Monday, January 18, 2010

Walmart Won’t Buy Cosan Sugar Amid Slavery Blacklist



From BusinessWeek:

By Helder Marinho and Lucia Kassai

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s biggest retailer, suspended a supply contract with Cosan SA Industria & Comercio after the Brazilian sugar maker was added to a government slavery “blacklist.” Cosan said it won an injunction ordering it be removed from the list.

Walmart is the first retailer to come out with sanctions against Cosan after the sugar producer was added Dec. 31 to a Brazilian Labor Ministry’s list of companies whose workers operate in slave-like conditions. Walmart’s local unit said it temporarily suspended purchases of Cosan’s Acucar Uniao and Acucar da Barra sugar brands.

Walmart “vehemently repudiates any practice that does not respect human rights,” the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer said in a statement.

Walmart’s move follows a decision by Brazil’s national development bank BNDES to cut off Cosan from financing. The inclusion on the blacklist means Cosan isn’t eligible for new loans and won’t receive future installments of agreed-to financing, BNDES said yesterday in a statement.

Read the full article

1 comment:

  1. Please view www.stopslavery2010.com and hit the WALMART link to see a recent story of a human trafficker utilizing a Walmart store.

    The nail salon is still open!!! Walmart needs to have a US policy against letting human traffickers sub-let space from their stores.

    If you can help us,....call 888.206.3264 today please!
    - Phil Cenedella

    www.daytonhumantraffickingaccords.com

    The Dayton Human Trafficking Accords

    WHEREAS,

    WE can end human trafficking and slavery, but only if we solemnly commit ourselves to that common purpose.

    We must confront the global scourge of trafficking and slavery beginning in our own local communities.

    We as individuals and all institutions of society have a moral responsibility to end trafficking and free slaves from their captivity.

    NOW THEREFORE,

    WE undertake a solemn commitment, beginning now, to end the scourge of trafficking and slavery

    And to take immediate action in our communities to

    Stir society’s conscience to action against trafficking and slavery

    Rescue and restore victims of trafficking and slavery

    Identify and punish traffickers and slavers

    Promote legislation and public policies to eradicate trafficking and slavery

    Address the social, cultural and economic causes of trafficking and slavery

    So that

    We will end human trafficking in our time.

    ReplyDelete