Big Business, Bad Business (TomPaine.com)

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Big Business, Bad Business
Corporate Accountability International
June 27, 2007


For 30 years, Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, has challenged irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions—like those of Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria—around the world.

Corporate Accountability International today announced that Exxon, Halliburton and Wal-Mart are the three newly elected inductees to its Corporate Hall of Shame. The membership organization, which wages winning campaigns against irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions, opened online voting in May with five other potential inductees: Coke, Ford, Kimberly-Clark, Merck and Nestlé. Corporations were nominated for a variety of factors, including documented abuses that harm people and the environment, political influence and interference, and public deception.

Approximately 8,592 separate voters cast online ballots from around the world May 16 through June 20, with Exxon and Halliburton being selected by half of all voters, and Wal-Mart just narrowly beating out Kimberly-Clark to become the third inductee.

Voters also had the option write-in their own candidates, and more than 300 people did so, with corporations such as Monsanto, Massey Energy and McDonald’s named most frequently. To read more about the voting results and to read comments from voters, visit: www.StopCorporateAbuse.org.

“The Hall of Shame demonstrates that thousands of people are fed up with irresponsible corporations,” said Kelle Louaillier, executive director of Corporate Accountability International. “The competition among these corporate abusers was stiff because—unfortunately—each nominee has a shameful track record. Fortunately, the public’s demand for corporate accountability is universal, and the voting for Hall of Shame underscores the desire to eradicate shameful business practices.”

The three new inductees were selected in part because of the following abuses and threats to society: .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/27/big_business_bad_business.php