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07606 September 24, 2007
GAC approves further engagement with companies doing business in Sudan
Action is aimed at depriving Sudanese government of funds
by Evan Silverstein Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Council (GAC) approved action during a meeting here Friday (Sept. 21) supporting the denomination's campaign of phased selective divestment of certain multinational corporations doing business with the government of Sudan.
The PC(USA)'s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) was urged to continue its engagement of companies in which the denomination owns stock and are recommended for "ongoing engagement" by the Washington-based Sudan Divestment Task Force.
The GAC recommended that MRTI, which monitors
PC(USA)-related investments to ensure they are socially responsible and consistent with General Assembly policies, continue ongoing engagement with these companies through correspondence in coordination with the task force.
The corporate engagement campaign is designed to pressure certain companies to leave Sudan, where the government is accused of arming Janjaweed militia blamed for widespread rapes and killings of Darfur civilians.
The PC(USA) has been involved in the Sudan for sometime through partnerships with Sudanese churches and ecumenical bodies, mission personnel, presbytery partnerships, the Sudan Mission Network, public policy advocacy and corporate social responsibility through MRTI.
MRTI's work in Sudan began in earnest in 2003 at the beginning of a war led by the Sudanese government against people of indigenous beliefs and Christian faith in southern Sudan.
More recently the war against civilians in Darfur by the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed has gained international attention and has been labeled a genocide by the United States government.
The conflict in Darfur, which has left between 200,000 to 400,000 people dead with hundreds of thousands displaced, has raised questions about investments in companies doing business in Sudan. Such business dealings invariably benefit the Sudanese government.
The issue has come to light especially on college and university campuses and among a few religious institutions that have in the past used a divestment strategy as a form of protest.
At the PC(USA)'s 217th General Assembly in 2006, two overtures were considered that called for the initiation of a process of "phased, selective divestment" related to companies doing business in Sudan. In recognition of the urgent nature of the situation, the GA authorized the GAC to take action on MRTI recommendations prior to next summer's General Assembly in San Jose, CA.
The 18 companies listed by the Sudan Divestment Task Force for ongoing engagement, in order of most concern, are: Videocon, PTT Exploration and Production (A.K.A.), Pertamina (PT Pertamina Persero) Nam Fatt, Bollore Group, Man AG, ICSA, Sojitz, Concordia Maritime, Alcatel-Lucent, Petrobras (Petroleo Brasileiro), White Nile Petroleum, Nippon Yusen (NYK Line), Marubeni Corp., Total SA, Schlumberger, Rolls Royce, and Cummins Inc.
Among these, stock is held by the PC(USA) in only four companies: Petrobras, Total, Schlumberger and Rolls Royce.
Total currently owns an oil block but is not actively using it. Schlumberger has pledged "substantial action" that merits continued monitoring, and Rolls Royce is winding down its Sudan operations and requires follow up until the withdrawal is complete. More information is needed about the operations of Petrobras, according to the Sudan Divestment Task Force.
MRTI will pursue engagement with these four to assist in the effort to clarify that the companies are not supporting the government's genocide practices.
The GAC authorized MRTI to provide a link on its Web page to the Web site of the Sudan Divestment Task Force, www.sudandivestment.org, where congregations, Presbyterian-related institutions and individual members can obtain information about companies involved in Sudan.
The GAC also expressed its appreciation that the Presbyterian Board of Pensions, the Presbyterian Foundation, and its New Covenant Trust Company and New Covenant Funds, do not own securities in 23 companies currently listed on the "Highest Offenders" ranking by the task force.
In other action, the GAC:
Authorized MRTI to file or co-file shareholder resolutions with Carnival Corp. regarding a code to protect children from sexual exploitation; ITT Industries requesting a report on its foreign military sales; and United Technologies on including ethical criteria for its military-related contracts. GAC was also informed that Hilton Hotels Corp. has responded to MRTI's efforts to discuss taking steps in combating child sex trafficking spurred by the tourism industry with two phone calls and one letter. However, the hotel chain has not agreed to meet with MRTI, which has been attempting to engage Hilton in dialogue since October. Approved a recommendation to appoint two GAC-elected members or former GAC members to four-year terms who, together with the voting members of the United States Advisory Committee of the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP), will constitute a governance commission for the JMP. The JMP is an endowed ecumenical program of the PC(USA) supporting ongoing initiatives that benefit Armenians in need in Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Jerusalem. The commission shall act on behalf of the GAC in all matters that will authorize and facilitate the implementation of the program, such as approval of annual budgets, election of local (country) advisory committees, engaging in new program initiatives, reviewing and modifying staffing patterns. The commission shall submit an annual report to the GAC. "We all believe that mission of ours is for the benefit of the very poor and the very needy throughout the work that we do," said Michael Haratunian, chairman of the JMP's United States Advisory Committee, who spoke during the meeting. "So thank you very much. The decisions that you made today will enhance and contribute to what we do."
Thanked the Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory for 18 years of service as director of the Presbyterian Washington Office, offering blessings to her as she departs next month to accept a call as the new director of the Geneva-based World Council of Church's Public Witness: Addressing Power and Affirming Peace program area. Was informed that its Justice and Compassion Committee met jointly with the Shared Support Committee to review a five-year plan for disbursement of Hurricane Katrina funds.
Was informed that the Justice and Compassion Committee is requesting that the Mission Work Plan Team address the need for environmental justice to be included in the work of 2009-2010 and is requesting that the GAC staff advise and recommend to the GAC at its February meeting an interim way of handling the work.
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