Latest news with #MichelForst
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
TotalEnergies CEO addresses East Africa abuse allegations
TotalEnergies head Patrick Pouyanne said their values make them better suited for projects like the Uganda one. (EPA Images pic) PARIS : TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne defended the company's work on oil projects in East Africa on Friday, after an independent UN human rights expert said the French firm should urgently address fresh allegations of abuses. In a statement released late on Thursday, special rapporteur on environmental defenders Michel Forst said the company must take immediate action to protect activists linked to the East African crude oil pipeline and connected oilfields. That followed a decision by German asset manager Union Investment to drop TotalEnergies' bonds and shares from its sustainable investment funds over the issue. Pouyanne addressed criticism of the East African projects related to their alleged environmental and human rights impacts during the company's annual shareholders meeting. 'We develop these projects with the values and principles that are ours, we are convinced of the good they do for the countries and the local populations,' he said. He added that projects like the one in Uganda are better done by TotalEnergies rather than others, who may care less about human rights and the environment. Union Investment said it took its decision after reviewing a fresh report from non-profit Just Finance International, citing alleged abuses at the Kingfisher oil site in Uganda, part of the pipeline project. Forst said TotalEnergies had failed to take effective steps to address abuses against activists, adding it was 'deeply troubling' that 'it has instead consistently rejected the allegations as mere 'misconceptions' of the projects' impact'. As a French company, Forst said TotalEnergies was bound by the Aarhus Convention – an agreement protecting public rights to participation in environmental matters – to ensure individuals were not penalised or harassed for their opposition to the projects. Earlier, the company released a statement saying it 'does not tolerate any threats or violence against those who peacefully defend and promote human rights' and reminds those it works with of its position on the subject. The company added that it worked with Ugandan authorities 'to stress to the police the need to ensure that due process is followed, the protesters are treated well, and their rights are respected while in detention'. The security team of its local unit also monitors the wellbeing of anyone arrested and ensures their representatives are able to visit them, it said. Forst backed a call by Union Investment for an independent investigation into the alleged abuses. As well as making the results public and acting on any shortcomings, he also asked TotalEnergies to use its leverage to prevent any further attacks.
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
UN expert asks TotalEnergies to act on human rights concerns
PARIS/LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - TotalEnergies ( opens new tab must urgently address fresh allegations of abuses at its contentious oil pipeline project in East Africa, an independent U.N. human rights expert said ahead of the French energy firm's annual shareholder meeting on Friday. In a statement, opens new tab released late on Thursday, Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders Michel Forst said the company must take immediate action to protect activists linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and connected oilfields. It followed news that German asset manager Union Investment had dropped the company's bonds and shares from its sustainable investment funds over the issue. Union Investment said it made the decision after reviewing a fresh report from non-profit Just Finance International citing alleged abuses at the Kingfisher oil site in Uganda, part of the pipeline project. Forst said TotalEnergies had "failed to take effective steps addressing these abuses," adding it was "deeply troubling" that "it has instead consistently rejected the allegations as mere 'misconceptions' of the projects' impact". As a French company, it was bound by the international Aarhus Convention to ensure individuals were not penalised or harassed for their opposition to the projects, Forst added. TotalEnergies said in a statement on Friday that it "does not tolerate any threats or violence against those who peacefully defend and promote human rights" and reminds those it works with of its position on the subject. The company added that it worked with Ugandan authorities "to stress to the Police the need to ensure that due process is followed, the protesters are treated well, and their rights are respected while in detention". The security team of its local unit also monitors the wellbeing of anyone arrested and ensures their representatives are able to visit them, it said. Forst backed a call by Union Investment for an independent investigation into the alleged abuses. As well as making the results public and acting on any shortcomings, he also asked the Total to use its leverage to prevent any further attacks.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Climate protest jail term is 'disproportionate'
