FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM  //  The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.

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Mar 2 / 12:51am

FINROSFORUM Appealed in Defence of Khimki Forest

by Kerkko Paananen

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FINROSFORUM board members Mikael Storsjö (left), Kerkko Paananen, and Ville Ropponen.
(Photo: Jouko Kämäräinen.)

The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (FINROSFORUM) conveyed an appeal in support of the campaign to defend Khimki Forest, near Moscow, to the French Embassy in Helsinki on 1 March 2011. At the same time, the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest (EcoOborona) delivered its appeal to the office of the French construction group, Vinci, in Moscow. Below, the text of FINROSFORUM's appeal to the French Ambassador in Finland:

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Filed under  //  CSR   Environment   FINROSFORUM   France   Helsinki   Khimki   Moscow   Russia   Vinci  
 
Feb 28 / 4:13pm

Vetoomus Himkin metsän puolesta

by Kerkko Paananen

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Moskovan lähellä sijaitseva Himkin metsä uhkaa jäädä rakenteilla olevan moottoritien alle. Himkin metsä on tuhannen hehtaarin suuruinen suojeltu tammimetsä, joka on moskovalaisten suosittu virkistysalue. Sen läpi on linjattu kulkevaksi uusi Moskova-Pietari-moottoritie.

Rakennustyöt ovat olleet laajan kiistan ja protestiliikkeen aihe jo vuosia. 26. elokuuta 2010 presidentti Medvedev määräsi rakennustyöt keskeytettäväksi kiistojen takia, mutta 14. joulukuuta 2010 Venäjän hallitus päätti sittenkin rakentaa moottoritien metsän läpi.

Himkin metsäkampanja vetoaa nyt moottoritiehankkeeseen osallistuvaan ranskalaiseen Vinci-konserniin, jotta tämä vetäytyisi projektista. Vetoomuksessa kiinnitetään huomiota mm. hankkeeseen liittyviin laittomuuksiin ja kansalaismielipiteen tukahduttamiseen.

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Filed under  //  CSR   Himki   Moskova   Pietari   Ranska   Venäjä   Vinci   Ympäristö  
 
Apr 23 / 4:13am

Finlandization: Maximum-Security Tikkurila

by Kerkko Paananen

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Tikkurila, which owns two production facilities in Saint Petersburg, is a characteristic example of how a corporate carrot can easily turn into a corporate stick. Built in the late nineties by Finns using Finnish technology, the company’s water-based paints manufacturing plant in St Petersburg (the so-called "old" Tikkurila factory) was long considered an oasis of humane euro-capitalism in the city.

One worker recalls: “In 1997, our salary was 500 dollars a month with an annual 20-30% raise. During the 1998 ruble default, when sales plummeted, Tikkurila made no layoffs, but shortened the workday instead. There was company-paid medical insurance, good working conditions, polite management. In short, we were absolutely satisfied and did not think about organizing a trade union.”

In 2007, when Tikkurila acquired another plant, TEKS, everything changed. For workers at the old plant, it looked like the “gangster-like” TEKS had squashed their peaceful communist oasis. Soon after the merger, management began introducing "lean manufacturing methods." One senior manager noted with satisfaction that the company saved 35 million rubles as a result of this “breakthrough.”

Show your solidarity with workers at Tikkurila's factories in St Petersburg by signing the petition addressed to general director Timo Laitala. Please let Tikkurila corporate management know what you think. You can also let FinnWatch, which monitors Finnish companies abroad, know how you feel about Tikkurila’s treatment of its workers in Russia.

Read more:

http://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/finlandization-maximum-security-tikkurila-saint-petersburg/

Filed under  //  CSR   Finland   Human Rights   Russia   Tikkurila   Trade Union