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blake 3:17
9th September 2006, 00:17
Volunteers needed for public action! Also public event at OISE Monday September 11th



Along with a wide group of Toronto Civil Society Groups, GlobalAware needs your help! We are trying to persuade the Government to regulate Canadian mining, oil and gas companies overseas and you can help. We need volunteers for a human billboard action that includes walking with our mobile photo exhibit as well as distributing flyers and enabling petition sign ups.

Monday, September 11, 5:30 – 6:30pm

In front of OISE building, 252 Bloor Street West

Tuesday, September 12, 5:00 – 6:00pm

In front of Radisson Hotel, 249 Queen’s Quay West

Wednesday, September 13, 5:30 – 6:30 pm

In front of the Centre for Social Justice, 489 College Street



If you can participate please send an email and let me know!!
[email protected] Otherwise you should also checkout the event on
Monday!! Free films, photo exhibit and a panel discussion; details and lots of further information follow.



Free Event- Monday September 11, 2006

1:00 pm to 9 pm

OISE / University of Toronto
Rooms 2-213 and 2-214

Ontario Institute in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto

252 Bloor Street West, near St. George subway stop For more info: Bern Jagunos 416-231-7680 ext 4077 or Jim Davis 416-463-5312 ext 238


MANDATORY NOT VOLUNTARY

REGULATE CANADIAN MINING, OIL AND GAS COMPANIES OVERSEAS Parallel events to roundtable on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Sector

GlobalAware Photo Exhibit — Room 2-213 1pm to 6pm Canadian mining oil and
gas operations in Ecuador, Ghana, Peru, Philippines and Venezuela


Screening of Short Documentary Films — Room 2-213 2pm to 6;30 pm 2:00 pm -
Sipakapa No se Vende/Sipakapa is Not for Sale (60 min, Glamis Gold,
Guatemala) 3:10 pm - All That Glitters (28 min, TVI Pacific in the
Philippines) 4:00 pm - U.A.I.L. Go Back (22 min. Alcan in India) 4:40 pm -
Between Midnight and the Rooster’s Crow (60 min, EnCana Corp. in Ecuador)
5:50 pm - Dongo Kundu (20 Min, Tiomin Resources in Kenya) 6:20 pm - Gold,
Gold Look who is Benefiting (20 min, Bonte Gold Mines, Folden Star
Resources in Ghana)



Presentation and Discussion with Featured Speakers Room 2-214 6:30 pm to 9

pm

• Chair: Bern Jagunos

• Introduction: Carlos Torres (Chile)

• Tin Maung Htoo (Burma)

• Wanyee Kinuthia / Tigi Obanda (Kenya)

• Ulises Garcia (Peru)

• Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines)



Free Event- Monday September 11, 2006

1:00 pm to 9 pm

OISE / University of Toronto

Rooms 2-213 and 2-214

Ontario Institute in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto

252 Bloor Street West, near St. George subway stop



For more info: Bern Jagunos 416-231-7680 ext 4077 or Jim Davis 416-463-5312

ext 238 http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issues_CNCA

Endorsed by a network of Toronto based organization for corporate
responsibility on the occasion of the Canadian governments September 12-14
roundtable meeting on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian
Extractive Sector in Developing Countries.





MOVING BEYOND VOLUNTARISM:

CANADA AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ABROAD





THE PROBLEM



Canadian mining, oil and gas companies have been implicated in well-

documented cases of human rights violations and environmental disasters

abroad. These violations by Canadian companies include toxic dumping, the

destruction of protected areas, forcible displacement of indigenous

peoples, and threats and intimidation of local communities.



This is not a case of a few bad apples: Canadian extractive companies have

been implicated in human rights abuses and environmental disasters in more

than thirty countries.



The Government offers both political assistance and financial support to

Canadian extractive companies that operate abroad. Yet the Government has

no regulatory mechanisms to ensure that these companies observe

international human rights and environmental standards – standards that

have been adopted by Canada.



The voluntary approach to corporate accountability championed by the

Canadian Government is problematic for several reasons. Most voluntary

codes lack independent monitoring and verification systems, complaints

tools and enforcement mechanisms. Moreover, the voluntary approach

excludes binding mechanisms to hold companies accountable when there is

evidence of environmental and/or human rights violations associated with

their overseas activities.







THE SOLUTION



The Government should:



• Require Canadian companies operating internationally to meet clearly

defined corporate accountability, international human rights and

environmental standards, as a precondition for both financial and political

assistance.



• Develop legislation to hold Canadian companies and their directors

accountable in Canada when found complicit in human rights abuses and

environmental destruction abroad.



• Develop robust Canadian-based monitoring, verification and compliance

mechanisms to ensure that Canadian companies operating internationally meet

clearly defined corporate accountability, international human rights and

environmental standards.



• Promote the inclusion of human rights standards in World Bank policies

and condition private sector lending on compliance with international human

rights.

Canadian Miner
18th September 2006, 20:02
Hey! 'Ro we get free sub-machine gun's, 'tho? ;)