CHICAGO, IL —Members of the
PC(USA)'s Mission Responsibility Through Investment committee met in a private
session with senior Motorola officials Thursday to begin the process of engagement
regarding the company's human rights policies as they relate to peace in Israel
and Palestine.
Motorola is one of five companies selected by the PC(USA)'s MRTI committee
for engagement due to its strategic involvement in Israel and Palestine, in hopes
of enlisting the company in the promotion of peace and justice in the region.
The Committee's action is in response to a resolution passed last year by the
Church's General Assembly and is consistent with the Church's long-standing practice
of ensuring its investments are used to further the Church's mission.
MRTI's Chairperson, Carol Hylkema stated, "We appreciate the fact that
Motorola was willing to have this dialogue. They were informative, it was productive.
We hope to continue the conversation with them in order to seek justice and peace
for both Israelis and Palestinians." The Motorola team shared their Code
of Business and current Global Corporate Citizenship Report with the MRTI members.
Hylkema continued saying, "The PC(USA) is hopeful about this engagement,
having had a similar interaction with Motorola in 1996." At that time the
issue was the company's relation to the production of landmines by foreign countries.
Many concerned groups, including MRTI, urged the company to alter their supplier
policies. Motorola reviewed their process and adopted a far-reaching policy to
prevent its components from ending up in land mines. In recognition of this action
PC(USA) awarded Motorola a corporate commendation.
Other corporations that are being invited into engagement by PC(USA) on these
same matters include Caterpillar, Citigroup, ITT Industries and United Technologies.
Because corporate engagement is a phased, deliberate process Hylkema was unable
to predict what, if any, actions the committee might recommend to the Church's
General Assembly in June 2006
The Nov. 10 meeting between MRTI and Motorola, and the committee's debriefing
session, were held in Executive Session. In accordance with the Church's Open
Meeting Policy, the committee received approval for the Executive Session from
the Church's Stated Clerk's office under the provision that Church properties
were being discussed, and such conversations may be considered confidential committee
business.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has 2.3 million members from the fifty states
and Puerto Rico. It has been involved in the Middle East for over 150 years.
The Church's mission strategy encourages and supports a Christian presence in
the region, through ministries of education, healthcare and evangelism. Our
work with Christian partners also informs our deep concern for human rights issues.
In Israel/Palestine, the Church has been a consistent advocate for Israel's right
to exist and Palestinians' right to self-determination. It has also spoken out
consistently against violence, terrorism, anti-Semitism, the cccupation of the
West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, and the separation barrier. |
