Action Briefing Oct 2004 - Nov 2004
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

CBI coming back for more

The annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will be held in Birmingham for the second year running, from 8th-9th November. They're obviously game for a rematch following the 'World Unaccountability League Play-offs' we put on for them last year, complete with suited 'fat cats' kicking the world around outside the ICC.

Media interest in this year's conference should be high as Chancellor Gordon Brown, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, and Peter Mandelson will all be speaking. Friends of the Earth's corporates team have produced a report for delegates exposing how the CBI holds back the more progressive business sectors and lobbies for lower social and environmental standards. Birmingham FoE will be sending our own 'delegation' to the ICC on Monday 8th November to get the message across.

The CBI uses its influence to squash environmental and social protection. They have, amongst other things, lobbied against the Climate Change Levy; pushed for airport expansion, more road building and lower fuel taxes; opposed an EU directive to hold companies liable for major oil spills such as the Prestige disaster two years ago; and blocked a statutory right to part-time work for parents of young children.

In 2002 the CBI tried to get everyone worked up about how "green taxes cost business £14 billion a year". They presumably 'forgot' to mention that almost all the revenue raised has been used to cut companies' National Insurance contributions. Surely it makes sense to tax pollution and environmental destruction rather than jobs. The CBI should be helping its members reduce their green tax bill by helping them seize the numerous opportunities that exist for reducing their energy-use, pollution and environmental impact.

Unaccountable
The CBI is a largely unaccountable, hidebound and unimaginative organisation. The main message we'll be trying to put over to political speakers and delegates in November will be: don't treat the CBI as the voice of British business.

Business leaders sometimes imply that they can’t be too ethical because that would cost them money and they'd lose their competitive edge. Sometimes they have a point, but in that case why do they block proposals to apply labour and environment rules to corporations fairly at the national and global level? Friends of the Earth's corporates campaign promotes the Corporate Social Responsibility Bill, which aims to ensure: (a) that companies with a £5million+ turnover publish reports on their economic, environmental and social impacts; (b) that companies properly consult local people before embarking on major projects; (c) that company directors consider the wider impacts of their business; and (d), that a new Standards Board is created to oversee the effective implementation of (a), (b) and (c).

If you would like to get involved with the campaign or can help out on the day of action (Mon 8th Nov), do get in touch. Call James or myself on 0121 632 6909 or email info@birminghamfoe.org.uk.

Karen Leach