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Internet company Googleisto offer free access to health advice, Farmingtipsand atherservices by mobilephone topeapleinone ofthe worl'spoorest nations. TheApplab project willalow mobile usrsin Uganda tosenda textmessage requesting Information on various sublecs. “he answers arereturned by short message service (SMS) ext messages. Users canuse Applabto requestheath advice, including information onilinesses and Aiseases,ortofind nearby health dlniesor medical services. Usandansvillalsobe ableto Ist goods for saleorinditemsto buy fom local merchants and ‘rade with ther communities. Farmersville fered weather forecasts and agrcutual tips Te scheme hasbeen implementedin partnership with the Grameen Foundation, an offshoot oftheUK-based, pro-poor Grameen Bank. alfof Uganda 32 millon people ive below the recognized povertyline of $3.25 (sp) per ay, but around tenon people ownamabile phone, sieagiomtt ion, (ethical performance ) remain in Compact club PetroChina been absolved of ‘complicity inhuman tights abuses inSudan bythe United Nations ‘Global Compact aterlong ‘consideration of compaintsmade byahostofnon- governmental organizations. Responding toa formal ‘complaint lodged in January the (Compact board has sad n action willbe taken against PetroChina, 2 Compact participant since 2007. IRarguesthat because he Chineseoilcompany'sparent s70up,ChinaNational Pevoleum Corporation (CNPC), "hasbeen aciveinsupporting sustainable | development in{Sudan]and engaged inthe newiy formed and ‘embryonic Gobal Compact local complain, wrichwas supported bymrethan Go cilsocity | organizations andalleged | systematcendegregousabuse” | ofthe compacts princes ‘The Compactboard added that | ONPC had engagedin Global | Compactteaingand dialogue | actives on cone senstve | business practices. CNPCIsnot ‘seta Compactsgnatory PetroChina'srtes—who incudehumanrightsand comporate accountability groups from-5 counties had accused the company ofcomplictyin human ights abuses and requested that tuseitsinfluence ith the Sudanese goverment pursue peace-bullaingin aru, ‘where genacide has been ongoing forsixyear. The Compact board's report homever, says: "The ‘operation acampanyina weakly governedorrepressive environment wouldnt be sole grounds forremoval’ ErieCohen,chaiman ofthe US- ‘based NGO Investors Against (Genocide, ssid:"Wehope the Compact willreconsierits itadvisednital response and apply itsintogrity measures. would be settinganextremely unfortunate precedent by ectiningto useits own documented processto preserve the integrity ots workin this extreme situation, Earths year Shanghal- listed PetroChina became the largestcompanyintheworidby ‘market aptaization, surpassing ‘Ban Mobil Anumber of Imestorshave sold sharesinthe ‘company veritatis in Sudan, ineudingthe Dutch Pensionfund PGGMandUS- based Fdaltynvestments © Aboard member ofthe Global Compact has denied allegations ofcomplicityinhuman rights abusesinChileinthe 19705. Guillermo Carey. a senior partner atthe Santiago-based fim Careyand Allende Abogados, has beenaccusedbyaChilean newspaper, Nacon.of involvemertin events that paved ‘the way for Generl Pinochet's «coupina973 Carey who servesasa Global ‘Compact board member for busines, providing strategic advice denesall the allegations. Hels been supported bya numberof sources, including Chilesnlamyer and paramentary candidate RoberioCeledon Femandea, who has pralsed Careyshumanrights workwith indigenous peoples, ‘ave emirate soca e wpa a0 Fags ‘fican counties cary the greatestrsksformutinationals, accordingtoarankingof nations withthemosthazardous business envionment, The Global Rsksindex, produced bythe esearch fim Maplecrof, analysesthe stabity of countries and theirbusiness environments based on macroeconomics, governance, climate change, disease, security and'socitalresience’ which includes human rights and | povertyssues, The indexsates Somalia, ‘Sudan, the Democratic Republic ‘ofCongo, Chad, Alghanistan, Ethiopia, Burma, Nigeria, Burundi ‘and Zimbabweasthe wenriskest couniresinatotalofs6: Other challenging nations for the business community include Pakistan Gt), India (a7) Indonesia 2, ran (5) andthe Philippines (a), whicharealt, ratedashighrisk’ The only counisiesin Europe natanardeda “lors ratingare Bosniaand Herzegovina, Turkey, Moldova, Ukaine,Belarusand Russia. Ofthe emerging economies, Indiais deemedthe most risky for business partly because ofits population density, security problemsandissues with resource security. Braz (2), | Russia (6, and South rica @7) areallrated medium isk. China isranked 7th, wihrisks derived from resource security _andithe long-term effets of climate change. Compettionfor land andwaterar also risks, though Maplecroft says hinals, ‘making significant strategic Investments to mitigate some of theseeffects, isan tober 2009)

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