Voice Your Choice in the Corporate Hall of Shame 2008

By Adam Valvasori - Values Manager

Hi everyone! The below is a tiny bit extreme, but it's still well worth a read. We know, for example, that not all corporations abuse their power. Many try the best they can at being responsible members of the community. However I still think - in this age of Corporate Social Responsibility 'spin' it's vital for NGOs to carefully monitor corporate power which is allowed to run largely unchecked, is not transparent or democratic. From the CAI Website:

Corporate Accountability International has been waging winning campaigns to challenge corporate abuse for more than 30 years. Corporations boost profits at the expense of people's health and environment by using campaign contributions, aggressive lobbying, deceptive public relations and influence over global trade talks to write the rules that govern our economy and society to their advantage.

As corporations grow richer and more powerful than many countries, it becomes even more important to challenge the undue influence they use to weaken government policies that should protect people

The Nominees:

(Archer Daniels Midland) for making Indonesia the world’s worst contributor to global warming (after the U.S. and China) through its clearing of endangered forests and wildlife habitat for palm oil plantations.
Read more.

for killing unarmed Iraqi civilians, hiring paramilitaries trained under military dictatorships, and using its close political and financial ties with the Bush Administration to secure lucrative contracts. Read more.

for predatory mortgage lending to elderly and non-English-speaking borrowers, and for gouging minority borrowers with discriminatory rates and fees. These actions have forced nearly a quarter of subprime borrowers into default, at the same time their CEO earned a $120 million salary.
Read more.

for producing tens of millions of lead-contaminated toys and aggressively lobbying against bans on other highly toxic chemicals. Read more.

for numerous labor violations including child exploitation, contributing to the obesity epidemic, and threatening community water supplies for its bottled water brands. Read more.

for aggressively lobbying against increased fuel economy standards and state measures to reduce global warming gas emissions, while hypocritically spending millions to advertise its environmental leadership and popular Prius line. Read more.

for displacing local businesses, failing to cover employees under the corporation’s health plan, and opposing legislation that would increase homeland security. Read more.

for its contribution — as America’s third largest fast food franchise — to the growing childhood obesity and diabetes epidemics, and for refusing to meet nutritional labeling regulations. Read more.

Here’s how to vote and help expose the worst abusers:

1. Read More!
2. Vote for your top three choices or write in another corporation at the Hall of Shame website.
3. Post comments, if you like, about why these corporations should be inducted.
4. Encourage friends and family to vote. Voting closes on July 4th. Corporate Accountability International will continue to expose their abuses through the year – making sure to publicise genuine efforts at reform.

~ Adam