END CORPORATE GREED! RIGHTS NOW! A sign-on statement to stop the poisoning of the people and the planet

Thirty-three years ago today, the horrendous Bhopal gas tragedy at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in India immediately killed 3,000 people and 15,000 more subsequently.  Survivors, exposed to the deadly gas and their children, continue to suffer from the world’s worst industrial disaster. Thousands of tons of hazardous wastes remain buried underground and the area remains contaminated. Meanwhile, Union Carbide, which became a subsidiary of Dow-Chemical Co. in 2001, has yet to fully account for the tragedy.

The infamous Bhopal tragedy serves as a harsh reminder of agrochemical corporations’ transgressions of human rights and environmental integrity. They continue to poison our people and environment with impunity. Our food, health and environment are threatened now more than ever as these corporate giants continue to amass huge profits and expand their monopolies. Dow recently completed its US$130-billion merger with DuPont to form the world’s largest chemical company. As the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food pointed out, these global corporations wield extraordinary power over regulator agencies and policy makers, obstructing reforms and paralyzing global pesticide restrictions.

Worrying new studies show certain pesticides are implicated in chronic effects including hormonal disruption, immune system dysfunction, cancers, and adverse effects on the growing foetus and children. Pesticides have been poisoning agricultural workers and farmers for over 60 years and yet there are still no accurate estimates of pesticide poisoning. In the 1990’s, a report in a World Health Organizations (WHO) journal estimated 25 million workers suffered at least one incident of poisoning every year. Recent estimates indicate that pesticides were responsible for an estimated 200,000 acute poisoning deaths each year ^[1]. The overwhelming number of fatalities, some 99%, occurred in developing countries where health, safety and environmental regulations were weaker^[2].

PANAP and its partners have documented that Syngenta, Bayer, Dupont and Monsanto and their local counterparts dominate the agro-chem industry in the South Asia and South East Asian region.

In South and South East Asia, highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) produced by Syngenta, Bayer, DuPont and Monsanto such as atrazine, paraquat fipronil, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, glyphosate, lambda-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, malathion and monocrotophos – all known for poisoning people and/or the environment – are still used widely in farming. They are used on farms, cotton fields, rice paddies, mango and oil palm plantations and in floriculture, violating the rights of plantation workers, farmers, rural women and indigenous peoples to a safe and healthy working environment and the rights of communities to a healthy environment. Rights to information on the pesticides they use or to which they are exposed are constantly violated. Specific cases of violations of women and children’s rights, labour rights and right to civil liberties have been documented.

In the meantime, because of the lack of corporate accountability for gross human rights violations and responding to the pressure from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Human Rights Council has established an Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG) for the development of a legally binding treaty on transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises, with respect to human rights. We applaud the efforts OEIGWG and hope that the final document of the Treaty will achieve the goal of ensuring that companies are fully accountable for their human rights violations and environmental crimes.

Further to this, States must be responsible for the protection of human rights and put forward the interests and welfare of its people. It must defend and assert the rights of its people from corporate rights violations as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Dependence on pesticide use must be drastically reduced. Agroecology provides the best solution. It is economically, environmentally and culturally sustainable. Agroecology is being practiced by thousands of farmers worldwide to ensure food security, safety and sovereignty, as well as environmental sustainability and farmer and community health and well-being.

Therefore, we the undersigned organisations and individuals demand:

That the Agrochemical TNCs, plantations, agribusinesses and complicit companies

• be held accountable for poisoning the people and the planet;
• heed the public’s assertion of their rights to a safe and healthy food and environment;
• are prevented from dominating regulatory agencies and global conventions and agreements that attempt to restrict the worst pesticide problems;
• indemnify affected sectors of society such as farmers, children and their families; and
• clean up the environmental impacts including ensuring safe water and food.

That the national and local governments

• ban the trade, distribution and use of highly hazardous pesticides;
• support the call for a comprehensive new global treaty to regulate and phase out highly hazardous pesticides;
• closely monitor and ensure compliance of companies with labour and environmental laws and policies on hazardous pesticides;
• develop a medical and economic rehabilitation programme for farmers and others impacted by highly hazardous pesticides, with funds drawn from punitive actions and CSR;
• implement at least one kilometre pesticides-free buffer zones around schools as a measure to protect children;
• provide a supportive policy environment for agroecology, including supporting farmers to change from pesticides to agroecology;
• fully support the OEIGWG process and the Binding Treaty to help ensure that companies are responsible and accountable for their actions; and
• demand justice and accountability from corporations over gross human rights violations committed against its people.

