Blog Archives

The Coal Industry Collapsed—Is Oil Next?

Co.EXIST — July 21, 2016 — Five years ago, if you had asked someone in the coal industry about the future, they would have predicted growth—and ignored a nonprofit report arguing that the industry was … MORE >

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Shareholders press Yum for stricter antibiotics policy

Rueters — August 9, 2016 — Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N) investors on Tuesday filed a shareholder proposal requesting that it quickly phase out harmful antibiotic use in its meat supply, taking aim at the practices … MORE >

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Toyota tops list of greenest companies for clean energy revenue

edie.net — August 15, 2016 — Automotive giant Toyota has beaten Siemens, Schneider Electrics and Panasonic to the top spot of the first Carbon Clean 200 rankings, which lists the world’s largest publicly listed companies … MORE >

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Turning the Carbon Bubble Inside Out

EcoWatch — August 15, 2016 — Our global economy is undergoing the “Great Transition” from an energy system based on fossil fuels to one based on clean, renewable energy sources and technologies. So as longtime advocates for a … MORE >

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Toyota, Tesla and Vestas ranked among world’s top green companies

The Guardian — August 15, 2016 — Toyota, Tesla, Vestas, DONG Energy and Panasonic are among the top ranked companies in the first ever Carbon Clean 200 list, which claims the world’s greenest large companies are outperforming … MORE >

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Success And Shareholders — Why Companies Should Engage

Forbes — July 24, 2016 — We believe that most of the world’s environmental and human rights issues can be resolved by increased corporate responsibility and that shareholders are the single most powerful force for … MORE >

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Disney revenue rises 9 percent on success of ‘The Jungle Book’

The Washington Post — August 9, 2016 —  Yum Brands investors on Tuesday filed a shareholder proposal requesting that it quickly phase out harmful antibiotic use in its meat supply, taking aim at the practices of the … MORE >

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The Need To Stop McDonald’s Routine Use Of Antibiotics

Blue & Green Tomorrow — August 12, 2016 — Responsible investment charity ShareAction has launched an online action enabling people to email Steve Easterbrook, the CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, calling on him to stop the routine use … MORE >

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Consumer Groups Push KFC to Stop Routine Antibiotic Use in Its Chicken

Fortune — August 10, 2016 — Consumer groups will deliver a petition from more than 350,000 people to the KFC restaurant chain on Wednesday, calling on the Yum Brands  YUM 0.32% unit to stop the routine use of antibiotics … MORE >

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RELEASE: Green Companies Outperform Dirty Energy Companies 3 To 1, Report Finds

As You Sow – AUGUST 15, 2016 – As You Sow and Corporate Knights today released the inaugural version of the Carbon Clean 200TM (Clean200TM), a list of 200 clean energy companies showing a simulated annualized … MORE >

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RELEASE: As You Sow Files Proposal with Yum! Brands on Antibiotics Misuse

As You Sow – August 9, 2016 – Today, shareholders filed a proposal with Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), requesting that it quickly phase out harmful antibiotic use in its meat supply chain. … MORE >

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One-Third Southern Company shareholders vote for more renewable energy

Atlanta Progressive News – May 28, 2016 — One-third of Southern Company shareholders voted for the Company to move more quickly from coal to renewable energy sources at a recent meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

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Investor scorecard illustrates rising importance of transparency

Midland Reporter-Telegram – Feb. 11, 2016 – Regulators are not the only ones closely watching how operators are producing oil and natural gas.

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Report: Most oil companies score low on fracking disclosures

Fuel Fix – Dec. 17, 2015 – A small group of oil and gas companies have gotten better at disclosing the health and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing, according to a report card for … MORE >

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RELEASE: American Retirement Funds are Destroying Rainforests

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 26, 2016 – A new transparency tool, “Deforestation Free Funds,” shows which global mutual funds contain palm-oil-related holdings, the fastest growing cause of rainforest destruction today. Friends of the Earth and As You … MORE >

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STATEMENT: Recent Police Killings of Black Suspects and Lethal Retaliation Against Police

July 19, 2016 – Oakland, CA – This statement was prompted by video evidence released showing police officers killing Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, following a line … MORE >

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RELEASE: Oil Industry Fundamentals “Weakening” Under Structural Pressure

July 13, 2016 – Higher extraction costs. International supply competition. Falling profit margins. Mounting debt. Shrinking cash. Competing technologies. Rising regulatory risk. Social pressure due to climate change. Indicators are now flashing yellow for the … MORE >

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The Power of a Shareholder Proxy

Yahoo Finance – February 19, 2016 – If you own stock in a publicly traded company, you’ll soon receive an email or package in the mail. Either will announce important issues up for a vote … MORE >

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Coalition Creates Guide For Green Muni Bonds

Financial Advisor – Coalition Creates Guide For Green Muni Bonds – July 30, 2015 – As municipal bonds have become an integral part of the environmentally conscious “green bonds” movement, a group of investment and advocacy … MORE >

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Green Bond Investment Reach $600 Billion

Green Biz – July 17, 2015 – Even before all the data was in, we knew that 2014 was a somewhat unexpectedly s trong year for green bonds.

