Attached is a recording of a covert recording made with the PR company (Finsbury PR) that have successfully ensured the British company, Vedanta Resources, can go ahead and mine bauxite in the lands of the Dongria Kondh tribe.
Please pass this recording on, and ensure that the activities of PR companies are exposed.
Please pass this recording on, and ensure that the activities of PR companies are exposed.
The trigger to this story was an article by John Vidal about Vedanta Resources who were, at the time -- now approved -- proposing to expand a bauxite mine in northern India at the expense of the livelihood of the Dongria Kondh (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/27/vedantaresources-mining). They are ably represented in the UK by a PR company called Finsbury PR, who have been ensuring that as much of the news coverage as possible is positive, and more importantly, guiding Vedanta's strategy in terms of public deception and the treatment of the various tribal and non-tribal locals on the ground. Given Finsbury's portfolio (partially shown on the website - http://www.finsbury.com/) I wondered what else they might be getting up to, so proceeded to contact them and find out how far they would go in order to gain a client, based on the worst possible case being exposure of and harm to an *uncontacted* indigenous tribe.
The recording is pretty self explanatory. Andrew Mitchell is the lead man on the Vedanta account, and deals with all mineral and energy clients. I am "Michael" by the way.
The most significant sections are 2'10" > 3'51" (admittance that this is an acceptable piece of work) and 9'32" > 10'40" (in principle agreement to work). Andrew appears to be very nervous at 9'26", but overcomes his worries quickly and seems keen right at the end to sell the company, quoting Shell etc.
According to their web site: "Finsbury is one of the leading financial, regulatory and political communications agencies in the world. With offices in London, New York, Brussels, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Finsbury provides strategic communications advice to international clients on their interaction with the media, financial markets, governments and key stakeholders."
The recording has been made in the best interests of the Dongria Kondh people, so is therefore in the public interest. You will not be breaking any reasonable laws by passing this on.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/27/vedantaresources-mining). They are ably represented in the UK by a PR company called Finsbury PR, who have been ensuring that as much of the news coverage as possible is positive, and more importantly, guiding Vedanta's strategy in terms of public deception and the treatment of the various tribal and non-tribal locals on the ground. Given Finsbury's portfolio (partially shown on the website - http://www.finsbury.com/) I wondered what else they might be getting up to, so proceeded to contact them and find out how far they would go in order to gain a client, based on the worst possible case being exposure of and harm to an *uncontacted* indigenous tribe. The recording is pretty self explanatory. Andrew Mitchell is the lead man on the Vedanta account, and deals with all mineral and energy clients. I am "Michael" by the way.
The most significant sections are 2'10" > 3'51" (admittance that this is an acceptable piece of work) and 9'32" > 10'40" (in principle agreement to work). Andrew appears to be very nervous at 9'26", but overcomes his worries quickly and seems keen right at the end to sell the company, quoting Shell etc.
According to their web site: "Finsbury is one of the leading financial, regulatory and political communications agencies in the world. With offices in London, New York, Brussels, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Finsbury provides strategic communications advice to international clients on their interaction with the media, financial markets, governments and key stakeholders."
The recording has been made in the best interests of the Dongria Kondh people, so is therefore in the public interest. You will not be breaking any reasonable laws by passing this on.