US biotech giant guilty of poisoning French farmer
In a landmark ruling for global efforts to curb the use of chemicals in agriculture, the American bio-tech firm Monsanto has been found guilty of “poisoning” a French farmer. A court in Lyon decided the agro-business multinational had ruined the health of Paul François, a cereal farmer from western France who accidentally inhaled fumes from its Lasso weed-killer in 2004. Monsanto, a dominant player in the global agriculture industry, now faces a multi-million euro compensation ruling later this year.
The Independent p36 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/us-biotech-giant-guilty-of-poisoning-french-farmer-6917478.html
International Development
Poor diet kills 2.6 million infants a year, says survey by Save the Children
Malnutrition is the root cause of the deaths of 2.6 million children each year, according to a survey published by a leading international charity Save the Children. The survey of developing countries, A Life Free from Hunger, estimates one in four children are already stunted because of malnutrition. These damaging trends can be halted and reversed using tried and tested solutions if political will exists and public awareness is raised, the report’s authors say. They urge David Cameron to use the 2012 Olympics to host a “world hunger summit” and launch an international campaign to aid malnutrition victims.
P&G to educate public on benefits of cold water washing
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) announced a strategic partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy (the Alliance), a non-profit organisation that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy, to publicise the environmental and energy savings benefits of washing laundry in cold water. Through this agreement, the Alliance will work with P&G’s natural resource education initiative, ‘Future Friendly’, to provide consumers with the information they need to convert from hot/warm water washing habits to cold water washing.
Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120214006166/en
DPD to Deliver Carbon Neutral Packages by July
Logistics company DPD has announced plans to move to completely carbon-neutral shipping, at no extra cost to customers. The German shipper says it is working to reduce the carbon dioxide it produces and will offset the remaining CO2 generated in its five biggest markets – France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands and BeLux – starting in July. The offsets will total about 500,000 tonnes a year, and will ensure that every parcel sent via the DPD network is carbon neutral, an industry first, the company says.
Yesterday at the Chancellery of the Polish Prime Minister, 14 companies signed the Polish version of the Diversity Charter, a written obligation which introduces the prohibition on discrimination in the workplace and includes measures to create and promote diversity. The Polish Diversity Charter, along with the charters launched across Europe including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway and Greece, joins a platform promoting good practices as regards equal treatment.
CSR Europe http://www.csreurope.org/news.php?type=&action=show_news&news_id=4593
Social Investment
Delta to provide executive on loan for one year
Delta Air Lines announced that Scarlet Pressley Brown, currently Delta’s director – Community and External Affairs, will begin working for the National Centre for Civil and Human Rights as part of a loaned executive programme. Her title at the Centre will be vice president – Marketing. The National Centre for Civil and Human Rights, scheduled to open in 2014, will feature permanent collections, timely exhibitions and interactive education opportunities to engage visitors in the historical and current struggle to secure and express human rights.
HP brings hope and smiles to children and families at select Ronald McDonald Houses
Hewlett-Packard launched ‘eSmiles’, a project that will use HP ePrint technology to build financial and emotional support for children and their families staying at participating Ronald McDonald Houses. Ronald McDonald Houses are dedicated to supporting families with a home away from home while their children receive much needed medical care at a nearby hospital. eSmiles can take the form of “get well” letters, personalised photos, cards, cartoons, sketches or jokes to make children and their families laugh and smile.
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