|
|
NEWSLETTER 12, MAI 2000
Sweden report
|
On the campaign side, the sportswear campaign continues. Throughout
the autumn we have been disseminating 5000 cards to consumers asking
the sportswear companies about their production. Another 4000 cards
will be sent this spring. We have organised debates with retailers,
collected footprints from consumers (and sending them to the companies
as a "Christmas-greeting"), talks in schools, work shops
etc.
The sportswear retailers have responded with some concrete actions.
For example The Stadium has adopted a code of conduct, and Intersport
has added to their contracts that they accept independent groups,
such as NGOs, to visit suppliers' production facilities. They have
had a code of conduct for several years. However, it is also clear
that the companies have a very poor or no follow up of workers rights
in the production chain.
At the beginning of April we held a workshop for students around
the Baltic Sea (Baltic Sea Youth Forum). Our workshop aimed at building
a network to encourage the Finnish and Swedish companies sourcing
from Baltic states, Poland and Russia to be more caring about workers
rights and environmental performance.
We also plan to hold a workshop at the International Textile Congress
in 26-30 of June in Sweden.
And last but not least, as of February 2000 there is a new member
of the Swedish CCC; the Red Cross Youth
In the past 6 months
Alice Kwan from HKCIC visited from 3-7 Dec 1999. We organised
an anti-fashion show and a public programme, with mostly young people
attending. We also arranged a meeting about China with companies,
trade unions and NGOs on 6th Dec. On 17-18th February, the garment
group of the Nordic Federation of Industry Unions, Fair Trade Centre
and IRENE arranged an conference on how trade unions can use consumer
power to support their demands. After the meeting it was decided
that the Finnish, Danish and Norwegian counterparts all go back
to their countries to build networks with unions and NGOs so as
to start CCCs in their countries. A first follow up meeting in Finland
is booked for 10th May.
|
