Things To Watch For
* We cooperate with the Austin-based organization, Campaign ExxonMobil. It has taken on the seemingly impossible
task of getting the fossils fuel giant for which it's named to admit that global warming is a reality. They do
this in various ways, which include assisting us find support for our resolutions. This year one of their strategies
is to attract the attention of ExxonMobil board members. Some of you participated in a recent activity that resulted
in directing some 3,000 messages to these people. Watch for further CEM initiatives and help them where you can.
Their Web site is www.campaignexxonmobil.org.
* Many progressive organizations are concerned that globalization efforts-without labor, environment, and other
safeguards-are about to be seriously escalated. Watch attempts to originate and extend free trade agreements and,
in particular, early efforts to provide the President with "fast track" authority by which he can make
these deals without having to be concerned about pesky amendments from Congress. An organization that helps us
keep tabs on this is Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch with a Web site at www.tradewatch.org.
* Religious investor dialog is proceeding with several major pharmaceutical companies. This office has sat in on
meetings with Merck and others with Johnson & Johnson are scheduled for early February. The principal issue
at present is the ability of the poor to access their products. The real action (or lack thereof) on these matters
at this time, however, appears to be in Washington. Watch how these companies' agendas play out as the government,
with several former drug executives in top positions, gets down to business again.