A human rights expert has described the year-long sentence given to a climate change activist as "blatantly disproportionate".In August 2022 Dr Patrick Hart caused thousands of pounds of damage to fuel pumps during a Just Stop Oil demonstration and has told the BBC this was because he believed the world was in a "truly dark and unprecedented time".UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst likened the UK's toughened laws on protestors to countries such as Honduras and Home Office said the UK has a "proud tradition" of peaceful protest in the UK but people should "do so within the law". One Labour MP told the BBC Dr Hart "deserved to be in jail". Dr Hart, 38, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in January after causing almost £11,000 of damage to 16 fuel pumps at Thurrock Motorway Services, in Grays, Essex, in August Bristol-based GP hit the pumps with a hammer, sprayed them with orange paint and obstructed lorries refuelling the station. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail for criminal cost of repairing the pumps was £9,376 and the action closed the pumps for a day while repairs were carried was one of a number of Just Stop Oil protests that sparked former Conservative prime minster Rishi Sunak to describe the campaigners as "selfish", adding those found guilty should "face tough sentences"."It's what the public expects and it's what we've delivered," he Michel Forst, a human rights expert and Special Rapporteur appointed by the UN, said legislation over peaceful protest in the UK needs to be repealed as he believed it to be "draconian". He said: "If you compare the situation in the UK with other European countries you don't see such harsh sentences."In France you would receive a small fine, never prison. But in the UK peaceful protestors receive 12 months in prison."On BBC Politics West, Swindon North MP Will Stone said there was no reason for the laws to be repealed by Labour."This was not a peaceful protest, this is someone destroying property. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."I think what he's done he should be in jail," adding he disagreed with the views of the UN Special Hart told the BBC, during a phone interview from prison, he believed his action were challenged about the seriousness of his offences and the possibility he will repeat them Dr Hart added: "The way it is presented in the justice system is this is a pattern of offending which seems absurd to me. 'Selfless reasons' "I am not doing this out of any benefit of my own. I am doing it out of entirely selfless reasons because I am terrified for human civilisation or the lack of a future."It is very unlikely I will go out and do the same things again."Dr Hart said he believed his actions were also justified as the primary duty of a doctor is to "act in the best interests of our patients"."I just came to appreciate the climate crisis is the greatest risk to all our health and anything else I can be doing is meaningless and the most meaningful thing I can do is to try to defeat that."It's very odd to me that damaging inanimate objects is considered no longer peaceful."As a doctor if it's an emergency and you are brought in unconscious I am going to cut through your clothes, even if they are expensive designer, just to get to the wound."If its bleeding and causing you could lead to death. That is not considered violent that is considered life saving."But, former Conservative MP Richard Graham disagreed with his views saying the protest "wasn't peaceful at all"."This was an extremely expensive, aggressive, tiresome behaviour. And very odd, frankly, from a GP who should be looking after patients in a very reasonable, apportioned way."The Green Party's deputy leader on Bristol City Council said protests had made a "significant difference" to government policy. Mr Forst said he was "very moved" after a visit with Dr Hart in Chelmsford has threatened to refer the British government to the compliance committee of the UN Human rights committee if it does not respond fully to his legal Dr Hart also had his General Medical Council registration suspended for an interim 12-month period, and faces a possible further suspension following his release."Dr Hart has already been punished by the UK judicial system for his climate activism," Mr Forst said. "He has been prosecuted, convicted and sanctioned for his involvement in peaceful civil disobedience."One of the courts that convicted him also recognised that Dr Hart's motivations were entirely altruistic."Mr Forst said Dr Hart had already been punished and questioned what the GMC was trying to achieve "by depriving him from the very possibility to be a doctor"."By punishing him for a second time, for having taken action to address what the GMC itself calls 'one of the greatest threats to human health'? "Added to his conviction by a court, this professional sanction would not only be a form of penalisation, persecution or harassment of Dr Hart, it would also be one that is based on an astonishingly paradoxical reasoning." Law-breaking scrutiny A General Medical Council spokesperson said it was "committed to doing what we can to tackle climate change".The GMC added: "But it is not our role to determine whether UK law as regards climate change protests needs to change – that is a matter for Parliament."The guidance for doctors, the GMC added, was they were allowed "personal political opinions" but a custodial sentence would lead to a referral to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service."This is required by law, and we can't exercise any discretion over this," the spokesperson added."When doctors' protesting results in law-breaking, they must understand it is their actions in breaking the law, rather than their motivations, that will be under scrutiny."Patients and the public have a high degree of trust in doctors, that trust can be put at risk when doctors fail to comply with the law."
