Dear friends
Saint Nicolas and his donkey (as it is the custom in Switzerland) visited FIFA President Mr. Blatter in Zurich on Thursday December 5 2002. By order of the Swiss Clean Clothes Campaign he had to hand over a petition calling for more social responsibility within FIFA business activities. During football World Cup 2002 these signatures have been collected in Switzerland, 4381all together. They are all calling for a complete FIFA code of conduct and an independent verification. Several factory cases showed during this year, that FIFA business partners like Adidas do not respect minimal labour standards where they produce their goods.

Mr. Blatter arrived accidentally at the entrance hall when Saint Nicolas was ringing the bell outside. The FIFA-President had a short look at him and disappeared in another room. Shortly later Mr. Siegler head of FIFA Communications arrived in front of the building and greeted Saint Nicolas. He was not in a very good mood, when Saint Nicolas started to talk from cases such as the working conditions in Chi Fung factory, producing shirts for Adidas in El Salvador. FIFA was asked to become a good example in the field o corporate social responsibility. Saint Nicolas and his companion brought some fruits and nuts for the new FIFA-team. He hoped, that soon FIFA will consider in a more adequate way the labour rights of FIFA-Partner.

CCC was informed that a first International Conference on Sport and Development will be held in Switzerland between 16th and 18th of February 2003, where also the issue of sports and ethics cum fair trade will be discussed. Therefore international Clean Clothes Campaign as well as Global March against Child Labour and ICFTU and WCL will propose to FIFA to have a Round Table in Switzerland as said on the 14th or 15th of February 2003.

Finally Saint Nicola handed over a fair trade football for Mr. Blatter instead of a switch. That makes it clear, that the ball is at FIFAs side now to cope with social responsibility.

For any press release or information on websites please have a look at our homepage: http://www.cleanclothes.ch/d/Presskit.htm. There are picture for download available.

Stefan Indermühle
CCC Switzerland