Reports, Resistance, and Resolutions Make Chevron Shareholders Question
Oil Giant's Vitality
Community Members, Richmond Mayor, Indigenous Leaders, Veterans, Shareholders, Among Groups That Surround Chevron Inside and Out
May 27, 2009
An Alternative Annual Report
San Ramon – Chevron shareholders were given a full account of the true
costs of Chevron's global operations by a delegation of representatives
of Chevron affected communities from the across the nation and around
the world. Outside supporters filled the entryway, closing Chevron's
front gate with a vibrant rally.
Representatives from Nigeria, Ecuador, Richmond and the
Philippines, were joined inside by those representing communities from
Burma, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Alberta to present to shareholders an
alternative annual report, The True Cost of Chevron.
"In response to our presence, Chevron offered no answers to our
substantive concerns, but rather continued its misinformation campaign
to shareholders, employees, and the public by trying to keep the true
cost of its human rights and environmental liabilities off its balance
sheet," said Antonia Juhasz, lead author editor of the report.
Chevron's CEO David O'Reilly, who said that he had heard of the report,
sent a clear message to Chevron affected communities around the world,
telling them that their grievances with the oil giant "are an insult to
Chevron employees, and should be thrown in the trash."
"When presented with the factual evidence of people suffering
in Kazakhstan as a result of a Chevron's operations, O'Reilly ignored
the issues and hid instead behind hurt personal feelings," stated
Michelle Kinman of Crude Accountability.
"Chevron chose to turn a deaf ear to the communities who bear
the crippling consequences of its operations," said Paul Donowitz of
EarthRights International. "Chevron's complicity in human rights abuses
in Burma, the billions in project revenues flowing to the brutal
Burmese military junta who use these profits to oppress their own
people are more evidence that this is a company that cares for only one
thing – its bottom line."
"Chevron's management is burying its head in the sand on the
company's environmental liability in Ecuador while Chevron's board is
shirking its fiduciary duty to shareholders," said Atossa Soltani of
Amazon Watch. "The board is asleep at the wheel and allowing Chevron
management to mishandle this case."
"Chevron's response is emblematic of its approach to local
communities—a systemic disregard and mockery of the communities in
which it operates," said Mayor Gayle McLaughlin of Richmond,
California.
"David O'Reilly showed nothing but disrespect to all those who
traveled from around the world to address the shareholder meeting,"
said Tunde Okorodudu, human rights activist from the Niger Delta.
"Chevron has done nothing but enable the culture of violence that now
permeates my region."
Christine Cordero of Filipino/American Coalition for
Environmental Solidarity said, "While our communities suffer from
Chevrons toxic emissions, catastrophic spills, leakages, and
explosions, David O'Reilly speaks of his hurt feelings. This is about
the health of communities and, ultimately, the long term of health of
O'Reilly's corporation if he continues to choose to do nothing and
ignore the costs of Chevron's operations in the Philippines."
While O'Reilly tried to quiet deep shareholder concerns,
outside members of Bay Area Iraq Veterans Against the War,
Unconventional Action, Bay Area Rising Tide, Communities for a Better
Environment, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, the Burmese
Democratic Club, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, and many
more made sure their concerns could not be ignored. Once the
representatives of the Chevron affected communities entered the gates,
some groups blocked the front gates of Chevron world headquarters in
solidarity with the global and local struggles against Chevron. The
rally occupied the front entrance and continued until the shareholder
meeting concluded and the community representatives came out, addressed
the crowd, and concluded with a chant "we will be back!"
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