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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCorporate Human Rights Abuses Are Fine, United States Tells the UN
Corporations vs people. Which side is America on? (consider this a rhetorical question).
http://www.care2.com/causes/corporate-human-rights-abuses-are-fine-united-states-tells-the-un.html
Good news: The United Nations has recently approved the implementation of a legally binding body that can punish corporations that commit human rights abuses.
Bad news: The United States is furious and says it will refuse to abide by any repercussions this Human Rights Council-approved body should assign.
Up until now, the UN’s standards for corporate accountability have been strictly voluntarily. Resolving that waving a metaphorical finger at companies that commit human rights abuses was insufficient, in 2013, Ecuador initiated a proposal to hold international offenders responsible for their immoral actions. More than 80 other countries signed on, agreeing that actual accountability was necessary to diminish human rights abuse. With help from South Africa, Ecuador finally convinced the HRC to vote on the issue last week; the resolution passed by a 20-14 vote.
Alas, it’s the nations who voted no that are being the most vocal at this point, with the United States and nations in the European Union leading the charge. Before the vote, they lobbied hard to have nations reject Ecuador’s proposal; since losing, they have thrown what amounts to a hissy fit. “The United States will not participate in this IGWG [intergovernmental working group] and we encourage others to do the same,” said Stephen Townley, America’s HRC rep.
Why are the United States and Europe so opposed to holding corporations responsible for the human rights abuses they perpetuate? Presumably, it’s because they are the nations that most benefit from systematic injustice throughout the world. Arguably, a lot of the human rights exploitations occur in other countries, but the U.S. and E.U. are the main nations that profit from these businesses. Additionally, most of the goods produced in these substandard conditions are then sold in the U.S. and Europe.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/corporate-human-rights-abuses-are-fine-united-states-tells-the-un.html#ixzz36nrKsXYC
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Faux pas
(14,682 posts)that's all I can say about this.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)If we decide to take our marbles home, there is no UN.
Faux pas
(14,682 posts)never expected to live long enough to see what America has turned in to. I grew up believing in Power to the People, sadly, with this congress, Power to the People is dying an agonizing death.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)That would be the State Department and the Executive Branch.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)A lot of corporate abuses will become legal under US Law. And there is nothing that can be done, since the "law" gives them the legal right, and they can sue for lost profits if local govts try to rein in the abuses.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)The sole purpose of the whole "free trade" scam is not about freedom to trade.
These Ayn Rand inspired agreements are about destroying the ability of governments to pass laws or implement policies that run contrary to the wishes of Corporate Empires, and remove all accountability of right wing "free market" capitlism from any social or piblic goals or values.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)... say a fracking company wants to drill in your town. Residents oppose, and pass a law against fracking. The corporation can then sue your town for the potential profits it lost. There would be no place safe from corporate greed, once targeted.
And then of course, the whole "free-trade" scam means freedom for capital to locate where most profits can be made. But that same freedom to locate doesn't exist for labor. And TPP appears to be targeting unions.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)U$A!
U$A!
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)
americannightmare
(322 posts)it was necessary for someone to write a book called "Why Do People Hate America?" Then I remember what our so-called mainstream "media" is all about.
George II
(67,782 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....when did the United States tell the UN that "Corporate Human Rights Abuses Are Fine"? I didn't see that anywhere in the OP or article.
If it was there, I missed it and will stand corrected.
G_j
(40,367 posts)any presidential candidates out there who will not continue to enable and perpetuate this sort of evil?
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)corporations always the target of my government's affections? I didn't vote for this. There is something wrong if the message I'm sending at the ballot box is for my representatives to favor the corporate person over the person person.
