Advocacy Matters
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.
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 […]
The Faceless Workforce: Child Labor in the US and the Way Forward
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 […]
IASJ Celebrates Black History Month
As the calendar turns its pages to February, a month that transcends the conventional acknowledgment of winter, the collective focus shifts to the celebration of Black History. This designated time serves as a poignant reminder to celebrate the everlasting contributions, resilience, and rich cultural heritage of the African American community. As we walk into Black […]
Forever Chemicals: A Legacy of Environmental Racism
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 […]
IASJ Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15, 2023 – Aaron Acosta Today marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage month, and IASJ wants to celebrate and honor our Hispanic and Latinx brothers and sisters who have played a fundamental […]
