UN says links to big business may hurt reputation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

UN says links to big business may hurt reputation
By Associated Press
Monday, March 21, 2011 - Added 44 minutes ago

GENEVA — U.N. ethics investigators say the United Nations risks harming its reputation with efforts to engage big business.

A report by the U.N.’s Joint Inspection Unit says a decade-old program to improve links between the global body and the private sector lacks a clear mandate, adequate entry criteria and effective oversight.

Investigators conclude that the so-called "Global Compact" created by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2001 shows "unclear results and unmitigated risks."

The report published Monday said some companies might use membership of the group to bolster their own image without living up to its environmental, labor and corruption standards.



Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/europe/view/20110321un_says_links_to_big_business_may_hurt_reputation/

[w4rma]

1. Are they planning to give GE a seat on the U.N. next to the U.S.? (nt)

[ananda]

2. GE and big oil are already running things.

nt

[freshwest]

3. There needs to be a separation between people and profit taking. One's alive, the other is not.

Perhaps the move to bring the corporations into discussions is a good thing (or not, blech).

Kind of beating the dead horse, but this video expresses the feelings of some people and details what I think is important.

Okay, it's sappy, but it mentions how the corporations run the world:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCnWZncHH2Y

[snot]

4. K&R'd.

[Aerows]

5. You mean it wasn't already?

Considering that multi-nationals run everything anyway, it really isn't a shock. If they are just now realizing it because people are openly doubting that "UN resolutions" mean anything concerning "humanitarian" reasons, well, it's high time they started making "humanitarian" reasons actually motivated by "humanitarian" concerns rather than multi-national corporate ones.