Project Overview: You will write a research paper on the human rights record of a multinational corporation chosen from the list below.  The paper should give a brief overview of the company's operations (what kind of company, what are their main products, where do they operate etc.) and a brief history of the company's growth and development.  The major part of the paper will thoroughly summarize and evaluate the company's record on human right's and social responsibility. Your discussion should address the following questions.

What charges have been made against the corporation?
Who is making these charges? (governments, unions, NGOs, IGO, journalists)
Are there legal cases involved?
Are any official national or international bodies involved?
What is the public reaction?
Have there been consumer boycotts? Have they been successful?
What is the company's reaction?
Does the company claim to be socially responsible? If so, what evidence do they provide?
Does the company have a voluntary business code?
Has the company signed any international agreements to follow socially-responsible guidelines and/or protect human rights?
Have they changed any policies or practices because of public or governmental pressure?
What is the outcome and current status of any charges against the company?
Any lessons we can learn from studying the human rights record and experiences of this company?
Based on your research would you claim that this corporation is socially responsible?

1. Of course you are not limited to these questions and concerns. These are provided to help focus your research.

2.  Please be careful to distinguish between corporate actions that are corrupt, negligent, and socially irresponsible and those actions that would constitute a violation of human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or an infringement of internationally recognized standards as set forth in the United Nations Global Compact or the recently adopted Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations.

3.  The writer of the paper will also be expected to maintain the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. All sources should be cited using one of the commonly accepted methods (e.g.. APA, MLA, Chicago).  Student papers may be submitted to Turnitin.com to test for plagiarism.

Corporations--The List

Exxon-Mobil--Trevor
Shell--Emily
Enron
Unocal--T.J.
Coca-Cola--Jen
Wal-Mart--Erin
Walt Disney--Lori
McDonalds
The Gap
Levi-Strauss
Reebok
Nike--Lana
Dyncorp--Stacey
Occidental-Petroleum--Chris
Halliburton--Mersed
Monsanto--Jessie
Union Carbide
DeBeers Diamonds--Kieran
Starbucks
R.J. Reynolds
Anheuser-Busch
Adolph Coors Brewing Co.
Nestle--Jennifer
Mars/M & M's--Katia
Chiquita Banana--Gabriela
Citigroup
General Electric--Peter
Webster University