Cat answers critics with global ad push. Caterpillar PR campaign

[Tom Joad]

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?article_id=25553&bt=caterpillar&arc=n&searchType=all
Chicago Business
As profits roll in, equipment maker takes on its global image problem
Protesters hold signs depicting an activist who was killed trying to prevent a Caterpillar bulldozer from destroying a Palestinian home. Caterpillar Inc. executives had good news to announce March 16: a 16% increase in February equipment sales.

That same day, on the sidewalk outside the company's Peoria headquarters, a handful of peace activists smeared themselves with fake blood and lay down in the street, blocking traffic to protest the Israeli military's use of Cat bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

The contrast between rosy financials and embarrassing protests has become a tricky situation for Cat.

With robust profits coming in, the company is now turning to its image problem, rolling out its first broad marketing campaign in more than a decade — a multimillion-dollar, six-year effort to erase negative portrayals of the company at home and raise brand awareness overseas, where sales growth potential and competition are greatest.

<snip>

For Cat, that means snuffing out peace activists' portrayal of it as a military hardware maker whose bulldozers and excavators are as lethal to occupied Palestinian communities as Israeli tanks and jets. At least two Christian denominations, the Church of England and Presbyterian Church USA, are considering divesting Cat stock from their investment portfolios on the grounds that they don't invest in military stocks.
______________________________________________________________________

What the article did not mention is that March 16th was also the 3rd anniversary of peace/human rights activist Rachel Corrie's death by bulldozer operated by the Israeli military.

When a corporation needs to start a multimillion campaign to counter a small but growing number of citizens who want more corporate responsibility, you know that your work has gained traction, you know the execs are feeling just a little heat, even if profits continue to rise.

It is an inspiration to keep going, to keep organizing.
_________________________________________________________________________


From the Woody Guthrie song "Tom Joad". Describing what happened to homes of sharecroppers.

"They've been tractored out by the cats,
They've been tractored out by the cats."

Seems like things don't change... Cats bulldoze hundreds of homes of Palestinian families every year.

Don't Let Cat continue to sell bulldozers to help commit war crimes. Boycott CAT!
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde150332004
Amnesty International
TO CATERPILLAR Inc.

* Caterpillar Inc., the US company which produces the bulldozers used by the Israeli army, should take measures – within the company sphere of influence – to guarantee that its bulldozers are not used to commit human rights violations, including the destruction of homes, land and other properties.
* Caterpillar should adopt a code of conduct which complies with the UN Human Rights Norms for Business and should respect and ensure the application of Article 3 of the UN Norms, which states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall not engage in, nor benefit from, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violation of international humanitarian law. In particular commentary (a) to Article 3 also states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall take stringent measures to prevent any products or services which they produce or supply from being used to commit violations of international human rights or humanitarian law and to comply with evolving best practices in this regard.

********

[Coastie for Truth]

1. Dumb question:

Who Is Going To Make The Water Irrigation Pumps for the WB and gaza (and Israel)?

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Easy Answer:

Any Of The Many Companies Who Already Do It...

btw, what Amnesty International recommended to CAT is something I'd find it hard to believe that anyone at DU could disagree with...

TO CATERPILLAR Inc.

• Caterpillar Inc., the US company which produces the bulldozers used by the Israeli army, should take measures – within the company sphere of influence – to guarantee that its bulldozers are not used to commit human rights violations, including the destruction of homes, land and other properties.
  
• Caterpillar should adopt a code of conduct which complies with the UN Human Rights Norms for Business and should respect and ensure the application of Article 3 of the UN Norms, which states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall not engage in, nor benefit from, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violation of international humanitarian law. In particular commentary (a) to Article 3 also states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall take stringent measures to prevent any products or services which they produce or supply from being used to commit violations of international human rights or humanitarian law and to comply with evolving best practices in this regard.
  

Violet...

[Tom Joad]

3. Don't overestimate DU.

What most of us see as clear human rights violations, others see as "necessary for security" and other such fables. I am awaiting the inevitable "Caterpillar rrrraaaawks" or "Amnesty Lies" post.

I do think it unlikely that Caterpillar will get many contracts from a liberated Palestine. (If we can imagine such a time in the future). I suspect there would have to be a cooling-off period. I doubt if the expertise of IG Farben was exactly welcomed into Israel either, at least right after independence, and rightfully so.

There are alternatives to Cat.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. Gomen Nasai.

Komatsu. Mitsubishi.

Domo arigatoo gozaimasu.

