliver.courtney — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:54:33 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">23rd January 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Global Witness has long campaigned for companies to come clean about who actually owns them. A leader in this week’s Economist calls for a change in the law to prevent this abuse. </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Global Witness has long campaigned for companies to come clean about who actually owns them. In most countries in the world individuals can legally disguise their identities and their assets behind anonymous shell companies. This allows corrupt politicians, terrorists, organised criminals, among others, to hide their illicitly acquired wealth.</p> <p>A leader that appeared in the <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/21543164">Economist</a> at the end of January 2012 called for a change in the law to prevent this abuse.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/economist-backs-moves-stop-wrong-doers-hiding-their-ill-gotten-gains" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Siemens must decide whether it’s for or against corruption</h1> <p>oliver.courtney — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:33 +0000</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-published-date"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="date-display-single">23rd January 2012</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-description-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Siemens cannot sit on the B-20 anti-corruption working group whilst also sitting on the board of, and financially contributing to, the US Chamber of Commerce who are seeking to undermine the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-show-featured"> <div class="field-label">Include in Homepage Featured Items feed: </div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> off </div> </div> </div> <p>Siemens cannot sit on the B-20 anti-corruption working group whilst also sitting on the board of, and financially contributing to, the US Chamber of Commerce who are seeking to undermine the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).</p> <p>Global Witness has written and Open Letter to Peter Löscher, President and CEO, Gerhard Cromme, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and The Board of Siemens AG, on the occasion of its 2012 AGM – 24<sup>th</sup> January 2012.</p> <p><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/library/siemens-must-decide-whether-it%E2%80%99s-or-against-corruption" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> </main></body></html>