Barrick Gold funds World Vision Canada “development” Projects
from www.rightsaction.org
April 1, 2007
RA re-circulates this Barrick Gold press release to open more critical debate concerning the multiple environmental and development harms, and human rights violations, caused by North American mining companies in many countries of the exploited global south.
BIG BUSINESS IS NOT “DEVELOPMENT”
By receiving money from a major global mining company, World Vision Canada legitimizes a global private business model of “development”. Apparently, World Vision Canada ignores the multiple environmental and development harms and human rights violations caused by numerous global mining companies.
This partnership between Barrick Gold and World Vision Canada perpetuates a rich world/ poor world ‘charity’ vision of “development”. I.e., do not question why there are rich and poor nations, rich and poor people, rich companies and investors based [mainly] in the rich countries … rather small amounts of money to the poor.
This mining company / “development” NGO partnership also legitimizes the notion of “corporate social responsibility” whereby global mining companies operate effectively outside of the rule of law, self-regulate their mining according to non-binding codes of conduct, … and cannot be held accountable for environmental and development harms and human rights violations caused
numerous mining operations.
PLEASE redistribute this info all around …
Questions, comments ??? info@rightsaction.org
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What really wigs me out is the fact that many community orgs (I live in Toronto) receive funding from foundations who take their moneies and hence their orders from big business. Some boards of advisors for orgs have money people from banks. Some orgs hire people whose major professional experiences are in big business whose values have been shaped by big business. I think the orgs have already been infiltrated by big business. The evidence is all around us.
Hey Darkdaughta. Yeah, it’s pretty sad. I generally avoid trusting most NGOS’ because of this - particularly the big ones.
A great number get Government funding too, which doesn’t necessarily matter, I mean, money is money - but it’s a big farce. You use me and I’ll use you… and at the end of the day, nothing changes.
It’s the same with all the massive corporations like shell and Microsoft - how they start these humanitarian or environmental projects.
They don’t care about people or the environment, they just need to make it look like they do.
… If they care do much, then change how you function. That’s the first order — of business.
hahaha.