[Coastie for Truth]

5. Komatsu and Mitsubishi say "Domo Arigatoo Gozaimasu"

[Violet_Crumble]

15. Violet says: "What are they thanking me for?"

n/t

[Phx_Dem]

4. Why blame Cat?

They can sell their equipment to whoever they want.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that Amnesty sucks.

[Tom Joad]

7. They have a responsibility to not sell their equipment to human rights

abusers.

"They can sell their equipment to whoever they want."
The idea that corporations should have the right to do as they please so they can maximize profit is popular among some in the US, especially libertarians and republicans. Perhaps some Democrats as well.

"Amnesty sucks". Another hit and run. Unsubstantiated, not even a feeble attempt to defend such a controversial remark, that probably puts you at odds with 95% of DU. I do believe people have the right to minority opinions. But if they are going to express these things, they should have something to back this up. Like say, some kind of analysis that perhaps you can find on the web. or write their own...something.

Otherwise they are likely to be easily dismissed.

[Coastie for Truth]

8. I believe that the Universities

(especially those with truly outstanding engineering schools and sought after engineering graduate) should close their University Placement Offices to all human rights abusers.

I am not being facetious or sarcastic - but if Hastings and Boalt Hall could close their placement services to the military because of the DOD's "don't ask - don't tell" policy of discrimination against GLBT's, and if the Ivy League could close their placement services to companies that discriminated against women and African Americans.

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Look what they are doing to the Army at UCSC

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/12/BAG3KI7INT1.DTL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2222875

Why not close the placement office to CAT ?

[Violet_Crumble]

16. That's nice, but do you think CAT should stop?

Because yr in this thread defending CAT, so the stance yr taking does come across as just a bit on the selective side...

Violet..

[Coastie for Truth]

19. I am not defending CAT but you misquoting and twisting----

I have raised three points-

1. Somebody else will sell D8 class dozers. They are generic items of commerce.

2. CAT also sells irrigation equipment - which some think flows like manna from heaven and is totally a military or political or moral or immoral issue.

3. I have also raised the issue of University Career Placement offices as enablers for not taking the kind of action against CAT that their law schools have bravely taken against military recruiters w/resp to "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" and as the US University Placement Offices did w/resp to South Africa and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

[Englander]

20. Yes, you are.

To paraphrase;

1. --Somebody else will sell D8 class dozers. They are generic items of commerce.--

Translation;
If CAT doesn't sell the idf bulldozers, some-one else will. So, why pick on CAT?

2. --CAT also sells irrigation equipment - which some think flows like manna from heaven and is totally a military or political or moral or immoral issue. .--

Translation;
If CAT is boycotted, that means *NO* irrigation equipment. Is that what you want to happen? So, leave CAT alone!

[Coastie for Truth]

22. Noted and much thanks m'lord

my issue was the facilitating and enabling by the University Career Placement Offices, m'lord.

Think Mark Sykes and Ernest Bevin for real enablers and facilitators m'lord.

[Englander]

24. Oh, dear.

I think a reminder is in order;

'Netiquette 101 for new netizens
How to be on your best behavior when you go online
Published: December 14, 2004

Surfing the Internet can be fun, useful, and social for both adults and kids. But it's important for all new Internet citizens, also called netizens, to remember that there are other surfers out there. And, like real surfing or any other public activity, there are implied rules of behavior or etiquette to follow. Failing to grasp the netizen ropes could result in more than just missed opportunities—saying the wrong thing at the wrong time could provoke harassment or other problems.

So before a new user or child grabs the mouse to dive in to send messages, chat in chat rooms, play games, or visit Web sites, we suggest the following guidelines that can help them handle most any situation in cyberspace.

Guidelines for good netiquette
• Apply the golden rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
• Remember there is a person on the other end of your message.
• Know where you are and use appropriate good behavior.
• When participating in chat rooms, avoid interrupting others and stay on topic.


http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/netiquette.mspx

[not systems]

26. m'lord that's funny... not...

any thing to redirect, obfuscate and smoke screen
the issue of what is happening in our name with our
tax dollars.

The crimes of our times are happening now not 75 years ago
and Caterpillar is part of it.

Do you defend all of IBM sales in the 1930's?

Would you have supported a boycott then???

[Violet_Crumble]

27. Yes, you are, and I am NOT misquoting and twisting.....

So please stop accusing me of it...

Yr own attempts to shift the discussion from criticism of CAT is proof enough of what yr views are.

Thanks in advance

Violet...

[Englander]

21. How is that at all relevant?

But, are you admitting that CAT are, quote, 'human rights abusers'?

