IASJ Articles
Welcome to Advocacy Matters, a monthly column where IASJ staff members will be publishing opinion pieces about current events, human rights, environmental issues, and corporate controversies. At IASJ, we believe that in the pursuit of social justice, advocacy matters. Advocates champion the cause of human rights and equitable economies for all. In this new monthly column, IASJ staff will share research and frontline news that informs our advocacy efforts and vision for corporate accountability. Stay tuned to IASJ’s social media and website for more articles from our staff.
Investors Demand Accountability on Human Rights ahead of Chevron AGM
With a legacy of environmental destruction and human rights violations, Chevron faces growing demands for transparency and accountability ahead of its Annual General Meeting on May 28, 2025. Investors are demanding that Chevron move beyond empty commitments and prove whether its operations truly align with its Human Rights Policy, specifically its obligation to prevent, mitigate, […]
Clarifying Our Values: IASJ Responds to Mischaracterizations of Our Proposals
FROM RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: MAY 7, 2025 The Anti-Defamation League’s mission is to “stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” But over the past year that mission has stretched to include defending some of the world’s biggest weapons companies from shareholder proposals calling for reporting on the […]
Investors, Workers, and Communities are Calling on Ford to Provide Answers at the May 8 AGM
May 7, 2025 Tomorrow, at its 2025 AGM, Ford Motor Company faces a defining moment. The Company has an opportunity and an obligation to address mounting concerns of investors, workers, and frontline communities related to its joint venture, BlueOval SK. The multi-billion-dollar joint venture is constructing three battery plants – two in Kentucky, one in […]
Shareholder Proposal Withdrawn Following Agreement with NextEra Energy, Inc.
April 8, 2025 – An agreement has been reached with NextEra Energy, Inc., leading to the withdrawal of the 2025 shareholder proposal filed on behalf of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY. The proposal, filed for the first time this year, requested a third-party Environmental Justice Audit to assess the heightened racial impacts of NextEra’s […]
Wells Fargo Reverses Climate Commitments, Exposing Investors and Human Rights to Greater Risks.
MONTCLAIR, NJ, MARCH 27, 2025. Wells Fargo has recently made the controversial decision to abandon its previously announced commitment to achieve net-zero financed emissions by 2050. In addition, the bank has rescinded its interim 2030 emissions reduction targets for key sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, auto manufacturing, and steel production. This shift […]
A Reflection on Black History Month: Justice, Faith, and the Mountains We Move
A reflection by our Program Coordinator, Tracey Cadet-Fleming. As a Black woman, wife, and mother, for me, Black History Month is culturally ingrained as a time of celebration, remembrance, and reflection. It is a moment to honor the resilience of Black people in the face of ongoing injustices, to acknowledge the sacrifices we continue to […]
Moving Forward Magnanimously – A Letter from Our New Interim Executive Director
Dear Fellow Advocates, I am writing to formally introduce myself as the new Interim Executive Director of Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ). It is an honor to serve you through this transition period of growth and opportunity at IASJ. Although I am new to this role at IASJ, I am not a stranger to […]
Financing Harm: The Link Between Banks, Fossil Fuels, and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
In 2023 alone, major banks poured a staggering $705 billion 1 into the fossil fuel industry, fueling not only the climate crisis but also perpetuating human rights violations and negatively affecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights. This is not just an oversight but a deliberate choice. Despite pledges to achieve net-zero emissions, banks remain complicit in financing […]
What Does the Anti-ESG Movement Mean for Religious Investors?
Introduction: As the risks of climate change and societal risks play an increasingly destabilizing role in business, ESG investing is a necessary strategy to protect shareholders’ investment outcomes while also promoting positive social values. A review of 1,000 case studies conducted between 2015 and 2020 found that considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors improved […]
Hershey, Mars, Lindt Ignore Investor Letter, while Nestle and Mondelez Agree to Meet: Chocolate Companies’ Responses
– July 30, 2024 In May 2024, IASJ and investors representing more than $8.8 trillion USD sent letters to the big 6 chocolate companies (Mars, Incorporated; Mondelez International, Inc.; Ferrero International SpA; The Hershey Company; Nestlé S.A.; Lindt & Sprüngli AG), calling on them to use their purchasing power to ensure West African cocoa farmers […]
