International right to know:empowering communities through corporate transparency

This campaign document begins by describing the Bhopal disaster and uses it as an example of US companies failing to disclose information, in their operations abroad, that affect the health of workers, neighbours and other citizens. The International Right to Know coalition believes campaigns to address the gap in information about U.S. company practices that damage the environment, violate human rights, and endanger workers in countries around the world. The campaign calls for corporate transparency for all US operations in all countries.

The document describes legislation in the US that forces companies to disclose toxic emissions, but allows operations by US companies outside of the US to bypass those rules. The report documents several cases where U.S. companies have engaged in irresponsible and destructive practices. The authors argue that the impacts of this behaviour are not felt only by workers in the countries but also have a serious negative effect on the reputation on the US in those communities and consequently cause distrust and resentment of the US worldwide.

Case studies are described from:

• mining in Peru
• investment in Burma
• sweatshops in Indonesia
• child labour
• mining in PNG
• Exxon's practices in Africa

The paper ends with answers to common questions on how to address these issues.