Radio Mundo Real

The corporate influence in the negotiations of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development that will take place in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is “undeniable”, warned Canadian activist Anil Naidoo. The main business lobby groups in the world have accreditation to enter the international talks and meet with official delegations, he said.

Naidoo is member of the Blue Planet Project, an international effort of organization Council of Canadians to protect fresh water sources in the world against the threats of trade and privatization. He was interviewed a few weeks ago in Rio de Janeiro by La Via Campesina’s communication team, in the framework of the Peoples’ Summit that will take place in parallel to the official UN summit, known as Rio+20.

The Canadian activist also made reference to the UN initiatives that favor the involvement of companies and the capture of this multilateral space. He talked about the Global Compact LEAD, a platform launched in January, 2011, by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, that groups tens of companies claiming to be leaders in the implementation of strict social and environmental sustainability criteria.

The companies involved are also part of the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative where the companies commit to align their strategies and operations with universally accepted principles in four thematic areas: human rights, labor standards, environment and anti-corruption. Some of the corporations part of the Global Compact LEAD are Nestlé, Coca Cola, Siemens, Shell, Total, Unilever, Endesa and BBVA. Several of them are facing serious accusations, and are being taken to court, due to human rights violations and pollution in several parts of the world.

Naidoo highlighted the importance of the agreements between UN agencies and the private sector to facilitate the corporate capture of this multilateral space. In addition, different governments of developed countries also represent the interest of big companies, denounced the member of the Blue Planet Project. He specially made reference to Canada, New Zealand, the European Union and the US.

The activist also highlighted the need of social movements to join the Peoples Summit, to put forward their positions at the “largest UN Summit in history", according to Naidoo. He said that social movements and organizations have been doing an amazing work on different issues. But the challenge is to come together against a common agenda that will have an impact on the work on land, finance, trade, food, water and climate, warned Naidoo.

Below you can watch La Via Campesina’s interview with Naidoo.

Photo: http://laguarura.net