The following includes companies for which the Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB) acts as representative for the Camilla Madden Charitable Trust (CMCT). All corporate proxies are voted by the PAB or by Adrian Dominican Sister volunteers.

Shareholder Action

Adrian Dominican Sisters Corporate Responsibility Portfolio Advisory Board
Issues and Companies – Winter 2011

Reflecting the Vision: seek truth, make peace, reverence life

Access to Health Care
The PAB works with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to advocate with large employers on universal health care policy. This has been addressed with Abbott Laboratories, Ford Motor, Target, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Walmart.

The General Council of the Adrian Dominicans has endorsed ICCR's Health Care Princples.

HIV/AIDS: Gilead - a biotech company that focuses on drugs for infectious diseases, is aggressively licensing its HIV medications in low income countries, allowing for generic production. Gilead has set the benchmark for generic licenses through Patent Pools.

Antibiotics in Food Animals

The PAB and ICCR have been working with companies in the meat sectors on the issue of routine sub-therapeutic application of antibiotics to livestock. This approach of sustained ingestion of antibiotics endangers human health by contributing to the creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and diminishing the efficacy of antibiotics when used to address human illness.

PAB continues to engage in dialogue with Hormel Foods. In 2010 resolutions were filed with Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods. With constructive dialogue, the resolution was withdrawn from Smithfield Foods. Following the 2010 Shareholders meeting, Tyson also met us in dialogue. We are especially impressed with Smithfield Food’s Antibiotic Policy in their 2009-2010 CSR Report—the strongest and most promising Antibiotic Policy offered in the sector.

Resources:

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Pew Charitable Trusts

The New York Times

Contract Suppliers/Sweatshops
The PAB continues to engage Walmart Stores regarding sustainable wages. A sustainable wage meets basic needs, including food, clothing, housing, energy, transportation, healthcare and education of workers and their families. It provides sufficient money to enable participation in cultural activities, as well as enough discretionary income to support the development of small businesses in local communities where workers live. The PAB, along with other members of the ICCR, continues to monitor progress regarding corporate governance, human rights issues, sustainable wages, and independent monitoring.

The PAB is also engaged in dialogue with Nike regarding factories in Honduras and the worker relief fund.

Corporate Governance
This year the PAB is in dialogue with Cisco Systems, Inc. regarding pay disparity among top executives and lowest paid workers in the U.S. and internationally.

Energy and Environment

CMCT co-filed a resolution with Green Century and Trillium Asset Management. The resolution to FirstEnergy was regarding the storage of Coal Combustion Waste (CCW). A dialogue followed and the company agreed to adopt a policy of dry storage (compared to the present practice of wet storage in open ponds). The resolution was withdrawn. The week following the withdrawal, FirstEnergy announced the probable acquisition of Allegany Energy, a heavy polluter. CMCT and the other filers have continued to dialogue with the company to insure that the policies of FirstEnergy apply to the new assets. 

Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity on Boards of Directors
Home Depot, Inc. received an Equal Employment Opportunity resolution from the Camilla Madden Charitable Trust, asking for a report on EEO data as required by the Equal Employment Opportunitiy Commission. When a corporate board has no representation of women or minorities, the PAB withholds support for the board during proxy voting.

CMCT resolution with Home Depot gained greated shareholder support yet. In its sixth year, the resolution received 27% support.

Global Warming/Climate Change
The PAB advocates for greater fuel efficiency with Ford Motor Company; and for renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions with ExxonMobil Corporation (received 31% vote!).

Resources:
Investor Network on Climate Risk

Consumers can check out the greenest cars for this model year.

Human Rights
The PAB supports the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), in its efforts to get growers to pay an increase of a penny-a-pound to tomato harversters; to establish an independent monitoring system, to implement a stronger code of conduct based on worker participation, and to establish a collaborative, third-party mechanism for monitoring workers’ complaints of abuse.

To date, the CIW has acquired agreements with Taco Bell; McDonald’s Corp.; Burger King; Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.; Whole Foods Market, Inc.; and Subway.           

Genetically Engineered Seed and Foods
Environmental, health and social concerns remain about the long-term impacts of genetically engineered seed and foods, particularly on those most disadvantaged.

The use of food crops to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals heightens concerns. Over the past 10 years, the PAB has led shareholder initiatives with Anheuser Busch; Dow Chemical; McDonald’s; General Mills; PepsiCo; Safeway; and Wendy’s International, Inc.

Resources:
In June 2006, the global alliance, Action by Churches Together, took a stand in support of the right to know whether there are genetically engineered ingredients in the food purchased, and endorsed a precautionary approach. 

Faith-Based Conceptual Framework on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture.

The No Harm organization provides consumers with information on green purchases.

Militarism and Violence in Our Society
Best Buy, responding to shareholder work of the PAB and others, implements its policy regarding the sale of Mature-rated games to children and teens through training employees; monitoring for compliance; and posting the policy on the website.

Modern Slavery Report

Following Nucorp’s adoption practices to ensure no forced labor in its pig iron supply chain. The PAB third year resolution with the company was withdrawn.

Persistent Toxins and Hormone Disrupters
Health and environmental issues associated with the use of PVC (polyvinyl chloride, #3 plastic) include the toxic by-products formed during the production and disposal, as well as with the additives used to make the plastic flexible. The PAB has engaged with Baxter International; Best Buy; and Hasbro, Inc.

Resources:
Health Care without Harm

Healthy Building Network

The Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products

Predatory Credit Card Practices
PAB has engaged Citigroup in dialogues. The company continues to monitor implementation of new federal regulations & Credit Card Holders' Bill of Rights; pushing company to define "predatory lending".

Sustainable Forestry
Certification by Forest Stewardship Council in sustainable forestry practices is the focus with Meredith Corporation; Kimberly-Clark; and Procter and Gamble. With Kimberly-Clark there is particular concern about use of Canadian Boreal forests timber.

The PAB continues to engage Costco on the issue of sustainable seafood procurement. Along with other shareholders, The PAB has been in dialogue regarding Costco’s new statement on “Seafood and Sustainability”. We were very pleased to learn that the company is ceasing the sale of several at-risk species. Furthermore, we commend Costco for formalizing a relationship with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with the specific purpose of leveraging the organization’s expertise to help the company with its sustainable seafood procurement. These are important and praiseworthy commitments.

Tobacco-free
The Adrian Dominicans do not invest in any tobacco products. In concert with that criteria, the PAB supports dialogue with Time Warner for an end to smoking in movies.

Water
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can have a very negative impact on surrounding water systems. The PAB has engaged with Hormel Foods to report on the environmental impacts of livestock operations.

Water Sustainability
PAB engaged both Chevron and Coca Cola Company in dialogues. While engaging Coca Cola Company, PAB applauds rights-based approach to water; and expressed continuing concern about company's operations in water-stressed areas & lack of transparency about water use.

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