As we begin the third Millennium with multinational corporations driving
the majority of our socio-economic-political structure, it is important for
us to focus upon the serious problems presented by those errant 'citizens
of the world' that are creating damage without facing repercussions.
Ford/Firestone, Glaxo Wellcome, Lockheed Martin and Smithfield Foods were
among the most irresponsible corporations of Y2K, according to the Ten
Worst Corporations of the Year list released annually by Multinational
Monitor Magazine.
Other companies on the list are: Aventis, BAT, BP/Amoco, Phillips Petroleum
and Titan International.
"The nation is beset by an epidemic of corporate crime and misconduct,"
says Russell Mokhiber, editor of the Corporate Crime Reporter and a
co-author of Multinational Monitor's "Ten Worst Corporations of the Year."
"The ten worst corporations are just the tip of the iceberg."
"The 'Ten Worst Corporations of the Year' highlight in stark terms the
consequences of corporate power run amok," says Robert Weissman, editor of
Multinational Monitor and co-author of the story. "These include
despoilment of the natural environment, infliction of preventable disease,
smashing of unions, invasions of privacy, corruption of democracy, and
more."
The Ten Worst Corporations of the Year appears in the December 2000 Issue
of the Ralph Nader-founded Multinational Monitor, the thirteenth time the
magazine has released the list.
The companies appearing on this year's list earned their spot for the
following reasons:
o Aventis: Contaminating the food supply (Taco Bell shells and more) with
genetically engineered crops not approved for human consumption.
o BAT: Promoting and facilitating cigarette smuggling on a massive, global
scale.
o BP/Amoco: Multiple fines and payments for environmental violations and
failure to pay royalties to the federal government.
o Doubleclick: Rubbing against the edge of internet privacy protections.
o Ford/Firestone: Placing the lethal combination of Ford Explorers and
Firestone tires on the road, and not removing them after learning of the
hazard.
o Glaxo Wellcome: Blocking efforts to distribute cheap, generic AIDS drugs
in poor African countries.
o Lockheed Martin: Testing a toxic component of rocket fuel on humans.
o Philips Petroleum: Operating a deadly petrochemical facility in Houston
- a March explosion was the complex's third fatal accident in 11 years.
o Smithfield Foods: Consolidating the meat packing business to the
detriment of family farms, and spreading factory farms that are polluting
rural America.
o Titan International: Ongoing strikebreaking attempt against
approximately 1,000 members of the United Steelworkers of America.
The full story, "The Ten Worst Corporation of the Year," is posted at
http://www.essential.org/monitor/mm2000/00december/enemies.html.
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