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[pf] Fw: [WIS-CO]FW: NADER SPEAKS OUT FOR THE U'WA
by Jill Taylor Bussiere
20 November 2000 22:10 UTC

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> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> --------------------
> As U'wa President Roberto Perez travels through New England to meet with
> activists, students and community groups to educate and garner
international support for their ongoing struggle against Occidental
Petroleum, consumer advocate, Ralph Nader has once again spoken out on their
behalf regarding Fidelity Investments' failure to "invest responsibly."
Please read the press release and statement below.
>
> On the heels of incredible activism across the U.S. and around the world,
it
> has become clear over the past few months that Fidelity has divested over
half of its Oxy holdings worth approximately $14 million.  As investors
continue a trend towards investing in socially and environmentally
responsible funds, Fidelity has heard and
> continues to hear the demand that they fall in line with their slogan, "We
> Help You Invest Repsonsibly" and hear the U'was message once and for all;
as U'wa leader Berito Kuwaru'wa stated, "For us, Oil is the Blood of our
mother earth.  The U'wa don't accept this project because it violates our
cultural and territorial principles, it will destroy our healthy
environment, and it will create a zone of armed conflict where the people
most affected will be our communities."
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> ---------------------
>
> In this update:
> 1)  Press Release - Nader speaks out against Fidelity Investments in
support
> of the U'wa people
> 2)  Nader's statement
> 3)  U'wa request for financial support
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> --------------------
> 1)
>
> AMAZON WATCH
> RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK
> PROJECT UNDERGROUND
> ACTION RESOURCE CENTER
>
> For immediate release
>
> Contacts:
> Atossa Soltani, Amazon Watch (310) 455-0617/ (310) 591-2337
>
> NADER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT FIDELITY'S FAILURE
> TO "INVEST RESPONSIBLY"
>
> DEMANDS PROXY ACCOUNTABLITY TO CREATE SOCIAL
> CHANGE FOR THE U'WA PEOPLE
>
> Yesterday, in another hit to one of Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) largest
> investors, Ralph Nader spoke out in support of the U'wa people who have
been fighting
> an eight year non-violent battle against Occidental Petroleum's drilling
> project on their ancestral territory in northeastern Colombia.
>
> Nader, who is a committed consumer rights advocate, demanded that Fidelity
> lift the veil of secrecy from their corporate proxy voting policy so that
Fidelity
> customers are conscious of the environmental and socially irresponsible
projects their
> investments may be funding.
>
> Between January and October 2000, Fidelity was the target of more than 75
> protests over its Occidental holdings, during which time the investment
firm dumped
> over half of its stock in the company ľan estimated $14 million.
Fidelity's divestment
> drops them out of the Oxy shareholder top ten.
>
> Supporters of U'wa also filed a shareholder resolution with Occidental
> Petroleum yesterday, calling on the company to assess the risks and
liabilities of their
> controversial Colombian operations.
> The resolution cites the adverse effects on Occidental's public image due
to
> U'wa opposition, the financial risks of operating in the midst of
Colombia's civil war including increase in security costs, pipeline
shut-downs, and potential liabilities for clean up costs associated with oil
spills; and legal liabilities, including the possibility of criminal or
civil liability, should members of the U'wa tribe or their allies protesting
Occidental's oil project, or innocent bystanders, be injured or killed as a
result of actions by security or military forces acting on behalf of
Occidental.
>
> With the protection of several thousands Colombian soldiers, Occidental
> began drilling its first exploratory well on November 4.  But the U'wa vow
to continue peacefully resistin Oxy's project. "For us, Oil is the Blood of
our mother earth.  The U'wa don't accept this project because it violates
our cultural and territorial principles, it will destroy our healthy
environment, and it will create a zone of armed conflict where the people
most affected will be our communities."
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> -----------
>
> 2)
>
> Nader 2000
> November 16, 2000
>
> CONTACT: Monica Wilson (202) 265-4000
>
> Statement by Ralph Nader on Fidelity Investments, Occidental and the
> U'wa
>
> "On November 1, 2000 I made a public statement about Occidental
> Petroleum and their dreadful mistreatment of the U'wa people. In it, I
> said "I will fight for the U'wa and investor accountability by backing
> a shareholder resolution at the next Annual General Meeting of
> Fidelity Investments-one of the largest shareholders in Occidental
> Petroleum and I urge social and environmental screens as a filter for
> all holdings." I have since learned that the use of the fund's proxies
> in companies they hold remains secret. According to Occidental
> Petroleum's report on March 10, 2000, Fidelity holds over 8% of
> Occidental's stock, though not all of that is through Magellan.
>
> "I want to use the occasion of Roberto Perez's visit to the United
> States to call upon Fidelity to remove the veil of secrecy from their
> proxy policy, and to provide all of Fidelity's shareholders with
> information on how Fidelity votes its corporate proxies on their
> behalf. As the nation's largest mutual fund company, Fidelity has the
> opportunity and the obligation to help educate its customers about the
> importance of the proxy voting responsibility. I believe that
> stockholders can play a positive role in all companies, as has been
> shown by various social investing firms, activist union pension funds,
> and church-based initiatives. If Fidelity and its Magellan Fund are
> not open about their role in these companies, I will work to advise
> other investors that we should work for an "Investor's Right to Know"
> what is (and has been) done with our funds and thus, by hidden proxy,
> indirectly in our name."
>
>
> ###
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> 3)
>
> U'WA RESISTANCE CONTINUES
>
> MONEY DESPERATELY NEEDED.  CAN YOU HELP?
>
>
> The word we have received from Colombia is that the test
> drilling continues and the U'wa are very very sad at this grave
> desecration of their sacred homelands and total disregard for their
> rights.  The drillsite remains peaceful despite the military presence
> and there continues to be an ongoing presence of several dozen U'wa
> on their land surrounding the drillsite.
>
> The U'wa are committed to continuing their struggle and want their
> international supporters to know that they do not consent to this illegal
> drilling.  The biggest obstacle to them continuing their mobilization is
> money.  The previous occupation of the drillsite and subsequent blockades
> left the U'wa $60,000 in debt.  Unless they can pay off their debt they
> cannot get the supplies they need for further mass mobilization.
>
> If the thousands of us who have joined the U'wa struggle by organizing
> solidarity actions and events in our communities can now turn our
> attention to direct support and getting funds down to the U'wa they
> can continue to mobilize on the frontlines.  Organize a fundraiser,
> an educational event or a vigil.
>
> Spread the word about the U'wa resistance and let people know that the
best
> way they can help right now is to send money to the U'wa.
>
> TO DONATE FUNDS TO THE U'WA PEOPLE SEND CHECK/MONEY ORDER TO :
> Amazon Watch
> 115 South Topanga Canyon Blvd
> Topanga Canyon, CA 90290
> write in the memo section : U'wa Defense
>
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