Corporate Hall of Shame !

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:45:22 GMT

Global warming. Toxics in toys. Sub-prime mortgage lenders preying on the poor. Hired U.S. guns killing civilians in Iraq - it’s been a year of widespread corporate abuse. We’ve picked eight nominees for you to vote on in the Corporate Hall of Shame.

(Archer Daniels Midland) for making Indonesia the world’s worst contributor to global warming (after the U.S. and China) through its clearing of endangered forests and wildlife habitat for palm oil plantations. First the good news: burning ‘biodiesel’ fuels emits less global warming pollution than burning standard, oil-based gasoline. Then the bad news: producing biofuels creates tons of global warming pollution – easily enough to offset any global warming benefits gained at the tail end of the process.

(Blackwater) for killing unarmed Iraqi civilians, hiring paramilitaries trained under military dictatorships, and using its close political and financial ties with the Bush Administration to secure lucrative contracts.They are known for silencing their critics too.

(Countrywide) for predatory mortgage lending to elderly and non-English-speaking borrowers, and for gouging minority borrowers with discriminatory rates and fees. These actions have forced nearly a quarter of borrowers into default, at the same time their CEO earned a $120 million salary.

(MATTEL) for producing tens of millions of lead-contaminated toys and aggressively lobbying against bans on other highly toxic chemicals.

(NESTLE) for numerous labor violations including child exploitation, contributing to the obesity epidemic, and threatening community water supplies for its bottled water brands.

(TOYOTA) for aggressively lobbying against increased fuel economy standards and state measures to reduce global warming gas emissions, while hypocritically spending millions to advertise its environmental leadership and popular Prius line.

(WAL-MART) for displacing local businesses, failing to cover employees under the corporation’s health plan, and opposing legislation that would increase homeland security.

(WENDY's) for its contribution — as America’s third largest fast food franchise — to the obesity epidemic, and for refusing to meet nutritional labeling guidelines.

ZInger Spree: Organizations

Corporate Hall of Shame !