RAN Action News 

Inside:

· JP Morgan Chase: Investments of Mass Destruction
· Support RAN this Holiday Season
· New Ads Challenge Last-Place Ford: 'America Deserves Better'
· Activists Hold Int'l Day of Intervention Against Ford Motor Company
· FedEx Kinko's Releases new higher recycled content paper
· RAN's Global Finance Campaign Wins International Award


December / 2004
www.ran.org
_______________________________________________

JPMorgan Chase: Investments of Mass Destruction

JPMorgan Chase, with over $1 trillion in assets and fresh from its recent acquisition of Bank One, is second only to Citigroup on the short list of U.S. mega-banks with global operations and influence. Yet unlike Citi and Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase has failed to show environmental leadership. JPMorgan Chase is the largest U.S.-based bank still operating without a comprehensive environmental policy and one of the only global banks that refuses to adopt the Equator Principles, which represent the bare minimum environmental safeguards. JPMorgan Chase has no policy that measures how its lending practices impact endangered forests, climate destabilization, and the rights of indigenous and local communities.

In response to JPMorgan Chase's backtracking on its promise to adopt a comprehensive environmental policy by October 1st, RAN announced a new campaign exposing JPMorgan Chase's 'investments of mass destruction.' Poster-sized ads reading "Stop IMDs" above a larger-than-life version of Chase's logo framed the seldom-seen environmental devastation caused by destructive investments. The campaign launched on the busy streets of Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. in November.

In addition to the hard-hitting ads, RAN has created a new website, DirtyMoney.org, which profiles case studies linking JP Morgan Chase directly with investments of mass destruction around the world.  DirtyMoney.org will continue to profile a JP Morgan Chase "IMD of the Month" until the company fulfills its commitment to meet or beat new industry best practices on the environment set by Bank of America and Citigroup earlier this year.

Take Action Today! JPMorgan Chase has yet to adopt basic environmental and social safeguards to protect endangered forests, curb climate change, and ensure the rights of indigenous and local communities affected by their investments.

Click here to visit our online Action center and send a message to JP Morgan Chase CEO William Harrison and tell him to stop profiting from environmental destruction and adopt comprehensive environmental standards today!
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69753)
______________________________________________________________

New Ads Challenge Last Place Ford: 'America Deserves Better'

RAN unleashed a new series of ads aimed at debunking Ford's misleading multimillion dollar marketing blitz to 'green the blue oval.' A full-page ad in The New York Times features an open letter to Bill Ford from RAN Executive Director Michael Brune following the headline "Gas guzzling is un-American" while ads featured in Mother Jones, Utne Reader, and The Progressive depict a fleet of flag-draped Ford SUVs under the headline "The ultimate price of oil addiction."

Click here to read the Press Release
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69754)

click here to view downloadable copies of both ads in PDF format 
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69755)
____________________________________________________________

Activists Hold 'Day Of Intervention' At North American Ford Dealers 

Rainforest Action Network continues to pressure Ford, the Environmental Protection Agency's worst-ranked automaker, to stop driving America's oil addiction. On November 19 grassroots activists protested at Ford dealerships across the United States and Canada as part of an international 'Day of Intervention' calling on Ford dealers to help pressure Detroit to stop pushing oil-addicted gas-guzzlers. The mass action was a direct response to Ford's broken promises to improve fuel efficiency and the controversial decision to eliminate its popular natural gas and all-electric vehicle programs. Creative interventions ranging from street theater to one-on-one meetings with dealers confronted Ford with a message that its gas guzzling fleet is a leading cause of global warming and a danger to public health, national security, economic stability and human rights. Demonstrations took place in more than 40 North American cities including Boulder, Boston, Des Moines, Edmonton, New Orleans, Oakland and Vancouver.  
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69756)

______________________________________________________________

Victory for Old Growth Forests!
FedEx Kinko's strengthens environmental commitment with release of new paper

RAN has worked closely with FedEx Kinko's to achieve significant benchmarks which include the adoption and implementation of its 2003 Forest-based Products Procurement Policy.  In December, FedEx Kinko's furthered its commitment to forest protection values by announcing the introduction of a new private-label paper that substantially increases the recycled content of its standard behind-the-counter stock, the company's highest consumption area. The upgrade is a substantial increase in the retailer's overall post-consumer recycled content and a major step toward meeting growing consumer demand for good wood products.  

The increase reflects FedEx Kinko's renewed commitment to environmentally ethical forest products and is acknowledged by leading environmental groups as a significant benchmark in achieving the goals in its 2003 Forest-based Products Procurement Policy. RAN's work with FedEx Kinko's dates back to 1997 when then-Kinko's released its Environmental Vision Statement and pledged not to source paper from old-growth forests. The announcement is another example of how RAN works with business leaders to achieve success in the marketplace by protecting the world's endangered forests. 
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69762)
_____________________________________________________________

RAN's Global Finance Campaign Recognized With International Award

Rainforest Action Network was selected as the recipient of the 2004 Triple Bottom Line Investing (TBLI) Award from Brooklyn Bridge, an international organization that promotes socially responsible investing. The award recognizes the work of Rainforest Action Network's Global Finance Campaign to redirect the global economy away from socially and environmentally destructive investments and into just and sustainable alternatives. 

The award was presented in November at the TBLI 2004 conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Previous recipients include Amnesty International, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Mama Cash and Transparency International.
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69757)
_____________________________________________________________

RAN In The News

RAN's campaigns continue to gain headlines by speaking truth to power by stripping away the veneer from deceptive eco-marketing. Drop by our online pressroom to read recent articles from The Washington Post, The Financial Times, and more.  
With the help of some tough love from RAN activists and members, RAN will continue to gain ground and make headlines. Stay tuned.
(http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=69758)
_____________________________________________________________