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.
Shareholder Proposal Withdrawn Following Agreement with NextEra Energy, Inc.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 In addition, the bank has rescinded its interim 2030 emissions reduction targets for key sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, auto manufacturing, and steel production.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 […]
Unequal Protection? How the SCOTUS Decision May Impact Corporate DEI Initiatives
July 1, 2024 On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) determined that Harvard and UNC’s affirmative action admissions programs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. According to the Court, their admissions processes, which were aimed at ensuring “no dramatic drop-off in minority admission from the prior class,” […]
Against Exploitative Purchasing Practices: Investors Call on Chocolate Companies to Ensure a Living Income for Cocoa Farmers
– May 20, 2024 IASJ and Investors representing more than $8.8 trillion USD are calling on chocolate companies to use their purchasing power to ensure West African cocoa farmers receive a living income for their cocoa. Chocolate companies continue to profit off the backs of child laborers, with an estimated 1.56 million children working on […]
An Illusion of Social Justice: The Problem with Corporate Philanthropy
May 13, 2024 In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, US companies pledged a whopping $200 billion to advance racial equity. In spite of scandals and poor track records, major corporations committed to be a force for social change and to fight racism. Four years later, we’re left to wonder where all that […]
