Whether You Are A Tiaa-Cref Participant Or Not,

We Need Your Help To Promote Responsible Corporate Behavior

Through the years--and due to the contributions of many--we have moved pension giant TIAA-CREF to institute various socially responsible investments and policies. For example, hundreds of millions of dollars have been put toward low-income area community investment. Due to our lobbying, TIAA-CREF decided last year to engage in shareholder advocacy to influence companies engaging in socially and environmentally irresponsible behavior.

TIAA-CREF has now begun decision-making on which issues and companies to influence. The Make TIAA-CREF Ethical coalition (see members below) has targeted six companies because of specific egregious behaviors. They are:  (go to www.MakeTIAA-CREFethical.org for details)

Altria/Philip Morris, responsible for Marlboro-the #1 cigarette brand among youth

Nike and Wal-Mart, widely condemned for their use of sweatshop labor (and Wal-Mart for and other bad practices for its impact on domestic labor, sprawl, and local economies)

Costco, for its warehouse in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which severely damages an archeological site and abuses human rights

Chevron, for supporting the repressive government in Burma

Coke, for human rights and environmental abuses overseas—and advertising to children in the U.S. 

We ask you to contact TIAA-CREF now to make it known that:

• The Make TIAA-CREF Ethical coalition thanks TIAA-CREF for agreeing to do shareholder advocacy on issues of social responsibility.
• You are aware that TIAA-CREF will soon be making decisions on which issues and companies to pursue as regards such advocacy.
• You urge TIAA-CREF to consider the proposal submitted the Coalition to target these companies of concern.
• (You can also thank them briefly for their 9/19/06 announcement that they will be putting $100 million into "microfinance" that will help local small business development in third world countries.)

Communicate that message to CEO Herbert Allison; 800-842-2733; 212-490-9000; HAllison@tiaa-cref.org (Calls are far preferable—you can simply leave a message with an assistant.) Strengthen your influence with an additional brief message to trustees@tiaa-cref.org.

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You can further help in these ways:

• Forward this message widely, to colleagues and friends.
• Sign up for monthly campaign updates by emailing nwollman@bentley.edu (put “send MTCE updates” in the subject line).
• Express your concerns to TC representatives visiting your campus.
• Visit your local TIAA-CREF office (we can provide suggestions and office locations).
• Help with media outreach (pitch a story to media outlets).

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The Make TIAA CREF Ethical coalition consists of: The US Campaign for Burma • Corporate Accountability International (formerly Infact) • World Bank Bonds Boycott • Press for Change • Social Choice for Social Change • Canadian Committee To Combat Crimes Against Humanity (CCCCH) • Citizens Coalition (Frente Civico) • Educating for Justice • National Community Reinvestment Coalition • Campaign to Stop Killer Coke/Corporate Campaign, Inc. • Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood • Sprawl-Busters

For further information contact:

Neil Wollman, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow, Peace Studies Institute, and

Professor of Psychology,  

Manchester College

260-982-5346

nwollman@bentley.edu 

Make TIAA-CREF Ethical is a project of the Peace Studies Institute, Manchester College.