Spring Action – Clean Up, Don't Cover Up!

Action Ideas from the Corporate Action Network

Holding corporations accountable for human rights abuses isn't an easy task. Companies have seemingly endless resources to put a shiny public relations spin on even the most egregious problems. For instance, thousands of residents in Bhopal, India are drinking water laced with mercury and trichlorobenzene as a result of contamination left by Dow's subsidiary, Union Carbide. While refusing to help the Bhopalis, Dow has invested $30 million in a new public relations campaign, brazenly termed "The Human Element."

Like Dow, Chevron Corporation (CVX) has invested in cover up rather than clean up. The oil giant has turned its back on Amazon communities poisoned by contamination left by their subsidiary, Texaco, over 20 years of operations. But rather than face the issues head on, they've spent untold amounts of money to keep endless lawsuits churning through the courts, while telling the public and its shareholders there's nothing to worry about.

Learn more about human rights abuses connected to Chevron and Dow »

This spring, take action to make sure that Dow and Chevron deal with their toxic legacies.


Key Organizing Dates:

World Water Day – March 22

Amazon water
Dirty Amazon water for sale outside Chevron's headquarters in San Ramon, CA. Photo by AmazonWatch.

World Water Day is an excellent time to draw attention to companies like Chevron and Dow that are hiding behind public relations as they refuse to clean up contamination left by their subsidiaries. Plan a "Walk for Water" in your town or at your school to raise awareness about the fact that in countries like India and Ecuador, peoples' access to clean water has been threatened by corporate contamination. Or set up a "Dirty Water" booth to "sell" bottles of contaminated water from Ecuador and Bhopal. Gather signatures on petitions to Chevron and Dow.

Earth Day – April 22

This Earth Day, help educate about the connection between environmental destruction and human rights abuses. Table at an event in your community, or plan a film screening using "The Price of Oil" or "Twenty Years Without Justice: The Bhopal Chemical Disaster" – contact CAN at corpaction@aiusa.org to borrow a copy.

Chevron Annual Meeting – April 25
Dow Chemical Annual Meeting – May 10

The Chevron and Dow Annual Shareholder Meetings are supposed to be a time for the companies to announce record profits and pat themselves on the back. But for Amnesty members, these meetings are a time to remind the companies' largest shareholders about the toxic legacies in Ecuador and Bhopal that are destroying lives on a daily basis. We'll be organizing demonstrations at the locations of the meetings - in San Ramon, CA for Chevron and Midland, MI for Dow, but we need you to help show a united front by organizing similar solidarity events around the country in public spaces.

Read about last year's shareholder meetings at Chevron and Dow »

For more ideas and resources visit our Ecuador and Bhopal action pages, and please contact corpaction[at]aiusa.org for help planning your event.