EXTRACTS: The might of Shell, BP and Walt Disney have all been challenged by the world’s pension funds, proving no company is too large to face scrutiny. If big business genuinely feels accountable to shareholders, and those shareholders demonstrate a clear desire for sustainable, ethical behaviour, we could potentially enjoy a corporate world which is no longer solely governed by greed.
THE ARTICLE
By Gill Wadsworth
We have seen a flurry of shareholder action by pension funds in the past few months and it’s a trend that looks set to continue as institutional investors finally appreciate the value of engaging with investee companies.
While each stand taken might not result in the desired outcome, the importance of the messages sent to chief executives and chief investment officers across the globe cannot be underestimated.
The might of Shell, BP and Walt Disney have all been challenged by the world’s pension funds, proving no company is too large to face scrutiny.
And with the momentum growing, shareholder activism should earn its rightful place at the core of trustees’ thinking and, in turn, fund managers should feel the pressure to take a move proactive stance.
And this isn’t just about pension scheme returns; the importance of encouraging the world’s corporations to behave responsibly has a positive impact for us all.
Access to union representation, the right to work in a safe environment and refusing to reward directors for shambolic performance might seem like common sense, but the world’s major corporations are often severely lacking in such key areas.
Admittedly, so far we are seeing action from just the very largest schemes – the ones with enough resource to make a stand. However, smaller schemes, with the help of their fund managers, can also pile on the shareholder pressure, and investment houses need to ensure they are helping their smaller clients in this field.
If big business genuinely feels accountable to shareholders, and those shareholders demonstrate a clear desire for sustainable, ethical behaviour, we could potentially enjoy a corporate world which is no longer solely governed by greed.
Published: Apr 16, 2007
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