That national and local agro-chemical companies and plantations

• Adhere to environmental laws that respond to precautionary and polluter pays principles.
• Fulfill workers’ rights in accordance with national laws and regulations and international conventions, including the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management
• Fulfill workers’ and farmers’ rights to live decently and with dignity while and indigenous peoples’ culture, tradition and knowledge are respected
• Do not allow the sale or use of pesticides that require the use of PPE, because it is unsuitable for hot humid conditions, not readily available and /or too expensive for farmers and workers, as is required by the Code
• Provide adequate training to their workers
• Discontinue the sale and use of all highly hazardous pesticides

Finally, we urge our fellow civil society organisations, social movements and people’s organisations to join our calls

End Corporate Impunity, Accountability Now!   Oppose the Corporate Control Of Agriculture!

Support the global legally binding treaty for the life-cycle management of pesticides!

Promote Agroecology and Food Sovereignty!  Fight For A Just And Pesticides Free Future!

Signed:

1. Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska
2. APDP, Australia
3. PASA, Australia
4. PAWA, Australia
5. Spirit of Eureka, Australia
6. Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation -BAWF, Bangladesh
7. BARCIK, Bangladesh
8. JAGO NARI, Bangladesh
9. Nijera Kori, Bangladesh
10. Participatory Research Action Network- PRAN, Bangladesh, Bangladesh
11. SHISUK, Bangladesh
12. GAPROFFA , Benin
13. Cambodia Grassroots Cross-sector Network, Cambodia
14. Cambodian Coalition of Farming Communities (CCFC), Cambodia
15. Cambodian Food and Service Worker Federation (CFSWF), Cambodia
16. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), Cambodia
17. CEDAC, Cambodia
18. Equitable Cambodia, Cambodia
19. Independent Democracy Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodia
20. Social Action for Change, Cambodia
21. Alliance Against Displacement, Canada
22. Migrante, Canada
23. PEAC China, China
24. JVE Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire
25. New Wind Association, Finland
26. SOL, Alternatives agroécologiques et solidaire, France
27. APVVU, India
28. Association For Promotion Sustainable Development, India
29. CECODECON, India
30. CPD (Manipur), India
31. Empower INDIA, India
32. Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS), India
33. Green Foundation, India
34. IMSE, India
35. International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth Movement (MIJARC), India
36. Jago Trust, India
37. Kudumbam, India
38. MAKAAM, India
39. National Alliance of People’s Movements – NAPM, India
40. National Center for Labour (NCL), India
41. NISARGA, India
42. PAN India, India
43. Rastria Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Sangam RVVS( National Agricultural workers and small farmers Union)India, India
44. SAHANIVASA, India
45. SOKCHARA, India
46. SRED, India
47. Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum, India
48. Tamil Nadu Women’s Movement, India
49. Telengana Vyavasaya Vruthidarula union –TVVU, India, India
50. Thanal, India
51. UNION-APMUAP Fisher folk Union) India, India
52. Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA) – Indonesia
53. BaliFokus Foundation, Indonesia
54. Forum Permuda Bala Tani – Bantaeng, Indonesia
55. Gita Pertiwi Foundation, Indonesia
56. Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES), Indonesia
57. Keluarga Mahasiwa Cibaling, Indonesia
58. Komunitas Perempuan Seni (KOPI) Bantaeng – Sulawesi – Sulatan, Indonesia
59. Liga Mahasiwa Nasional Untuk Demokrasi (LMND), Indonesia
60. Mineral7, Indonesia
61. OPPUK, Indonesia
62. Papuan Women’s Network on Human Rights (TIKI), Indonesia
63. Pemadu Baru (PEMBARU) – Indonesia
64. Serikat Pemuda Dayau Kal-Bar, Indonesia
65. SERUNI, Indonesia
66. Walhi, Indonesia
67. JVE, Ivory Coast
68. JALISA, Japan
69. PAN Japan
70. Tokyo Public Law Office, Japan
71. Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN), Jordan
72. E Consumer, Korea
73. SAEDA, Laos
74. ALGA Rural Women’s Association, Kyrgyzstan
75. Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), Malaysia
76. North-South Initiative (NSI), Malaysia
77. PACOS Trust, Malaysia
78. Sahabat Alam Malaysia/Friends of the Earth Malaysia, Malaysia
79. Third World Network, Malaysia
80. Tenaganita, Malaysia
