Well Cornelius,
your comment could not have been better timed as while you were writing to
arch-justice I was writing the following message to the WAC list - we will see
if it will pass the moderators... By the way, the Rio Tinto issue was discussed
at the round table of the WAC Ethics Forum and in that occasion we also
prepared a resolution to present at the Plenary session on the subject, but see
below for what eventually happened! It would be very good to have comments on
this issue on arch-justice.
Cheers,
Umberto
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 23:14:13 +0100
From: Umberto Albarella <[log in to unmask]>
To: WAC <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: WAC and Rio Tinto
Dear WAC members,
I don't know how many of you have noticed that amongst the "major sponsors" of
WAC-6 - a superbly run event by the way, congratulations to the organisers -
figured the mining company and multinational corporation Rio Tinto. The point
was raised at the end of the conference plenary session and it is very
unfortunate that a resolution expressing regret that such funding had been
sought/accepted was not allowed to be voted.
Why are there concerns about Rio Tinto sponsorship? Well, this is a company
that
has a rather dubious human right track record. Even a potentially neutral
source such as wikipedia reveals this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Tinto_Group.
But for more in depth analysis you can check:
http://www.hagens-berman.com/rio_tinto_lawsuit
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=622
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=623
http://www.newint.org/issue299/contents.html
Almost certainly some people will point out to good community practices in
which
Rio Tinto and other multinational corporations have been involved, but it is
worth bearing in mind that many companies - especially those with a tainted
reputation - have invested in recent years much money in trying to clean up
their image (as opposed to their acts). For a general account of this
phenomenon see: http://www.newint.org/issues/2007/12/01/
It is not the role of WAC to find out whether Rio Tinto's reputation is fully
justified. However, considering what Rio Tinto represents, particularly in the
eyes of many indigenous communities, it does smack of hypocrisy that an
organisation known for its humanitarian concerns should join forces with big
corporations.
I believe that this is an issue that requires some debate, which will hopefully
be open and constructive. There is no accusing finger pointed to anybody but
only a plea to raise discussion on a delicate issue. WAC will of course then
decide which way forward will want to take, and I hope that the feelings of the
majority of the membership will be taken into account - whichever they are. As
far as I am concerned I will certainly not take part to another WAC sponsored
by Rio Tinto and the likes, for the respect I have for those who have suffered,
and still do, because of the greed of big business.
Cheers,
Umberto
--
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
For Archaeologists for Global Justice (AGJ) see:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/global-justice.html
"There is no way to peace. Peace IS the way".
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