AGM round up 20031 July 2003
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April to June is the season when many UK plc companies hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Even people with only one share can attend AGMs and ask top Directors questions about a company's activities.
This year, Friends of the Earth's naked men exposed a number of companies' bad behaviour to demonstrate the need for new laws to stop UK companies putting profits before people and the environment:
Shell Exposed
At Shell's AGM, Friends of the Earth accompanied representatives from communities who are suffering by living next to Shell's polluting refineries.
These representatives, from Nigeria, South Africa, Texas, Louisiana, and the Philippines, embarrassed Shell's Chairman Sir Phillip Watts when they provided a long list describing how Shell is affecting the health and environment of people all over the world.
They are hopeful that communities near Shell refineries will see change now that their voices were heard at the AGM.
Failing the challenge: The other Shell report 2002
(PDF† - 300K) April 2003
Using first hand accounts from communities affected by Shell, this report shows that Shell still has a long way to go to meet its public commitment to a green future.
HSBC Exposed
Friends of the Earth exposed HSBC for having used customer money to finance companies which destroyed rainforests in Indonesia, and oil companies linked to human rights abuses in the Sudan.
HSBC has claimed to have improved social and environmental standards within its investment policies but has refused to let Friends of the Earth see these for the past three years.
At the AGM, the Chairman of HSBC agreed to let Friends of the Earth see these policies.
UK plc: HSBC
(PDF† 156K) May 2003
HSBC's customers and shareholders are often unaware that through their pensions, mortgages, overdrafts and shares they have unwittingly financed companies destroying rainforests in Indonesia and oil companies linked to human rights atrocities in Sudan.
AMEC Exposed
Construction giant AMEC faced protests and questions by Friends of the Earth and the Baku-Ceyhan Campaign over its involvement in controversial projects.
AMEC is building BP's Georgian section of the Baku-T'blisi-Ceyhan pipeline. This will cause permanent damage to national parks and will force local vulnerable people from their homes.
After three and a half hours of questioning, AMEC copped out and said the responsibility lied with BP. Friends of the Earth's campaign for new company laws would mean that AMEC would not be able to simply pass the buck like this.
Rio Tinto Exposed
Rio Tinto, the world's biggest mining company, was challenged by Friends of the Earth for damaging the livelihood of local communities near the Kelian Gold Mine in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The community are still waiting for a full public apology from Rio Tinto following the National Commission on Human Rights findings that mine staff were responsible for sexually abusing members of the community.
Chairman Robert Wilson has promised to look into and respond to Friends of the Earth's questioning.
British Aerospace Exposed
Weapons manufacturer, British Aerospace (BAe) were exposed at their AGM for manufacture of depleted uranium shells. Depleted uranium is believed to have been used by the British Army during the Iraq war.
Depleted uranium lingers for many years in the soil and water of countries where it has been used. It is claimed that depleted uranium can cause cancers or birth defects.
Friends of the Earth demanded to know what research BAe had done to assess the health and environmental impacts of the depleted uranium used in its weapons.
Who are the 10 Worst Corporations at Labour Party Conference 2002 and Why?
(PDF† 1.04MB) September 2002
This report by exposes the destructive activities of the "terrible ten" - the worst corporations giving financial backing to the Labour Party Conference 2002.
BAT Exposed
Friends of the Earth joined forces with the UK Burma Campaign to expose British American Tobacco (BAT) for collaborating with a military regime in Burma.
Workers in BAT's factories are deprived of basic rights and are living in working in unsafe and unhealthy environments.
Friend of the Earth also exposed ex-minister Kenneth Clarke, now Director of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for BAT. He had not even heard of the senior person running BAT's operations in Burma, which is surprising considering it is probably one of the most corrupt countries in the world and where most CSR efforts should lie.
And elsewhere...?
Of course, these aren't the only bad companies in the world. For more information on the full range - see:
UK plc: AGM Season
(PDF† 190K) April 2003
An introduction to Friends of the Earth's activities at Annual General Meetings throughout Spring 2003. Contains a list of the companies being targetted and the reasons why.
Images © Calliste Lelliott/Friends of the Earth, Nick Cobbing/Friends of the Earth, Balthazar Serreaul/Friends of the Earth
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