India introduces controversial legislation on food commodity derivatives
SOMO goes along on a trade mission to Colombia and is critical of the coal agreement
The trade mission to Colombia headed by Minister Ploumen begins today. Many (energy) companies, a Parliamentary delegation and numerous civil society organisations (including SOMO) will be visiting the Cesar region, with its many coalmines. Colombia…
Industry organisations’ action plan generates little action among garment companies
At thursday 30 October, the annual congress ‘Groen is de rode draad’ (Green is the red thread) by industry organisations Modint, InRetail and VGT took place. The industry organisations presented a status update of the…
Independent report confirms U.S. Agency’s role in harm to communities in Liberia
A U.S. federal agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) recently released a revealing independent investigation report describing its role in a failed biomass project in Liberia. OPIC approved over US$200 million in financing for…
Colombian coal in Europe
Much of the coal used to provide the Netherlands with energy comes from controversial Colombian mining projects. SOMO’s briefing paper ‘Colombian coal in Europe’, commissioned by Greenpeace Italy, firstly charts which role European energy suppliers…
Colombian Coal in Europe
The ‘Minerals-Energy-Finance Transition’
The unremitting search for a sustainable and affordable energy supply, the disastrous social and ecological impact of large-scale mineral extraction and electricity generation, continuing financial instability and the growing gap between rich and poor –…
Migrant workers in Malaysian electronics industry face atrocious working conditions
Migrant workers in Malaysia’s electronics industry are heavily indebted by the time they start working because of extortionate fees of recruitment agencies. Migrant workers are paid less, sometimes even only half, of what they were…