Campaign Exxon/Mobil

	The campaign was started by a member of the Capuchin Order

Religious groups are sometimes involved in shareholder resolutions aimed at forcing changes in the practices of companies. The religious groups which founded the Exxon/Mobil Campaign believed the company held a reckless position on global climate change. The Bible teaches that the Earth belongs to its Creator and humanity must care for it. Global warming threatens God’s creation.

The Campaign Exxon/Mobil is a religious shareholder initiative aimed at compelling Exxon to take responsibility for its role in the global climate change debate and to make a commitment to the development of sustainable solutions.

The campaign began in 1997 when Father Michael Crosby, on behalf of his Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order, together with the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, filed a shareholder resolution calling on Exxon to commission an independent review of the impact of climate change on the company’s policies. The resolution also recommended that Exxon should endeavour to reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from its activities.

Exxon was forced to put the issue before its shareholders, and global warming dominated the annual meeting in April 1998. Father Crosby submitted, on behalf of his Province and the Dominicans, a shareholder resolution for the following year’s AGM - which, although it failed, continued to keep the discussion alive. By then, 20 other groups had joined the campaign.

For up-to-date information about the campaign, go to www.campaignexxonmobil.org