Communities living in resource-rich countries won a historic victory today when the U.S. Congress passed landmark transparency legislation as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Once signed into law in the coming days by President Obama, the provision will require oil, gas, and mining companies registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) publically disclose their payments to governments for the extraction of natural resources on an annual basis. Read more »
Recently in Paris, EarthRights International Senior Consultant Matthew Smith addressed the Investment Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on the effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The June 30th event marked the launch of the OECD Investment Committee’s formal review of the OECD Guidelines, which are normative standards governing the conduct of multinational corporations from OECD countries covering environmental and human rights, and other basic standards for responsible business activity.
At issue for EarthRights International is whether the Guidelines can become relevant for communities and business activity, especially in repressive governance zones, such as military-ruled Burma. Read more »
EarthRights International has submitted a report to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights in connection with the U.N. Human Rights Council's periodic review of the human rights obligations of Burma (Myanmar). The report focuses on human rights abuses associated with oil and gas projects in Burma, which are emblematic of abuses on development projects in Burma generally, and makes a number of recommendations to eliminate such abuses in the future. Read more »
On Tuesday June 22, Paul Donowitz from EarthRights International and Robert Kelley, former Director for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spoke at the National Endowment for Democracy on recent revelations that Burma may be pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program. Read more »
The True Cost of Chevron Network is one of the largest and most unique activist coalitions organizing to reform Chevron and the entire oil industry. Composed of Chevron affected communities and organizations from around the globe concerned with the human right and environmental impacts of Chevron’s operations, the Network is expanding, becoming increasingly coordinated and unified. Read more »
The True Cost of Chevron Network is pleased to announce the release of the second annual, The True Cost of Chevron: An Alternative Annual Report. This report examines Chevron’s impact on local communities, the environment, and exposes the oil giant’s corrosive efforts to undercut responsible climate and revenue transparency policies. Read more »
The New York Times, Can Oil Companies Do Good in Burma? May 5, 2010
IPS: Pressure Mounts on Energy Giant Chevron to Disclose Revenue, Apr 29, 2010
The Irrawaddy: Energy Companies in Burma Urged to Disclose Payments, Apr 27, 2010
The Guardian: We’re in the Risk Game, Says Defiant Oil Boss, May 2, 2010
Eurasia Review: Call for Burma Energy Data, Apr 28, 2010 Read more »
EarthRights International is pleased to announce the release of key contracts governing the Yadana Pipeline project, the natural gas project that is one of the single largest sources of revenue for the Burmese military regime. These contracts entered the public record through the partial trial of ERI's groundbreaking lawsuit Doe v. Unocal, which sought compensation for gross human rights abuses committed by Burmese security forces in the course of providing security and other services for the pipeline project. Read more »
Press Release (PDF Version)
Contact: Matthew Smith +66.85.028.0044, matthew@earthrights.org;
Naing Htoo +66.81.531.1256, nainghtoo@earthrights.org;
Wong Aung +66.87.300.8354, global@shwe.org;
Paul Donowitz +1.917.345.2787, paul@earthrights.org Read more »
On April 27, 2010, a global "Call for Total, Chevron, and PTTEP to Practice Revenue Transparency in Burma (Myanmar)" was issued for the Yadana companies to promote transparency and accountability in the extractive sector in Burma by voluntarily publishing over 18 years of payments to the Burmese military regime. The statement was endorsed by EarthRights International and over 160 non-governmental organizations, labor unions, investment firms, scholars, and policy leaders, including the former Prime Minister of Norway and the former President of Ireland. These prominent groups and individuals are calling on the Yadana companies to assist the people of Burma in holding their government accountable for the revenues that the government receives on their behalf. Read more »
