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Archived press release

Conference funders win awards for environmental destruction

2 October 2002

Friends of the Earth will today [Weds] present awards to the three most "environmentally destructive" companies seeking special favours at the Labour Party Conference. BAA, Aventis Crop Science (now owned by Bayer) and BNFL will be awarded the environmental destruction honours at a ceremony in Blackpool.

FOE this week published a shortlist of 10 companies funding the 2002 Conference through sponsorship of fringe events, receptions and exhibition stalls [1]. Labour depends on commercial money for about a sixth of its total income (6.2 million in 2001 out of a total of 36.5 million, not including large individual donations from business people and others).

Sponsors attending the Conference gain easy access to decision makers and power structures. By sponsoring fringe events discussing issues relating to improving the environment, social issues and human health, corporate sponsors can also present themselves as responsible, caring and interested.

The Terrible Ten companies short-listed for the FOE awards were:

• Alstom
  The construction giant involved in the planned Yusufeli dam in Turkey, the Three Gorges dam in China and other destructive projects;
  
  
• Aventis
  Aventis Crop Science, now Bayer Crop Science, is the only company seeking to license GM oilseed rape and fodder maize seeds in the UK;
  
  
• BAA
  BAA is backing the "Freedom to Fly" coalition, which is seeking a massive expansion of airport capacity all over the UK;
  
  
• BAE
  BAE, one of the largest arms companies in the world;
  
  
• Barclays
  Barclays has been heavily criticized by FOE for financial backing of Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the world's most destructive paper and logging companies;
  
  
• BNFL
  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd;
  
  
• Nestle
  Nestle is subject to ongoing boycotts because of its irresponsible marketing of breast milk substitutes;
  
  
• Shell
  Shell is the world's third largest oil company with operations in over 100 countries. Recent controversies include pollution around the company's South Durban refinery in South Africa, and attempts (now dropped after campaigns by FOE and others) to explore gas in Kirthar National Park, Pakistan;
  
  
• Tesco
  Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of Tesco, sits on no less than four Government task forces but his company has been heavily criticized for commercial exploitation of UK farmers and food producers. According to a recent NFU survey UK farmers will get only 11 for a basket of food (beef, eggs, bread, tomatoes and apples) that will then cost the consumer 37;
  
  
• Wessex Water
  Wessex Water was ranked by the UK Environment Agency as the fourth worst polluter with five prosecutions resulting in total fines of 36,000. Environment Agency director of operations, Archie Robertson said "The companies included in our Hall of Shame have let down the public, the environment and their own industry."

Friends of the Earth is backing a Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Bill, recently tabled in the House of Commons by Linda Perham MP (Labour, Ilford North) [2].

FOE Corporates Campaigner Hannah Griffiths said:
"These awards highlight how the Labour Party is happy to take anyone's money to fund Party activities regardless of their social and environmental practices. These companies are responsible for damaging our environment, at home and around the world. But the Labour Party accepts their cash - and in return they hope to gain influence and a positive image. This could explain why the Labour leadership has not done more to protect our environment - and why they are not currently backing the Bill for corporate responsibility."

Notes

[1] Copies from the press office at Friends of the Earth
[2] For more information see www.corporate-responsibility.org/

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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