Home Boycott/Action VattenfallWatch Vattenfall AB Sweden Horno Jänschwalde Sorbs/Wends News Background Archive Warning Photo Gallery Guestbook Contact		The Pretension: - "Vattenfall's actions on environmental issues will create the necessary conditions for ensuring a positive business development and for reinforcing Vattenfall's competitive strength. By implementing continuous improvements and by adopting a comprehensive approach, we aim to set an example on the markets where we operate. - Innovation We strive to achieve sustainable development through innovative system solutions and the efficient use of resources. - Openness We create trust by maintaining an open dialogue concerning our environmental work and the environmental impact of our products. - Security We comply with the relevant legislation, regulations, stipulations and our own environmental requirements. We take preventative action to reduce our environmental impact and we assess, in advance, the impact of new activities. We also demand that our suppliers, contractors and business partners comply with the requirements. - KnowledgeWe are competent and committed to environmental issues and this helps us to make sound business decisions. - Caring We protect nature and focus on human health and safety. In accordance with our core values, our actions are characterized by respect for the cultures, customs and values of the countries where we operate." - Source: Annual Report 2000 – www.vattenfall.com - The Reality - Vattenfall's environment policy is, as experience in the German Lausitz shows, only intended for implementation in Sweden. - Far from setting an environmental example on the German market, Vattenfall's blanket approval of LAUBAG's environmental and ethical conduct (see: "Letter from the CEO, October 16th, 2001" – www.vattenfall.com) indicates that Vattenfall, on the contrary, is inclined towards acceptance of the status quo and also incapable of (self-) critical analysis. - Vattenfall actions in the Lausitz are characterized by respect for culture, customs and values, only when culture is limited to corporate culture, customs to expedience, and values to profit. - Brown coal strip-mining wiped out 73 Sorb/Wend villages in the Lausitz between 1945 and 1989, dealing a near fatal blow to Sorb culture. Vattenfall is continuing this contemptible practice. Vattenfall, as a state-owned Swedish concern, cannot disavow its own responsibility, on the grounds that the Brandenburg State Government is content to continue GDR policy of sacrificing sorb villages and culture to brown coal mining. - Brown coal strip-mining lives off the destruction of the environment and the uprooting of people, just as Vattenfall lives off Sweden's reputation for progressive environmental and human rights policies. -