This article needs to be updated. (June 2023) |
Herakles Farms, formerly known as SG Sustainable Oils,[1] is an American company active in oil palm plantations and timber business. Its headquarters are in New York City. According to its web site, it claims to be committed to sustainability.
Activity in Cameroon
editThe presence of Herakles Farms in Cameroon started in 2009.[2] Sithe Global Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC) is a Cameroonian subsidiary of Herakles Farms, has received a concession of 73,000 hectares of rainforest to be replaced by oil palm plantations in 2009.[3][4] This was suspended by the government of Cameroon in May 2013. Herakles Farms claims to invest 300 billion francs CFA and improve the life of indigenous persons of the area.[5] Far more locals are opposed to than in favor of this project.[6] SCSOC has frequently used intimidation and corruption, especially against leaders and key decision makers in the community[3] as well as civil society activists such as Nasako Besingi who was arrested[7] and later sued for defamation of the company.[8] A court in Limbe, Cameroon has condemned Herakles to a fine of 4.6 million for racist discrimination in January 2014.[9] The rainforest mentioned is habitat of the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee and the drill.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Herakles Farms, LLC: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
- ^ "Camnews24.net". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ^ a b Van Kote, Gilles (23 May 2013). "Au Cameroun, un projet géant d'huile de palme fait scandale" [In Cameroon, a giant palm oil project causes scandal]. Le Monde (in French).
- ^ Grandadam, Sabine (30 October 2013). "Palmiers à huile au Cameroun : Herakles Farms, une saga à rebondissements". Afrik.com.
- ^ "Herakles farm will invest CFAF 300 billion in Cameroon". American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon.
- ^ Achobang, Fon Christoper (2013-05-28). "Lessons from Herakles Farms Debacle in Cameroon". Modern Ghana.
- ^ "Arbitrary arrest of and judicial harassment against Mr. Nasako Besingi and four SEFE collaborators". OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture). 29 November 2012. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Akana, David (2015-11-04). "Environmentalist sentenced in Cameroon". Earth Journalism Network. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ "Cameroun: Herakles Farms condamnée à 4,6 millions $ pour discrimination raciale" [Cameroon: Herakles Farms sentenced to $4.6 million for racial discrimination]. Agence Ecofin. 2014-01-05.
- ^ "Camnews24.net - camnews24 Resources and Information". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-10.