Investors Against Genocide
Draw the line at investing in genocide

We're excited to report two major victories for genocide-free investing in the first few months of 2010.  Now, for the first time, investors can choose mainstream mutual fund companies that are genocide-free, a significant change in the landscape of investment options for individuals who do not wish to have their hard-earned savings connected to genocide.  These victories demonstrate that our efforts are making a real difference in the behavior and human rights polices of large investments firms.
AMERICAN FUNDS
In February, American Funds became the largest mutual fund company to divest its holdings in PetroChina, following our well-publicized shareholder vote on genocide-free investing on November 24.  This victory means that American Funds, one of the three largest fund companies in the United States, is now genocide-free.  Prior to the shareholder meeting, American Funds held shares worth $190 million of Petrochina. We commend American Funds for its decision to divest as a positive affirmation of its human rights policy.
TIAA-CREF
On January 4, TIAA-CREF announced that it had sold all of its holdings, worth $58 million as of September 30, in PetroChina, CNPC, Sinopec, and ONGC because these companies are closely tied to the genocide in Darfur.  This victory builds on the public commitment that TIAA-CREF made in March 2009 to take strong action in the face of genocide and divest if it could not make real progress through engagement..
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
  1. Consider moving your investments to American Funds or TIAA-CREF, the two mainstream investment firms that have human rights policies and have taken substantial action in support of those policies.  If you decide to do so after reviewing how the funds meet your personal financial and non-financial criteria, please write the company you are leaving as well as the company receiving your money to let management know why you have made this important decision.  Click here for details on the divestment by American Funds and TIAA-CREF.
  2. Volunteer to submit a shareholder proposal to mutual funds you've held for over a year and in which you have at least $2,000 invested.  The successes with American Funds and TIAA-CREF demonstrate that our shareholder resolutions are effectively pressuring mutual fund companies since both companies changed their policies only after receiving shareholders proposals from IAG volunteers.  Now we need more volunteers to submit our recently updated and strengthened proposal to companies like Vanguard, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton that continue to hold large investments in problem companies.  We've made the submission process easy and confidential. Click here for details.
  3. Register for MoxyVote, a free service recently featured in Business Week.  IAG has teamed up with MoxyVote so that you can link proxies from your investment accounts to easily vote for genocide-free investing proposals.  Watch this funny, informative and short video that describes how we can force companies to change.  Then register here to support IAG.
Thanks so much for all you've done and continue to do for the cause of genocide-free investing.
Eric, Susan, Bill and Mary
on behalf of the Investors Against Genocide Team