Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility Defines Past, Present, and Future of Shareowner Activism

NEW YORK, NY//March 7, 2008///Corporate Watchdog Radio co-hosts Francesca Rheannon and Bill Baue speak with Laura Berry, executive director of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Founded in 1971, ICCR pioneered the modern practice of shareowner activism by reviving an obscure rule allowing shareowners to file resolutions addressing social and environmental issues at company annual meetings and on their proxies. Now, over three-and-a-half decades later, ICCR is a coalition of about 275 faith-based institutional investors with over $100 billion in assets who filed over 300 resolutions this proxy season. Berry clarifies common misconceptions about how the ins and outs of shareowner activism. For example, media accounts often report a less-than-majority vote as a "defeat," when in fact, companies often implement what resolutions request when they receive 20 percent or more support. She also discusses transformations she sees taking place in the corporate social responsibility landscape. To download the full transcript, click here.

Corporate Watchdog Radio is a weekly 28-minute program with news and interviews on corporate accountability, environmental sustainability, and socially responsible finance. Co-hosted and co-produced by environmental attorney/filmmaker Sanford Lewis and journalists Bill Baue and Francesca Rheannon, who write for SocialFunds.com. It airs on Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP Northampton, MA--valleyfreeradio.org) every Wednesday afternoon.

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