Pitfalls and Pipelines - Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links

Chapter 2.3: International Advocacy with Companies and Their Investors
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Chapter 2.3
International Advocacy with
Companies and Their Investors
The purpose of this chapter is to review the ways in which
communities can challenge extractive industry companies directly,
in terms of lobbying the top management, and appealing
to their investors. It is possible the company in question
may be a national one, but given the multinational nature of
the extractive industries it is more likely that corporation—or
its parent—will have its headquarters in another country. If
not the company itself then the major investors, or project
insurers, are likely to be from overseas. Given investment
has become increasingly globalized, it makes sense that any
response to it should be equally globalized.
Overseas campaigning may initially seem like a drawback,
given the difficulty in communication with a foreign country,
let alone in a foreign language. It should, however, be viewed
as an opportunity. It provides a range of actors to educate and
influence with regard to the community’s position, and often
produces an abundance of allies who can act in solidarity. It