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Even a project at a Texas City, Texas, refinery owned by __ recently found in UK patients who had medical treatment BP (which has the oil industry's worst safety record), in India and has now reached a critical point. These and the site of a deadly 2005 explosion as well as a _ superbugs are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, which benzene leak in early 2010, secured a waiver for the is a major concern to experts because these are used for preliminary phase of a carbon capture and __ hard-to-treat infections that evade other drugs. sequestration experiment involving two companies with Already, over 25,000 people in Europe die each year past compliance problems. The so-called "stimulus" from superbug infections, with many bacteria now funding came from the $787 billion legislation officially resistant to all drugs. That figure will increase unless known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, new, more powerful antibiotics are developed. passed in February 2009. These bacteria, which have genetic resistance to Documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity antibiotics, have contaminated Delhi's drinking water show that the administration has devised a speedy supply. This gene spread into bacteria that cause review process that relies on voluntary disclosures by dysentery and cholera, which can be easily passed from companies to determine whether stimulus projects pose —_ person to person via sewage-contaminated water. environmental harm. Corporate polluters often omitted Scientists are calling for urgent action by health mention of health, safety and environmental violations authorities worldwide to tackle the new strains and in their applications. Administration officials told the prevent their global spread. Center that they chose to The overuse and misuse of ignore companies’ antibiotics is at unprecedented environmental compliance levels, and a_ lack of records in making grant Apple’s suppliers in development of new drugs decisions and issuing NEPA . . . means that we could see exemptions, saying that they China...routinely violate current treatments become considered such information China’s law on the useless. The problem is made irrelevant. . worse by drug companies that Prevention and Control of put off developing new 16. Apple Workers Suffer Occupational Diseases antibiotics because they are Apple's suppliers in China, such as Foxconn, Dafu and Lian ian Technology, routinely 18. Monsanto Targets Haiti violate China's law on the In May 2010, several months Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases. after the 12 January earthquake that destroyed much of Several manufacturers have replaced alcohol with n- __ Haiti, the US multinational Monsanto donated 60 tons of exane, which is used to clean parts. It is a chemical — corn and vegetable hybrid seed to the country. The US hat works better than alcohol, but poisons workers. In International Development Agency (USAID) took charge hese factories, the workers, often women in their teens _ of the distribution. or 20s, were forced to work with the poison in On 4 June 2010, around 10,000 Haitian farmers unventilated rooms. demonstrated against Monsanto's donation. "If Due to the chemical used at Lian Jian Technology's Monsanto's seed enters Haiti, farmers’ seed will plant, 49 employees fell ill and were admitted to Suzhou _— disappear," said Doudou Pierre Festil, member of the No. 5 People's Hospital. More employees were likely | Peasant Movement of Papaye and coordinator of the seen as not profitable enough. poisoned, but many were pushed out before they fell ill ational Haitian Network for Food Sovereignty and and Lian Jian forced them to sign papers saying that Food Security. hey would not hold the company accountable. They Haitian farmers denounce Monsanto because it eft with 80,000-90,000 yuan ($12,000-$14,000), which requires them to buy new seed for every sowing season. hey received in exchange for their lives and health and = Moreover, the organisation Farmers’ Route has warned is meant to cover fees and medical costs that they hat the entry of Monsanto's seeds could force the would have to pay for the rest of their lives. armers to depend on the company, which also produces Apple stands alone, even among other IT companies he fertilisers and herbicides designed to be used with which routinely cause problems of heavy metal he seeds. po Ilution, i in n its evasiveness and refusal to work with "The Haitian government is using the earthquake to aall th 7 sant ee Heeler ner ta Ae alae. nk Apple’s suppliers in China.. routinely Violate new On 4 June 2010, around 10,000 Haitian farmers demonstrated against Monsanto's donation. "If Monsanto's seed enters Haiti, farmers’ seed will disappear,” said Doudou Pierre Festil, member of the Peasant Movement of Papaye and coordinator of the ational Haitian Network for Food Sovereignty and Food Security. Haitian farmers denounce Monsanto because it requires them to buy new seed for every sowing season. Moreover, the organisation Farmers’ Route has warned hat the entry of Monsanto's seeds could force the armers to depend on the company, which also produces he fertilisers and herbicides designed to be used with he seeds. "The Haitian government is using the earthquake to sell the country to multinationals,” declared Chavannes ean-Baptiste, coordinator of the Peasant Movement of Papaye. Monsanto is the world's biggest seed company, controlling 20 per cent of the seed market and 90 per cent of agricultural biotechnology patents. green groups. 17. Resistant Superbugs are Spreading Worldwide Lethal superbugs are emerging that do not respond to any known drugs. The World Health Organization states that the New Delhi superbug, also known as NDM-1, was 28 * NEXUS China’s law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases. DECEMBER 2011 - JANUARY 2012 www.nexusmagazine.com