14 October 2016
10am-1pm. Hall No. 1
Xavier’s Centre of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim, Goa
Updates from struggles: Coca-cola, Unilever, Areva, POSCO, Veolia Vedanta, Adani, Tata, Reliance, Monsanto, Cargill, Dow Chemicals, Lafarge, Maersk, Novartis, Wal-Mart, Arcelor Mittal, etc.
Over the past 4 decades of neo-liberalism, Transnational Corporations (TNCs) have gained tremendous economic and political power in the North and South, in part due to the support of Governments. Data from 2015 indicates that among the world’s 100 largest economic entities, 69 are TNCs and only 31 are countries. The largest corporations in the world such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart and Apple make more money than the GDP of several countries combined. The trend is similar in BRICS countries as well with TNCs such as Vale (Brazil), Reliance and Adani (India) and Impala Platinum and Lonmin (South Africa) extracting valuable resources, amassing massive profits and political clout.
By capturing government policy making, TNCs have built a pro free market global architecture through institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and various trade and investment treaties that allow them to operate with impunity despite the devastating social, economic and environmental impacts of their operations.
But across the world, people are fighting back. Thousands of campaigns have targeted specific corporations, institutions such as the WTO, World Bank, IMF and Free Trade and Investment Agreements (FTAs, IIAs).
In this 3 hour workshop on People Vs Corporations, we will hear about ongoing campaigns against some of the world’s largest and powerful TNCs. The workshop will also discuss how we can collectively build a global movement to dismantle the power of TNCs, especially in the context of a binding treaty to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations.
Speakers will include: Representaives from the TNC Campaigns above as well as Patrick Bond on-BRICS TNCs, , Dottie Geurrero -Chinese TNCs and, Brid Brennan-Transnational Institute & Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power & Stop Impunity
Organised by:
National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM); Plachimada Anti Coca-Cola Struggle Committee, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), Research Collective, Focus on the Global South, Transnational Institute (TNI)
Websites sources:
http://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/week-peoples-mobilisation-geneva-switzerland-24th-29th-october/
For more information write to Madhuresh Kumar (madhuresh@napm-india.org) and Benny Kuruvilla (benkuru@gmail.com)
