Whose business is change?(protest against Business Action for Sustainable Development)(Brief Article)

These were the slogans hanging on banners outside the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris on October 9th. Rhythms of Resistance, samba bands from Amsterdam and Belgium, joined activists from across Europe and gathered in Paris to protest the first meetings of the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) group.

The BASD, a joint initiative of the International Chamber Commerce (ICC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, represents the main business input for next year's United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development also known as Rio +10. They plan to use the World Summit as an occasion to portray themselves as doing good with regards to environmental and social issues, as well as an opportunity to "greenwash" their tarnished images.

Civil society groups and trade unions around the world are increasing their opposition to the harmful role that transnational …