RG '05: success stories

1. Derailing the WTO in Cancun (based on our assessment that the balance of power in the WTO is such that "no deal is better than a bad deal") 2. Research, policy analysis, mobilising, working with governments and civil society, getting information to the press, public education, etc. 3. Building an effective "inside/outside" strategy, challenging the orthodoxy of free trade. 4. The talks in Cancun collapsed. Of course, the global justice movement cannot "claim" the victory nonetheless there is no doubt that the outside mobilisations and national campaigns, the policy analysis and research on the negative impacts of trade liberalisation, and raising the sensitivities of the press helped create conditions that made it possible for the G90 to walk out, and for the G20 to assert a negotiating position in opposition to the US and the EU.

What did you do to achieve results?
(If applicable, you may want to mention partners here.)

Worked in broad based coalitions bringing together social movements, trade unions, national campaign coalitions, youth and student organsiations, environmental groups, NGOs, researchers, etc. Built legitimacy by grounding the critique in the effects of trade liberalisation on the South, especially farmers and workers.

Breakdown in negotiations in Hong Kong and further questioning of the WTO as a democratic and pro-development multilateral institution.

Issue(s) you addressed?

I would highlight the work of the Forest Stewardship Council and its worldwide support network. FSC has created and implemented the highest global standards for sustainable forest management and, working with its support network, it has begun to transform practices in the global forest products industry, with more than 150 million acres of working forests now under FSC certification worldwide... by some measures nearly 15% of the world's working forests.

What did you do to achieve results? (If applicable, you may want to mention partners here.)

Public education on the degradation of forest lands under conventional management; 2. Negotiation among the full range of stakeholders of a set of minimum worldwide principles and criteria (both social and environmental) for well-managed forests; 3. Creation of a global nonprofit organization to administer those standards, accredit and monitor certifiers under those standards, and settle disputes about their implementation 4. Organization of tough, effective "market campaigns" to pressure forest products companies to adopt the standards 5. Coordination of foundation and bilateral governmental funding to support all steps in the process

Challenges you faced and/or still face?

Tensions among supporters over levels of the standards... a continuous process of negotiation among stakeholders 2. Pushback from industry and the creation of copycat standards at lower levels of sustainability 3. "Funder fatigue" over now more than 10 years of support 4. Failure of the system to develop financial self-sufficiency (lack of an appropriate and adequate business/financial model) 5. Search by supporters to expand its mandate, e.g., seeking not just forest management standards, but also a solution to poverty and inefficiency in forest-dependent communities

1. FSC is still seen as the SOLE socially and environmentally appropriate standard for well-managed forests; i.e., it has won the "legitimacy" wars 2. Rates of increase in acres certified continue to exceed 40% to 50% per year, but demand for certified products continues to increase even more rapidly 3. "Copycat" certification systems have been forced to raise their standards, improving forest management practices (somewhat) in forests certified under other systems 4. Some of the world's largest purchasers of paper (e.g., Time Warner) have announced that they want very high proportions of their paper to come from recycled and/or certified sources within a year or two.

Stop the undemocratic corporate take-over of Ghana's water system and reduce undue IFI control over our national affairs

What did you do to achieve results? (If applicable, you may want to mention partners here.)

Extensive international solidarity mobilization, including: Petitions, letters, shareholder actions, leafleting, media, and meetings and negotiations

Extreme corporate and World Bank propaganda; Limited Funding; Sustaining the fight

1) Stalled the process for more than four years; 2) Massive international and media attention on the issue; 3) Strong international network and solidarity on the issues; 4) Greater awareness by citizens on water; 5) Democratically and successfully challenged the an undemocratic process; 6) Stronger civil society; 7) The World Bank, the Ghanaian government and the companies were forced to review the package and process; 8) An unprecedented victory in successfully demanding greater accountability and transparency from the World Bank and its allies; 9) Proposed alternatives to water privatization in Ghana including community-public partnerships.

Action Against Impunity for Human Rights
Submitted by: Hubert Tshiswaka Masoka

Issue(s) you addressed?

War Crimes committed in DRC during the last 5 years; corporate accountability for human rights abuses.

What did you do to achieve results? (If applicable, you may want to mention partners here.)

The NGO is working on: 1) Prosecution before the International Criminal Court of warlords for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in DRC in the last five years; 2) holding corporations accountable for their misconduct leading to human rights abuses.

Personally I campaigned with National NGOs (ASADHO & CDH), international NGOs (Human Right Watch, Human Right First and the Coalition for International Criminal Court) for Rome statute ratification and its implementation in RDC (2002-2003). Then I worked to research for crimes evidences (2003-2004) and now I’m working in collaboration with Congolese NGOs to help victims to participate in the ICC judiciary procedure in The Hague.

Challenges you faced and/or still face?

The big challenge is that some government officials see this work as a threat to their political career. According to this perception, my colleague’s, human rights defenders, some victims and I are facing threats to be arrested, tortured or ambushed.

Achievements--current and/or anticipated?

Regardless to this threat, the ICC is investigating in DRC and the Australian police is investigating Anvil Mining behavior in the Kilwa incident.

OrganizationMaquila Solidarity Network
Submitted by: Lynda Yanz

Consistent violations of freedom of association by Canadian garment company in its factory in Honduras. (This case forms one of those written up in the publication mentioned in resources above.)

What did you do to achieve results?
(If applicable, you may want to mention partners here.)

Close collaboration with local group (research, monitoring); Maintained strong links between Canada and Honduras; Labour and NGO coalition collaboration in Canada; C combined local organizing, with campaigning, with shareholder action, with engagement (when that was possible). Stayed committed over the long haul.

Company attempted legal action and succeeded in cutting off important source of funding for the organization (past); Media assault by the company (past); Factory closed in the mist of investigation (giving workers signal that they loose jobs when they complain); Although company currently attempting organizational change, that proves difficult through the supply chain; Weakness of organization on the ground

Company accepts that it violated freedom of association and makes commitment to a program of remediation; Company agrees on "first hire" policy for workers who lost their jobs (fired for unionizing or laid-off when factory closed); Facilitated connection between company and local groups; Currently have a working relationship with company such that they take seriously (rather than deny) problems when they are brought to them.