Jesuit Shareholders Appeal to Chevron
17 Apr 2009
by: Sean Agniel
In a recent letter, Jesuit Superior General Fr. Adolfo Nicolás reflected on the universal nature of Jesuit vocation and apostolic response:
“So many of the issues that concern us, that affect our ministries and challenge our apostolic discernment, are of a universal character…We have been and are involved in corporate responses to issue that have a universal scope such as migration and refugees, advocacy and networking on social issues, ecology, and sustainable development.” (2009/04, Feb 19, 2009)
The National Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (NJCIR) has found that one strategy to address issues of a universal nature has been shareholder advocacy. While our actual influence with foreign governments in lesser developed countries is minimal, we can utilize our investments to have direct access to North American corporations that have operations in these regions.
On May 27, the Jesuit-led resolution will again be considered at Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting. In the weeks prior to the meeting, Chevron stockholders will be casting their votes regarding this resolution. We petition all Jesuit institutions and friends of the Society to engage in two actions: (1) If you own Chevron stock, vote FOR the Jesuit-led shareholder resolution to develop a Human Rights policy (Item # 9 on the Proxy Ballot); (2) Pray that decision-makers at Chevron corporate leadership may see that their social license and long-term interest are best served by protecting human life and promoting the human potential of host communities.
In lands which are resource-rich, the rewards of these natural gifts have not been shared by all and almost paradoxically mineral wealth often worsens the living standards of people located near the resources. The title of an extensive November, 2006 report by the Nigerian Catholic Bishops says it all, “The Travesty of Oil and Gas Wealth.” Through civil conflicts, corruption and environmental damage, conditions of host communities often deteriorate. Royalties and rents paid to the central governments are often misdirected, lost or wasted. Sometimes civilians are caught in the violent clashes between armed factions, including contracted security forces which are needed to put down any threat to company operations. While host governments have a responsibility to their own citizens, multinational companies also have a vital role given their influence and their sizeable footprint in these regions. The religious community brings the earned trust of host communities and can help provide a space for dialogue on issues.
U.S. and Canadian Jesuit Provinces are united in our shareholder advocacy promoting human rights and sustainable water use practices. Jesuit provinces are currently leading shareholder engagements with Chevron, OM Group, Monsanto, Occidental Petroleum and we will soon be engaging a new company regarding their stewardship of water.
Led by the Wisconsin Jesuits, the shareholder dialogue with Chevron has been underway since 2004. We respectfully encourage Chevron to adopt and deploy a transparent, verifiable and comprehensive human rights policy to govern their exploratory, extractive, refining and distribution operations in the 180 countries where they operate. We maintain that human rights must include provisions for: sustainable development, consent of host communities, environmental stewardship, human rights training for employees and contracted security providers, and healthcare access. Our shareholder votes have been increasing over the years, most recently winning a 28% FAVORABLE vote for our resolution at the 2008 annual meeting. In addition, our list of filers has grown to now include 35 religious institutional investors as well as the support of independent proxy evaluation groups who agree with us that such policy is simultaneously good ethics and serves the long term business interest of Chevron, not to mention the host communities affected by their operations.
Due to Chevron’s presence in Burma, Nigeria and other volatile regions, the company has been under increased public scrutiny regarding their human rights record.
We are thankful for the U.S. and Canadian Jesuit provincials who have fully supported this effort, as well as the other religious and social investors who have co-sponsored our Human Rights resolutions over the years including Creighton University, Marquette University, University of San Francisco, Loyola University Chicago, Gesu Parish (Milwaukee) and Marquette University High School. We are also grateful to the China Province Jesuits who filed their support on the current resolution. We pray that business decision-makers within and beyond the energy sector, may see that their social license and long-term interests are best served by protecting human life and promoting the human potential of host communities.
Please consider inviting your school, parish, religious community or organization to join the Jesuit shareholder advocacy effort through prayer and action. Visit www.njcir.org to learn more about the Jesuit commitment to socially responsible investing. You may contact your NJCIR provincial representative at any time to explore further collaboration.
Prayer:
Gracious God,
You gifted the earth with bountiful gifts –
gifts you intended to be shared equitably among all your peoples.
You crowned the splendor of creation with the gift of human life,
endowing each person with a measure of your own divine dignity.
Bless the efforts of those who work to insure that all share fairly in
your wondrous gifts.
Bless the efforts of those who work to insure that the dignity of all
your beloved children is protected and revered.
Move the hearts of those with power – corporate and civic leaders – to understand their responsibility to effect just policies and to be wise stewards of your gifts.
May all persons of faith be tireless advocates for those who lack a voice in our world and may we all work unceasingly for the dawning of that justice without which there cannot be true and lasting peace. Amen.
National Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (NJCIR)
Mr. Sean Agniel (for the Missouri Province, sagniel@jesuits-mis.org)
Mr. Mark Potter (for the California Province)
Rev. Richard L. Millbourn, S.J. (Chicago Province)
Ms. Carrie Nantais (for the Detroit Province)
Rev. Michael Linden, S.J. (New England Province)
Ms. Mary Baudouin (for the New Orleans Province)
Rev. Mark Hallinan, S.J. (New York, and for the Maryland Provinces)
Mr. Matthew Johnson (for the Oregon Province)
Mr. John Sealey (for the Wisconsin Province)
Rev. Winston Rye, S.J. (Jesuits in English Canada)
Ms. Anna Bradley (Jesuit Conference Consultant for Socially Responsible Investing)
Mr. John Kleiderer (Jesuit Conference Liaison)
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