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RELEASE: Shareholders Urge Freeport-McMoran to Reduce Impacts of Urban Fracking

June 8, 2016 – Socially responsible investment firm Newground Social Investment, in partnership with shareholder advocacy group As You Sow (AYS), filed a shareholder proposal with Freeport-McMoRan asking the Company to report on steps it is … MORE >

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CA Philanthropist Keeps BlackRock On Defensive With CEO Pay Shareholder Vote

Huffington Post – May 5, 2016 –  At Wednesday’s New York shareholder meeting for BlackRock, the global investment management behemoth, it was anything but business as usual. In the first minutes of the meeting, immediately … MORE >

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ExxonMobil Faces Showdown with Shareholders over Climate Change

Scientific American – May 25, 2016 – For years, Exxon Mobil Corp. has held its annual meeting here in a cavernous symphony hall downtown, where shareholders today will discuss the company’s future and cast their … MORE >

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RELEASE: Shareholders to Southern Company: Transition from Coal to Low-Carbon Business Model

Atlanta, GA – May 25, 2016 – Shareholder resolutions filed at Southern Company by shareholder advocacy group, As You Sow, and faith-based investor coalition, the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment (“Tri-State CRI”) sent Southern Company’s … MORE >

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RELEASE: Groundbreaking As You Sow Shareholder Resolution Pushes Oil Companies to Drop Barrel Based Reporting

Oakland, CA – May 25, 2016 – Today, at ExxonMobil’s Annual General Meeting, shareholders will vote on what could prove to be the beginning of a sea change in how big oil companies look at … MORE >

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RELEASE: Shareholders Repudiate Dr Pepper Snapple’s Weak Recycling Goal

Oakland, CA – May 25, 2016 – Shareholders repudiated a weak recycling goal set in February by soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group by voting in even stronger numbers than last year for an As … MORE >

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Here’s Why We Can’t Rely on Shareholders to Fix CEO Pay

The Nation – May 4, 2016 – BlackRock, the top money manager in the world, claims to want to link performance with executive compensation. But its actions tell a different story.        

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BlackRock slammed over too many votes for high pay

Financial Times – May 22, 2016 – Seventy-five thousand people have signed a petition urging BlackRock to overhaul its approach towards pay over fears the world’s largest asset manager is too soft on excessive remuneration at … MORE >

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A Millionaire is Telling BlackRock to Say No to Big CEO Pay

Bloomberg – May 20, 2016 – Stephen Silberstein is fed up with elite complacency, corporate fat cats and self-dealing. And he’s threatening to make himself heard at the ballot box.

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Energy reserves proposal has Chevron over a barrel

San Francisco Chronicle – May 23, 2016 – Oil companies measure their global petroleum reserves in terms of barrels — the more, the better, as far as Wall Street is concerned.

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RELEASE: Nearly 40 Percent of Entergy Shareholders Demand Clean Energy Transition

New Orleans – May 11, 2016 – A shareholder resolution filed at Entergy by corporate responsibility group As You Sow and Arjuna Capital, a division of Baldwin Brothers Inc., received strong support from 37% of … MORE >

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Executive pay ‘rubber stamping’ rife

Financial Times – May 8, 2016 – Pot, kettle, black — three words that typically describe hypocritical behaviour crop up frequently when discussing investor attitudes to executive pay.

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Danielle Fugere: Avoiding the Fossil Fuel Cliff

Responsible Investor – May 9, 2016 – It is becoming clear to shareholders and companies alike this proxy season that “business as usual” is no longer a viable strategy for 21st century businesses. Recognizing the … MORE >

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Big Pharma Under Pressure to Pay For Drug Take-Back Programs

Fortune – April 30, 2016 – More laws requiring Big Pharma to take financial responsibility. On Saturday, April 30, the Drug Enforcement Agency calls on Americans to “safely” dispose of unused and unwanted medications. As part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back … MORE >

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RELEASE: Hershey Shareholders Vote on Nanomaterials Proposal at Annual Meeting; As You Sow Proposal Addresses Health Concerns

As You Sow Release – May 4, 2016 – Shareholders sent a message today to Hershey’s calling for the company to disclose information about its use of nanomaterials in food products and packaging. At the company’s … MORE >

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Non-profit Urges Big Pharma to Take Responsibility for Drug Take Back Programs

BioPharma DIVE – April 27, 2016 – The non-profit “As You Sow” is spearheading an effort to make pharmaceutical companies responsible for disposal of unused drugs, with support from socially responsible investment funds. Some of the … MORE >

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Profits are Down at ExxonMobil, but Don’t Cry for CEO Rex Tillerson

The Washington Post – April 29, 2016 –  After 10 years at the helm of the world’s biggest publicly owned oil company, Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex W. Tillerson has had mostly gloomy news for shareholders … MORE >

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Adjectives for shareholder advocates? How about strategic, impactful

GreenBiz – January 13, 2016 – I thank Bob Langert for adding to the discussion of shareholder advocacy in his recent GreenBiz article on shareholder proposals.  Shareholder advocacy is a complex and nuanced undertaking, and Langert … MORE >

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Activists call for Oreo, Chips Ahoy packaging to be recyclable

Chicago Tribune – May 30, 2016 – Some Oreo and Chips Ahoy packaging isn’t recyclable and often ends up in the ocean where it harms marine life, according to a shareholder activist group pushing manufacturer Mondelez International to take action … MORE >

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America Recycles Day Should Be Every Day

Huffington Post – Dec. 2, 2015 America Recycles Day came and went without much fanfare this year. Yet it is still a powerful reminder to us not only how far recycling has come since it … MORE >

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