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Monday, January 30, 2006

Share Power - Business & Human Rights

I just returned from 3 days of Amnesty meetings in Ottawa. As always, I return a little tired, but also inspired. (I wasn't inspired by flight delays and re-routing which made it a 12 hour trip home.)

It's an odd thing really - some of us have a need to look at what's wrong in the world (human rights abuses in this case), in order to feel connected to the world in an genuine way. For me, this often leads to anger or sadness... and then to awareness and action, even if small.

This link is to a new campaign by AI call Share Power. It's related to Business & Human Rights. If you have a chance to open it and have a look, I'd be interested in any comments on the animated introduction...

Comments:
Great initiative and again a very well developed campaign Gary. As you probably know I have a special interest in marketing and business development. Amnesty has got one of the very best teams in place. Sorry for your delay but I guess it was worth while it..

I searched for a Dutch Share Power website. Wait, I'll just ask Amnesty and will let you know. Hang on..
 
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No such initiative over here as I understood just now but we will have contact again this afternoon (as no is not good enough off course:-). In fact they didn't know about its existence at all..
 
Hi Gary, it makes good points and is a worthy cause, for sure.

I'm not sure what you're asking for - a critique on the clip? For me it went slightly too fast for the length of the bullet points - okay, I like to take it in slowly...it could have lingered very slightly longer...

..then I thought there must be a voice-over so I switched my audio on but it's only music - to be frank, I didn't think the music really went with the message.

it makes good points but as a presentation I think it could have more impact! dare I say it, it seems more parochial than global; in a seminar - good, to a broader audience (with a view to convert) - I'm not so sure. sorry.

bear in mind, I don't know about these things - an honest layman's view as always! :o)
 
Oh - I like it! I have been trying for a long time to find out what companies invest where etc. Especially when I had some savings I wanted to invest. The only promising company was something called Banco Human fund wher I placed my savings - not much but still.
But it took SO much of my time, and most of the time I couldn't find the information I wanted. So such a campaign is brilliant!
 
Overall it was an excellent presentation. Where is it meant to play, the internet?

My suggestions: The bit where the graphics cycle between universities, pension plans, mutual funds was quite distracting after the first cycle, some of the points were a tad fast (and I'm a fast reader), and Poppy mentioned that she thought the music didn't go with the concept. I thought it did, though.

And now I'll go away and think about the ideas.
 
Thanks all! I'll pass some of these comments along to those running the site and yes, it's meant to be a weblink or something that gets passed around (even by bloggers!).

Each country is developing their own campaign around it (not sure what stage Netherlands is at yet Dimitri).

In Canada we are working with socially responsible investing; pressue and education on international mining and petrochemical companies; and getting pressue on companies through shareholders. There have been some interesting results already, but it's early on.
 
Hi Gary

I like the simple message and how it quickly moved through the alternatives. The idea of that power is cleverly interwoven in this short sharp presentation without too many words.

But it seems to has a particular target audience in mind and predispostion I think to black and white type thinking.

I would like too see Amnesty consider some strategic partnerships with Business and Multinational companies who share the same agenda, as doing good and upholding human rights is good business.

The only business to be in and supported in the adoption by those more enlightened growing number whose adopt already those ethical standards.The 2 need not be seen as adversarial.

How about a section on the website …..our compassionate capitalist partners whose values mirror Amnesties.

Best wishes
 
Lindsay - very useful comments. We actually are working with some positive business leaders in Canada (and elsewhere). In fact, one of the members of the Amnesty Board is a Communications Director for a large petro-chemical company. We have been able to provide training for this sector and have some allies for international standards to be developed. It's good to find partners and to give kudos for good work - thanks for the reminder!

That said, we may be going to court with a Canadian mining company, over their refusal to allow a motion at an AGM. These guys are creating havoc in Myanmar through a huge copper mine. Government security issues, forced labour, environment, land theft -- you name it - there's a possible link.
 
Today Amnesty rang back. (2 months later!) But they did. We will plan a meeting to discuss my involvement.
 

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