A boycott of major corporations to accomplish such goals may seem unlikely to succeed given the size of the firms involved. And, this is an unusual step to reach such specific objectives.
Further, we recognize the deep seriousness of action that can affect people's livelihoods.
Nevertheless, we feel compelled to undertake this step because of the continuing failure of the U.S. Congress to (1) face up to the gross suffering and violations of human rights being caused by the war and (2) respond to the growing dissatisfaction with war among the American people. The boycott is appropriate because this Congress appears to be most interested in satisfying the demands of major corporations.
Seeing The Light
In addition to the specific goals just mentioned, the boycott intends to demonstrate that:
Let's Try a Little Enlightened Corporate Democracy
We have written to ExxonMobil, urging it to publicly endorse the goals of the boycott and to engage its full lobbying force to achieve the goals. (ExxonMobil reports spending $7.7 million on lobbying in 2004.) And, we have written to the nine consumer products firms that have board members in common with ExxonMobil, urging them to endorse the boycott goals and to persuade ExxonMobil to do so.
Novartis is the only corporation to respond:
See Novartis' response (dated November 28, 2005)
See our reply to their response (dated December 21, 2005)
Novartis' most recent reply (dated January 20, 2006)
Ethical guidance is among the responsibilities of corporate board members, and the U.N. Human Rights Commission notes that corporations have the obligation to "promote, secure the fulfillment of, respect, ensure respect of and protect human rights recognized in international as well as national law, including the rights and interestes of indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups."
www.globalpolicy.org
We have provided a copy of our letter to Dr. Henry A. McKinnell Jr., Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc., who sits on the ExxonMobil board of directors. You may wish to use it as a sample in writing your own letter to him, other ExxonMobil board members, or Lee Raymond, head of ExxonMobil. We have listed all the ExxonMobil board members, with addresses.
After Jan. 1, 2006, address your letters to Rex Tillerson, currently president of ExxonMobil, who will replace Mr. Raymond as ExxonMobil's chair and CEO.
( Note: ExxonMobil, Pfizer and Novartis are among 220 companies, keen on doing business in Iraq, that sent representatives to a "procurement" conference in London in 2004 that was praised by a Novartis official as "the most productive, practical and successful business event" in a series of "reconstruction events". www.antiwar.com/ips/suri.php?articleid=2434
All three firms avow respect for human rights. Novartis is most specific: "Novartis does not engage in or benefit from war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, torture, forced disappearance, forced or compulsory labor, hostage-taking, other violations of humanitarian law or other international crimes against the human person as defined by international law.")
Fallujah Says it all
FALLUJAH - In 2004 the United States destroyed Fallujah. It was a war crime and a crime against humanity. This action typifies the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. This video shows what happened, and what continues to happen daily if on a smaller scale.
Watch the video preview of
"Caught in the Crossfire".
ConsumersForPeace.org, through the ExxonMobil War Boycott, is working to stop the killing in Iraq; to end the United States' occupation of Iraq; and to bring the perpetrators of the war to justice.
To assist you in boycotting ExxonMobil and firms connected to it through its board of directors, you may wish to have Democracy Dollars.
You may wish to write to the ExxonMobil Board of Directors
