Twelve Days of Christmas   [return to top]

December 6, 2007

For the Twelve Days of Christmas the Corporate Social Responsibility Program Gave to Me…

	A direct giving opportunity
	A"Keep the Promise" advent calendar
	A Socially Responsible Investing Handbook
	An opportunity to support Fair Trade products
	Tips on greener twinkling lights
	A Retail Comparison Chart for buying video games
	A Video Game Report Card
	Safer toy options for children
	ASweatFree Consumer Guide to shopping
	Ecolabeling: Voting with Our Wallets
	Lots of eco-friendly options for shopping
	A U.S. Department of State report on the human rights of children

World AIDS Day   [return to top]

November 26, 2007

World AIDS Day is December 1 - a day of shared global action and awareness to the AIDS epidemic. You can become involved through the many options and resources that are available through the ELCA.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has produced an devotional calendar titled "Keep the Promise - Advent in a Time of AIDS".

Read the issue paper on international access to pharmaceuticals that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Violent Video Games   [return to top]

November 8, 2007

The holiday season is right around the corner and at the top of many wish lists this year will be requests for video games. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCR) has made available a holiday flyer (pdf) to help educate consumers on the issues around violence and video games.

Learn more about ICCR and its campaign that relates to violence and video games.

Before you place that video game in your cart check out what the Entertainment Software Rating Board has to say about it.

Read the issue paper on violence that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Jewelers Take Action   [return to top]

October 18, 2007

The Jewelers of America (JA) represent 11,000 member stores in the United States. JA has issued a press release (pdf) detailing their concerns about the current unrest in Burma. Letters have been sent by JA to Congress along with an advisory to its members.

Read the issue paper on human rights that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Buying Fair Trade?   [return to top]

October 11, 2007

SEC Proxy Regulation   [return to top]

September 24, 2007

The Security and Exchange Commission has promulgated proposed rules around access to the proxy ballot. One of these proposals would impact the shareholder resolution process in which the ELCA currently engages. For further information and potential action steps please click here.

This work is governed by the call in the ELCA Constitution to "give expression to the church's concern for corporate social responsibility (16.12.d05.i).

Trade Week of Action   [return to top]

Augsut 28, 2007

Saving Energy   [return to top]

August 9, 2007

Video Game Proceedings   [return to top]

August 2, 2007

What is Nanotechnology?   [return to top]

July 26, 2007

Free From Antibiotics   [return to top] 

July 24, 2007

Arctic Tale   [return to top] 

July 10, 2007

How is climate change affecting the Great North and its wildlife? Is global warming changing the frozen landscape of the Arctic? Paramount Classics and National Geographic Films have paired up to present "Arctic Tale" to help raise awareness on this issue. The movie opens to the public in late July/early August.

Learn more about the movie and information on free screenings in your area.

Read the issue papers on global warming and climate change and environmental topics that govern these areas of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Fair Trade Farmers Get a Raise!   [return to top]

July 7, 2007

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Fair Trade Coffee Project ensures that more of the money you spend on coffee actually reaches the farmers who grow it. For the first time in 20 years the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) recently announced that farmers of fair trade coffee will begin receiving increased earnings as of June 1, 2007.

Read the news release from Lutheran World Relief and to find out more about the LWR Coffee Project.

Read the issue paper on sustainability that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Environmentally Friendly?   [return to top]

July 1, 2007

Is there a paradigm shift in mainstream business becoming more eco friendly? In 2005 General Electric launched ecomagination, an initiative to market new technologies to address environmental challenges.

Today Home Depot is offering Eco Options on thousands of environmentally friendly products to consumers.

Read the issue paper on environmental topics that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Parental Awareness   [return to top]  

May 22, 2007

Research shows parents are increasingly restricting what video games their children play, according to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

View the recently released ESRB study (pdf).

Read the issue paper on violence in our world that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

View the resolution that has been filed on this issue through the Board of Pensions.

Cotton and Coffee - How Much?   [return to top]

 May 16, 2007

How much does it really cost to bring every day commodities into our homes? The BBC World Service had explored this in a two-part series on the cost and value of coffee and cotton - via workers' stories at each stage of production.

To listen now, download, or podcast visit
The Cost of...Part One - Cotton 
The Cost of...Part Two - Coffee
Read the issue paper on sustainability that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Toxic Chemical Risk   [return to top] 

April 30, 2007

Ever wonder how many toxic chemicals and materials you come into contact with in a single day? Ever wonder what companies are doing to eliminate toxins from the products they produce or sell to consumers? The Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) has produced the "Fiduciary Guide to Toxic Chemical Risk" that will help you make a more informed decision as a shareholder when voting this proxy season.

