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Anti-Davos group pans Bridgestone, Novartis with 'awards'
2007-01-24
A network of anti-globalisation groups awarded the Japanese tire group Bridgestone and Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis its annual prize for the most irresponsible companies. Bridgestone, which was nominated by a group of US environmentalists, received the Public Eye on Davos' global award for "conditions approaching slavery" in its rubber plantation in Liberia, the group said in a statement. "Child labour and severe environmental damage are the order of the day," it added. Novartis received the Swiss "Public Eye Award" for taking legal action in India challenging local patent laws, after being nominated by the Indian Cancer Patients Aid Association. The Public Eye said the pharmaceutical group's action could limit access to cheaper generic medicines to treat diseases such as cancer in India and developing countries. Novartis said it was shocked by the award and called it "political posturing." "We are simply amazed to be blamed with being socially irresponsible given that Novartis gave one billion swiss francs (625 million euros, 806 million dollars) of medicines in 2006 which was far more than the Swiss government's development aid," said Novartis spokesman John Gilardi. Gilardi said the patents case in India was about protecting investment in innovation which could bring benefits to patients. The alliance also made its first positive award to a company. The Swiss supermarket chain Coop was praised for launching an environmentally-friendly food brand that had helped to expand organic farming in Switzerland. The Public Eye Awards are announced in Davos every year to coincide with the World Economic Forum gathering top business and political leaders. The two Swiss groups coordinating the Public Eye, environmental NGO Pro Natura and developing world lobby group the Berne Declaration, called for legally-binding international regulations for corporate responsibility.
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