81. Center for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia
82. People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty, Mongolia
83. JA!FOE Mozambique, Mozambique
84. Youth for Environment, Education and Development Foundation (YFEED Foundation), Nepal
85. PAN Aotearoa, New Zealand
86. Human Unity Movement (HUM), Pakistan
87. Khoj, Pakistan
88. Pakistan Kissan Masdoor Tehreek (PKMT), Pakistan
89. Roots for Equity, Pakistan
90. Roshni Tariqiyati Tanzeem, Pakistan
91. Sojhla for Social Change, Pakistan
92. Advocates for Community Health, Philippines
93. Agro-Eco Philippines, Philippines
94. Alay Sining – UPD, Philippines
95. AMIHAN Federation of Rural Women, Philippines
96. Anakbayan, Philippines
97. AR-3 CL, Philippines
98. Bayan – Central Luzon, Philippines
99. Bayan Central, Philippines
100. Bantay Bigas, Philippines
101. CAUSE DS, Philippines
102. Center for Environmental Concern, Philippines
103. Center for Women’s Resources, Philippines
104. Community Primary Health Care (CPHC SOCCSKSARGEN), Philippines
105. Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), Philippines
106. Courage, Philippines
107. Defend Job Philippines, Philippines
108. Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines
109. Gabriela, Philippines
110. Go Organic Davao City, Philippines
111. Go Organic Mindanao, Philippines
112. Green Action PH, Philippines
113. Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Philippines
114. Ibon Foundation, Philippines
115. Innabuyog, Philippines
116. Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Philippines
117. KARAPATAN, Philippines
118. Manila Workers Unity, Philippines
119. MASIPAG – Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), Philippines
120. METSA Inc., Philippines
121. NamasufaNalu-KMU, Philippines
122. National Federation of Sugar Workers, Philippines
123. NNARA-Youth, Philippines
124. Pamalakaya, Philippines
125. PAMANGGAS, Philippines
126. PAN Philippines, Philippines
127. RESpond and Break the silence Against the Killings (RESBAK), Philippines
128. Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA), Philippines
129. Save Davao Shrinehills Movement, Philippines
130. Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT), Philippines
131. Sining Kadamay (SIKAD), Philippines
132. Sining na Naglilingkod sa Bayan (SINAGBAYAN) – Philippines
133. Stop Exploitation Philippines
134. Sustainable Davao Movement – Philippines
135. Synergy for Sustainable Development, Philippines
136. The Pillar – UEP, Philippines
137. UMA Pilipinas, Philippines
138. United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines (UNYAP-CAR), Philippines
139. PAN Africa, Senegal
140. CEJ, Sri Lanka
141. HDO, Sri Lanka
142. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka
143. Vikalpani, Sri Lanka
144. Women for Change, Sri Lanka
145. Women Solidarity Front, Sri Lanka
146. African Centre for Biodiversity (Acbio), South Africa
147. Events in Focus, Taiwan
148. Southern Thailand Farmer’s Federation, Thailand
149. Thai PAN, Thailand
150. RAPAL Uruguay, Uruguay
151. Anakbayan, USA
152. Gabriela, USA
153. International Action Center IAC
154. Parisol, USA
155. PCHRP, USA
156. PUSO Social, USA
157. Fundacion Aguaclara, Venezuela
158. PAN Vietnam
159. Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED), Vietnam
160. SRD, Vietnam
161. Asia Pacific forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
162. Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN)
163. Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)
164. Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC)
165. Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)
166. Coalition of Agricultural Workers International (CAWI)
167. GRAIN
168. Ibon International
169. Inclusive Development International (IDI)
170. International Women’s Alliance (IWA)
171. PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP)
172. PCFS Asia
173. PCFS Europe
174. People Over Profits Network
175. Rainforest Action Network (RAN)
176. SEARICE
177. SGRN
178. ZAMSOF/PCFS Africa

Please sign-on at: https://www.change.org/p/governments-end-corporate-greed-rights-now

For organisational sign-on, please write to PAN Asia Pacific, info@panap.net.

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[1] Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food. Human Rights Council, Thirty-fourth session, 27 February-24 March 2017. >https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G17/017/85/PDF/G1701785.pdf?OpenElement

[2] Ibid