Learn more about IEHN and view the guide.
Read the issue paper on environmental topics that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

World Fair Trade Day?   [return to top] 

May 3, 2007

Lutheran World Relief is sponsoring World Fair Trade Day on May 12. The theme this year, "Kids Need Fair Trade," emphasizes the need for trade to work for those most disadvantaged by conventional trade. Fair Trade creates economic opportunity and development which enables producers to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

You can participate in many ways. Find out how.
Whole Foods has created a program called "Whole Trade Guarantee". See how they are committed to Fair Trade principles.

Sports balls and fair trade?   [return to top] 

April 23, 2007

When we think of fair trade we often only think of coffee, chocolates, and hand crafted gifts. What about sports equipment? Fair Trade Sports, Inc is the first sports equipment company in the US to launch a full line of fair trade sports balls.

Learn more about these sports products and what you can do to help.
Read the issue paper on sustainability that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

FTC Releases Report on Video Games   [return to top] 

April 18, 2007

Did you know that unaccompanied children, ages 13-16 were able to purchase an M-rated game 42% of the time, down from 85% in 2000? The lasted Federal Trade Commission report on marketing violent entertainment to children has released their mystery shop data. Read the FTC Report.

The CSR program is in dialogue with Best Buy, Blockbuster, Circuit City, Costco, and Sears around the issue of selling M-rated video games to children. A resolution was filed with Electronic Arts, Inc. and withdrawn due to constructive dialogue.

View the resolution filed with Electronic Arts, Inc.

Earth Day   [return to top] 

April 13, 2007

Earth Day is right around the corner and people all over the world will be marking April 22 as a day to make a difference in protecting the Earth's natural resources. A variety of environmental stewardship resources are available for you and your congregation.

Read the Presiding Bishop's Earth Day message.
Find out how you can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Learn more about what's planned for Earth Day in your part of the world.
Whether cleaning up or clearing out, learn the what, when, and how for recycling items from A to Z.

Timberland Launches Informative Shoe Labels   [return to top] 

March, 2007

Commitment to Change   [return to top] 

March 2, 2007

There is a growing commitment to address global warming among institutions of higher education. Three Lutheran college presidents have signed on to the "American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment," a pledge to eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time.

Read the issue paper on global warming and climate change that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

What's in Your Easter Basket   [return to top] 

March 21, 2007

Looking for something different to give that special someone for Easter this year? How about filling their baskets with items that will have a global impact? There are a variety of options to choose, from giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal to purchasing fairly traded chocolates, handcrafts, and food.

A few choices to consider are:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal
Lutheran World Relief Chocolate Project
Global Exchange Fair Trade
A Greater Gift

Order Your Eco-Palms Now!   [return to top] 

February 20, 2007

More than 300 million palm fronds are harvested each year for U.S. consumption alone - most of them for Palm Sunday. As you begin to plan your Lenten plans, consider the Lutheran World Relief program to help ensure the palm harvesters are earning a fair income for their labor, and the palms are being harvested in an environmentally sustainable way by visiting www.lwr.org/palms. 

Read the issue paper on sustainability that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Learn More about the Amazing Grace Campaign   [return to top] 

January 2007

Inspired by the soon to be released film Amazing Grace, a social justice campaign has begun to raise awareness to organizations working against modern-day slavery. The Amazing Change Campaign is to generate interest and support to these organizations.

See the action this campaign is generating.
RugMark Foundation, a partner in the campaign and to the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program, is working to end illegal child labor.
Read the issue paper on human rights that governs this area of the work of the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Shareholder Resolutions Filed   [return to top] 

January, 2007

The ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program has filed eight (8) shareholder resolutions thus far in the 2006-2007 filing season by the ELCA Board of Pensions.

Costco Wholesale Corporation - Energy Efficiency resolution, withdrawn
CVS - Product Safety resolution
The Hershey Company - Vendor Standards resolution
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. - Adopt Human Rights Policy resolution
Sears Holdings Corporation - Sustainability resolution (withdrawn)
Six Flags, Inc. - Board Diversity resolution
Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. - Adopt Human Rights Policy resolution
Walgreens - Product Safety resolution

View these resolutions
View all current resolutions

Valentine's Day Alternative Gifts   [return to top] 

January, 2007

When we think of Valentine's Day what often comes to mind are visions of flowers, boxes of chocolates, and heart shaped cards. This year, if you are considering such gifts, think where you make these purchases and how they impact others.

A gift alternative can be made to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal
Help artisan and farming families earn a better income by purchasing Fair Trade products.
Think green instead of red and give gifts from businesses that support people and the planet.
Choose products that are made sweatshop-free