[Phx_Dem]

9. Cat has to make a reasonable effort

which I imagine they did, though none of us have access to CATs' internal documentation regarding equipment sales to Israel.

As for Amnesty International, they lost all credibility with me when they did this:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engAMR510511997?open&of=eng-2am

The sheriff of Maricopa County is a boob, and as the article notes there have been incidents (Norberg) where the correction officers were clearly at fault. Regardless, Amnesty did this based on extremely questionable motives, the State and County have many processes in place to deal with problems in a county agency, there was no reason whatsoever for Amnesty to become involved.

[Coastie for Truth]

10. CAT is like Mitsubishi - they will sell to whoever pays the money

The D-8 is a generic bulldozer. It is not designed for house demolitions per se- any more then it is designed for, e.g., wilderness firefighting (creating treeless fire breaks) or excavating foundations or hurricane/earthquake debris removal.

[Violet_Crumble]

18. CAT has an obligation when it comes to its products...

Companies that sell products to countries who then use them to commit human rights violations should cease selling them until the country in question stops using the products to violate human rights. Can't get any simpler than that...

Can you read this and tell me why you disagree with it? Because to me someone who insists on arguing that a company can sell to whoever pays the money is defending CAT. The reality is that companies can't just sell to whoever pays the money....

'TO CATERPILLAR Inc.

Caterpillar Inc., the US company which produces the bulldozers used by the Israeli army, should take measures – within the company sphere of influence – to guarantee that its bulldozers are not used to commit human rights violations, including the destruction of homes, land and other properties.

Caterpillar should adopt a code of conduct which complies with the UN Human Rights Norms for Business and should respect and ensure the application of Article 3 of the UN Norms, which states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall not engage in, nor benefit from, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violation of international humanitarian law. In particular commentary (a) to Article 3 also states that Trans National Corporations and other business enterprises shall take stringent measures to prevent any products or services which they produce or supply from being used to commit violations of international human rights or humanitarian law and to comply with evolving best practices in this regard.'

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde150332004

Violet...

[Coastie for Truth]

29. I can agree with that - and I would hope that as "Progressives" we

can agree that the of the Arab proletariate have a "Marshall Plan" type moral obligation and duty to the people whose mineral birthright they have stolen and squandered.

[Tom Joad]

12. We can send documents to Caterpillar re misuse of their equipment

as can any human rights organization.
The abuse is in plain sight.

Re your differences with Amnesty Int'l. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

My challange to you is to post that concern on the General Discussion board, with the example you have given. I suspect it would not be popular post.

But you are entitled to your opinion.

[Violet_Crumble]

17. So you disagree with AI on one thing...

But how does that taint everything else that AI deals with?

Violet...

[Phx_Dem]

23. I know that AI does a lot of good work

I imagine that even a person living in Australia (like you I think) knows who the sheriff of Maricopa County AZ is. The man is a publicity hound like no other ever seen in this state. AI decided to "investigate" our jails strictly so they could jump on the free publicity bandwagon. IMO they have tainted their credibility, "Watchdog" orgs like this need to be above reproach.

[Violet_Crumble]

25. Yeah, they do...

They do heaps of good stuff over here (Australia) when it comes to our big issues like mandatory detention and the treatment of refugees, which is why I'm a member. I haven't heard of that sheriff guy before though, but I respect that you have what you consider to be a good reason to be critical and are willing to explain what yr concerns are :)

Cheers...

Violet...

[idontwantaname]

13. perhaps IKEA?

a parallel could be made:

if a known "criminal" went around town stabbing people with IKEA knives wouldnt you expect IKEA to stop selling him the knives?

sure he can get knives somewhere else... but at least they wouldnt be from IKEA... and perhaps in the end he wouldnt be sold anything sharp or pointy until he shows in "good faith" he can use these objects without hurting innocent people.

not so hard to imagine.

[Tom Joad]

14. Relevant Websites...

www.catdestroyshomes.org
Overall call to action on Cats

Jewish Statement Against Caterpillar Human Rights Abuses- Petition
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/jvfp/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=187

[Tom Joad]

28. List of organizations working on the Stop Cat campaign.

From Global Exchange.
http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/corporateHRviolators.html

Human Rights Watch
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/22/isrlpa9711.htm

Jewish Voice for Peace
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

Israeli Campaign Against Home Demolitions.
http://www.icahd.org/eng/
(ICAHD Founder Jeff Halper has been nominated by the American Friends Service Committee for the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Ghassan Andoni, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement)