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SOMO news - January 2010
In this newsletter:
In brief:
- Watch SOMO’s New Year’s message (30-second video)
- Thanks to a subsidy from EuropAid, the makeITfair campaign will be continued for the next three years
- From 1 February, read the Llink dossier on medicines (Dutch) from the book ‘Het onzichtbare label’ (The Invisible Label)
- From 2010 to 2012, SOMO will be working together with five European NGOs on a project that is intended to promote European financial reform, as a response to the economic crisis. The project will focus mainly on the interests of developing countries and sustainable alternatives, among other things.
SOMO research feeds the debate on sustainable energy
 Many energy companies are not interested in the climate problem, and continue to invest in coal-fired power stations and in nuclear power. This is shown from a report commissioned by Greenpeace, published by SOMO in October 2009. There was a big reaction to the study, and it resulted in debate among members of parliament and in local councils, among other places, primarily regarding the feasibility of the cabinet's objective of achieving a level of sustainable energy of 20% of the total energy by 2020. That this is a difficult job is shown from the (dutch) Volkskrant article of 16 January 2010, A Long Way from Having Enough Sustainable Energy, based on the SOMO study. In April 2010, the Dutch Minister of the Environment Cramer will be publishing an evaluation and announcing supplementary measures.
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MVO Platform argues for liability of parent companies in Lower House
 The MVO Platform is arguing for supplementary legislation in the area of the liability of Dutch parent companies for breaches of human rights and environmental damage by subsidiary companies. During a hearing in the Lower House on 14 January 2010, Joris Oldenziel (SOMO) explained the vision and recommendations of the Platform. At the moment, there is a high level of legal uncertainty. The MVO Platform sees judicial possibilities for holding parent companies liable, however, such as the statutory 'obligation of care' of directors and legislation in the area of the transparency of companies.
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SOMO is advising the public sector and companies on tackling the E-waste problem
 The problem of electronic waste ('e- waste’) can be tackled by means of changes to the recycling and production of consumer electronics. The SOMO E-waste policy paper gives specific policy options and recommendations for the public sector, companies and social groups for the stimulation of collection, reuse and recycling of e-waste and for the use of ecodesign. SOMO is currently looking at the options for discussing the recommendations with various European stakeholders.
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Philips is showing interest in CSR standards
 The 'Reset' report published by the MVO Platform and the GoodElectronics network in the autumn of 2009 formulates CSR standards for dealing with companies with human rights and environmental issues in the global supply chain of the electronics sector. Philips showed an active interest and recently discussed recommendations from Reset with GoodElectronics, FNV and the Mexican labour rights organisation Cereal. The primary emphasis was on the importance of trade union freedom throughout the chain. Philips is open to suggestions, for example in the area of social auditing. A Chinese translation of Reset will be made in the near future.
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Gender equality in the electronics sector still has a long way to go
 The SOMO publication 'Modern Devices, Outdated Practices' concludes that gender equality is often still a distant ideal in the production and trade chain of electronics products. There are notable and stubborn differences in the social and labour market position of men and women in this sector, which are harmful to the positions of both sexes. The references in the publication to existing research and campaigns are useful for people who want to work to achieve equal opportunities and rights between the sexes.
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Newly published publications
Upcoming publications
In February, SOMO will be publishing:
- a report on sustainability in the gemstone sector
- a paper on the chain responsibility and raw materials use of the 10 largest car manufacturers
- infosheets for Socially Responsible Investors (SRI) on phases in the electronics chain: raw materials, manufacture and e-waste (in cooperation with Stichting Doen)
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