|
Front Page » Archive » Vol
2 No 57 » here
Sweating over 2010
If we must host the Olympics, can we at least
assure that small local businesses benefit, and overseas
sweatshops don't?
by Matthew Burrows
The Republic
Tom Sandborn, part of a sweatshop-monitoring group called
the Maquila Solidarity Network, said he didn't want Vancouver
"drowning in sweatshop coffee" if the city is successful
in landing the 2010 Olympic bid.
Sandborn, also a local activist and organizer of local spoken
word events in the city, made these comments last Wednesday
during the mayoral forum at the Harbour Centre. Entitled
"The Olympics, Human Rights and Ethical Procurement," it
is just one in a series put together by Vancouver Mayor Larry
Campbell to gauge public opinion on salient issues relating
to the games bid, particularly as the February 22 plebiscite
draws near.
The event was put on by the BC Ethical Purchasing Group,
and chaired by Michael Markwick, with an eye to raising issues
surrounding the manner of the delivery of goods and services
during the games.
Sandborn's main concerns are how local business and local
suppliers can be drawn into the economic benefits of the
Games by allowing them to bid on small- to medium-sized projects,
and sell their goods directly at the event. Essentially,
the group wants the games kept "sweat-free" of exploitation.
Coffee will be one of the main products on sale at the Games,
and to add credence to their "sweat-free" argument, Marta
de la Vega, of the Christian Solidarity Group in Central
America, outlined harrowing cases of enslavement in Honduran
coffee plantations.
She had to flee Guatemala to come to Canada after her work
with trade unions put her in direct fire of the local cartels
in her home country. She does not want to see the 2010 Olympics
become party to this exploitation.
Ken Baker, 2010 Vancouver executive director of environment
and sustainability, said there is a question in the bid book
dealing with suppliers, but said the issue still needs more
exploration.
John McLaughlin, vice president of finance with the bid
corporation, said he and his colleagues still "want to raise
the profile" of the local procurement issue with the various
committees and the IOC.
"We are trying to put the message out there that we
can actually walk the walk" in terms of sustainability he
said.
Tom Sandborn, talking now in general terms and not just
about coffee, said it is "vital" for citizens of Vancouver
that contracts be put in place which prove a company or supplier
adheres to sweat-free practices.
"We need to get them to sign the kinds of contracts
that enable us to find out who their subcontractors are,"
he said. "Otherwise, they just won't get paid. It's that
simple."
Mayor Larry Campbell was absent, due to a crick in his neck,
but Councillor Jim Green assured all those present that council
would look very seriously at what had been raised at the
meeting, even claiming the city could fend off any global
organization such as NAFTA and the WTO if they protested
against local procurement.
"There's little resistance in terms of this coming
to the city," said Green. "We've seen some of the work that
they've been doing in other cities, such as Portland," said
Green. "They win lawsuits every time, and I know we can win
them too, but it won't all be hunky dory."
Front Page » Archive » Vol
2 No 57 » here
top of page
| 
