The Sustainability Learning Forum

Rethinking Resource Conflict

Dr John-Andrew McNeish, CMI

Resource conflict is one of several destabilizing phenomena commonly cited as defining many of the extractive economies of the global south. In the post-Cold War in which stability has become a key concern of international governance and investment it has also been an issue that has encouraged a proliferation of scholarly and policy interest. In these studies and policy discussions a large number of terms are now in use in an attempt to account for the complicated state of affairs faced by resource-rich countries in the global south: intractable conflicts, new wars, resource wars, complex political emergencies, conflict trap, resource securitization, petro-violence, blood diamonds. more[...]

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Conflict Minerals and SEC Disclosure Regulation

Prof. Celia Taylor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Mention the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank” or the “Act”),[1] and most people think of legislation aimed at “fundamental reform of the financial system”[2] focused on regulation of Wall Street practices and complex financial products. But tucked within the voluminous text of the Act (which consists of 2,300 pages and stipulates the passage of 387 rules by 20 different agencies[3]) is a provision having nothing to do with these issues or anything remotely related to them. Instead the “conflict minerals” provision of the Act requires companies that are subject to the reporting requirement of the federal securities laws to disclose whether they manufacture products using so-called “conflict minerals” sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) or contiguous countries.[4] more[...]

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Blood on your mobile phone? Capturing the gains for artisanal miners, poor workers and women

Dr. Dev Nathan, Institute for Human Development

Capturing the Gains research into the global production of mobile phones traces the connections between armed factions, poverty and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and mobile phone users worldwide. The critical link is coltan, or columbite tantalite. It is the raw material for tantalum, an essential mineral in the manufacture of mobile phones, computers and other electronic equipment. more[...] login_required

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Gold is now the Most Lucrative Conflict Mineral from Eastern Congo

Enough Project

Gold smuggled from eastern Congo’s war zone is now the most lucrative conflict mineral and is ending up at jewelry stores and banks, according to a new investigative report by the Enough Project. The study found that following a 65 percent drop in profits from the conflict minerals tin, tungsten, and tantalum, armed groups have increasingly turned to smuggling the fourth conflict mineral, gold, to generate income that finances mass atrocities in eastern Congo. The armed groups use poorly paid miners, who work in dangerous conditions, including thousands of children as young as eight years old. The study maps out how conflict gold makes its way from eastern Congo to consumers worldwide who purchase it in the form of wedding rings and watches, and investment banks that buy gold bars. more[...] login_required

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From Child Miner to Jewelry Store

Enough Project

This is the first of two papers on the illegal conflict-gold trade from eastern Congo that is fueling one of the most violent conflicts in the world. This paper tracks the transnational trade from mines in eastern Congo to consumers. The second paper will map a way to resolve this problem by setting out recommendations to formalize the trade, cut down conflict-gold smuggling, and create jobs to provide living wages to Congolese miners. more[...] login_required

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Global Witness condemns API lawsuit to strike down Dodd-Frank oil, gas and mining transparency provision

Global Witness is outraged by a lawsuit filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others to gut Section 1504, an important anti-corruption provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. (1) By seeking to nullify this provision, API, whose members include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell, and other industry groups are demonstrating that they have something to hide. Any claims by API that they support transparency efforts are preposterous when they are not only trying to weaken the rules but to strike Section 1504 in its entirety. more[...] login_required

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Social dialogue needed to prevent further violence in SA mines, says ILO

As an inquiry begins into the fatal August shooting of dozens of striking miners in South Africa, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for high-level social dialogue in order to prevent further violence and unrest. more[...] login_required

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New report underlines sustainability benefits of using forest products

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Facts and Trends: Forests, forest products, carbon & energy is a new report developed by the WBCSD Forest Solutions Group and NCASI. The report is highlighting the key role forests and forest products play in furthering sustainable solutions in a resource constrained world. It also underlines their necessity for a future low-carbon and bio-based economy, as they can help to reduce society’s greenhouse gas emissions. more[...]

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Meeting the Global Water Challenge

Susan Steinhagen, Nestlé
Nestlé S.A.

As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé depends on reliable access to clean water at every level in order to maintain our ability to meet consumers’ needs. Our long-term success depends on effective management of water resources that supply our everyday business operations and support the livelihoods of suppliers and consumers. We apply a lifecycle approach to assess the impacts of our own operations and those along the wider value chain from farmer to consumer, thereby creating shared value to both Nestlé and society. more[...] login_required

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Social Responsibility Networks in the Banana Industry

Prof. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez, Universidad EAFIT

There is evidence that in the last two decades, international civil society has played a dynamic role in improving environmental and working conditions in regions such as Latin America. Such improvements have occurred side by side with indications that trade liberalization and the decline of the state’s regulatory role since the 1980s and the advent of globalization in the 1990s has exacerbated inequalities, social exclusion, and triggered environmental degradation. more[...] login_required

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Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) Product Program Moves to Independence, Transparency

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute

A new Certification Standards Board has been created by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute to oversee the ongoing development of the Cradle to Cradle product certification protocol. The board’s responsibility for Cradle to Cradle product certification represents an important step toward transparency for the certification process and independent third-party verification of the protocol, developed over the past 20 years by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart in collaboration with some of the world’s top brands. more[...] login_required

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Practice what you preach

Dr. Ulrich von Dreessen, BASF

All experts agree that the inclusion of the value chain is crucial for the further sustainability development in Asia. We spoke with Dr. Ulrich von Deessen, President Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety, BASF SE about BASF’s sustainability strategy and their experiences in China. more[...] login_required

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A Global Compact for Development

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

Emphasizes the second objective of the Global Compact by articulating how companies can support development objectives through their core business; strategic social investments; advocacy; partnerships and collective action. Available Global Compact platforms for business to support development goals are identified and examples of how companies are already contributing to this agenda are showcased. (Source: UNGC) more[...] login_required

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Partnerships for More High-Quality Food

Editorial Team

Safeguarding food supplies for a constantly growing world population will be among the most pressing problems of the future. Bayer is providing an innovative solution with the program “food chain partnership.” This business model supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of fighting poverty and hunger throughout the world and contributes to sustainable development. more[...]

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Partnerships for More High-Quality Food

Dr. Wolfgang Große-Entrup, Bayer Group

Safeguarding food supplies for a constantly growing world population will be among the most pressing problems of the future. Bayer is providing an innovative solution with the program “food chain partnership.” This business model supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of fighting poverty and hunger throughout the world and contributes to sustainable development. more[...]

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