Corruption | Greenpeace Blogs

Conflict Timber Action in Caen Port

Danzer, a Swiss-German timber giant using controversial sources in the Congo will no longer be able to use the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label after yesterday when the FSC disassociated itself from the company. Most Americans haven’t heard of Danzer but the company does export large amounts of its veneer products to the U.S.

The FSC represents the strongest global forest product certification and we welcome this decision as no company like Danzer should be allowed to associate itself with one of the world’s most valuable green label. Such a decision makes me optimistic about the FSC system because it can actually remove companies that truly don’t belong in the system. Nonetheless, the FSC still has a bit of work to do to ensure that it addresses other gaps that occur today in the system. Continue reading →

Blogpost by Jesse Coleman

Two years ago the Supreme Court delivered a near-fatal blow to our already weakened campaign finance regulations by giving corporations the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on supporting or attacking political candidates. The decision is called Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, and it changed one hundred years of election laws with the stroke of a pen. Now, top executives within corporations can use their company’s immense treasuries to tip public opinion in favor of the candidate that supports their corporate agenda. These corporate manipulators do this through so-called corporate SuperPACs, which spend immense sums on PR campaigns designed to frame important campaign issues in their own interest. SuperPACs spent well over $300 million in 2010 mid-terms on attack ads and other public outreach – more than three times the amount spent in the 2006 mid-terms.

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