The power of multinationals are often now far stronger than national governments. This is a problem for accountability. It’s a key theme of my forthcoming book on vulture capitalism, Profits of Doom.
Here’s a disturbing clip that reminds us why citizens, rational governments and NGOs must keep corporations in check (via Keithpp’s Blog):
In a candid interview for the documentary… We Feed the World, Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck makes the astonishing claim that water isn’t a human right. He attacks the idea that nature is good, and says it is a great achievement that humans are now able to resist nature’s dominance. He attacks organic agriculture and says genetic modification is better.
Nestlé is the world’s biggest bottler of water. Brabeck claims – correctly – that water is the most important raw material in the world. However he then goes on to say that privatisation is the best way to ensure fair distribution. He claims that the idea that water is a human right comes from “extremist” NGOs. Water is a foodstuff like any other, and should have a market value.
He believes that the ultimate social responsibility of any Chairman is to make as much profit as possible, so that people will have jobs.
And just to underline what a lovely man he is, he also thinks we should all be working longer and harder.