Rescue efforts in Yushu were complicated by the high altitude—4,000 meters—and cold weather.

In the two years since, a local non-profit organization – the Tibetan Village Project (TVP) – has managed multiple projects to help Tibetans in Yushu recover and rebuild after the region’s vast devastation.

The Tibetan Village Project is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. TVP’s projects largely consist of small-scale initiatives that work directly with Tibetan villagers and with local government through project-coordinators chosen from each village who know the local situation, understand the culture, and speak the language.

In collaboration with the Yushu Earthquake Response (YER), a temporary coalition of local NGOs, TVP was able to distribute basic supplies (food, water, and clothing) and winterized tents to 300 families. TVP raised over $200,000 toward this effort.

After the immediate needs of Yushu’s earthquake-affected families were met, TVP shifted its focus toward rebuilding the business community by providing skills and business management training and offering seed money to develop businesses.

On April 14, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Yushu, an ethnically Tibetan area of China’s western Qinghai Province. According to Xinhua news, 2,698 people were killed and more than 12,000 injured.

In August 2010, TVP provided storefront tents to 45 Tibetan business owners in downtown Yushu to help them restart businesses or improve or expand existing ones.

The following September, development-NGO Machik donated $26,897 to TVP’s collaboration with a Yushu-based NGO to provide loans to 7 businesses in Yushu, including restaurants, a shower house, repair shops and transportation services.

TVP provided 10 Tibetan business owners and social workers with a week of business management training. They learned how to identify business opportunities, prepare a business plan, and build an effective team. After trainees returned to Yushu, they continued their relief work by helping to identify Tibetan business owners in need of assistance.

In March 2011, having successfully raised $10,000, TVP provided loans to 2 businesses: a clothing shop and a business support service that employs local Tibetans and plays an important role in rebuilding Yushu communities.

In July 2011, with the help of several donors who contributed $8000 toward building a tailor shop and purchasing sewing machines, TVP initiated an income generation project at a senior care facility for about 80 elders in Yushu. TVP continues to support this program and has hired a part-time staff member for the center.

For more information, visit http://www.tibetanvillageproject.org.

Rescue efforts in Yushu were complicated by the high altitude—4,000 meters—and cold weather.

In the two years since, a local non-profit organization – the Tibetan Village Project (TVP) – has managed multiple projects to help Tibetans in Yushu recover and rebuild after the region’s vast devastation.

The Tibetan Village Project is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. TVP’s projects largely consist of small-scale initiatives that work directly with Tibetan villagers and with local government through project-coordinators chosen from each village who know the local situation, understand the culture, and speak the language.

In collaboration with the Yushu Earthquake Response (YER), a temporary coalition of local NGOs, TVP was able to distribute basic supplies (food, water, and clothing) and winterized tents to 300 families. TVP raised over $200,000 toward this effort.

After the immediate needs of Yushu’s earthquake-affected families were met, TVP shifted its focus toward rebuilding the business community by providing skills and business management training and offering seed money to develop businesses.

On April 14, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Yushu, an ethnically Tibetan area of China’s western Qinghai Province. According to Xinhua news, 2,698 people were killed and more than 12,000 injured.

In August 2010, TVP provided storefront tents to 45 Tibetan business owners in downtown Yushu to help them restart businesses or improve or expand existing ones.

The following September, development-NGO Machik donated $26,897 to TVP’s collaboration with a Yushu-based NGO to provide loans to 7 businesses in Yushu, including restaurants, a shower house, repair shops and transportation services.

TVP provided 10 Tibetan business owners and social workers with a week of business management training. They learned how to identify business opportunities, prepare a business plan, and build an effective team. After trainees returned to Yushu, they continued their relief work by helping to identify Tibetan business owners in need of assistance.

In March 2011, having successfully raised $10,000, TVP provided loans to 2 businesses: a clothing shop and a business support service that employs local Tibetans and plays an important role in rebuilding Yushu communities.

In July 2011, with the help of several donors who contributed $8000 toward building a tailor shop and purchasing sewing machines, TVP initiated an income generation project at a senior care facility for about 80 elders in Yushu. TVP continues to support this program and has hired a part-time staff member for the center.

For more information, visit http://www.tibetanvillageproject.org.

On April 14, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Yushu, an ethnically Tibetan area of China’s western Qinghai Province. According to Xinhua news, 2,698 people were killed and more than 12,000 injured.

Rescue efforts in Yushu were complicated by the high altitude—4,000 meters—and cold weather.

In the two years since, a local non-profit organization – the Tibetan Village Project (TVP) – has managed multiple projects to help Tibetans in Yushu recover and rebuild after the region’s vast devastation.

The Tibetan Village Project is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. TVP’s projects largely consist of small-scale initiatives that work directly with Tibetan villagers and with local government through project-coordinators chosen from each village who know the local situation, understand the culture, and speak the language.

In collaboration with the Yushu Earthquake Response (YER), a temporary coalition of local NGOs, TVP was able to distribute basic supplies (food, water, and clothing) and winterized tents to 300 families. TVP raised over $200,000 toward this effort.

After the immediate needs of Yushu’s earthquake-affected families were met, TVP shifted its focus toward rebuilding the business community by providing skills and business management training and offering seed money to develop businesses.

In August 2010, TVP provided storefront tents to 45 Tibetan business owners in downtown Yushu to help them restart businesses or improve or expand existing ones.

The following September, development-NGO Machik donated $26,897 to TVP’s collaboration with a Yushu-based NGO to provide loans to 7 businesses in Yushu, including restaurants, a shower house, repair shops and transportation services.

TVP provided 10 Tibetan business owners and social workers with a week of business management training. They learned how to identify business opportunities, prepare a business plan, and build an effective team. After trainees returned to Yushu, they continued their relief work by helping to identify Tibetan business owners in need of assistance.

In March 2011, having successfully raised $10,000, TVP provided loans to 2 businesses: a clothing shop and a business support service that employs local Tibetans and plays an important role in rebuilding Yushu communities.

In July 2011, with the help of several donors who contributed $8000 toward building a tailor shop and purchasing sewing machines, TVP initiated an income generation project at a senior care facility for about 80 elders in Yushu. TVP continues to support this program and has hired a part-time staff member for the center.

For more information, visit http://www.tibetanvillageproject.org.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes.

On March 5, 2012, a coalition of 37 U.S.- and U.K.-based socially responsible investors representing $58 billion in assets under management, children’s rights- and investor-focused organizations sent letters to 32 companies, calling for immediate and transparent actions to train staff and suppliers to recognize and avoid the trafficking of workers into slavery, to monitor their supply chains, and to examine hiring and recruitment practices.

The coalition includes members of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), and U.S. SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, FairPensions, Rene´ Cassin, The Code, and ECPAT-USA.

“While we anticipate inspiring examples of athleticism at The Olympic Games, that same dedication will be needed by Olympic sponsors andLondonarea hotels to ensure that trafficking and slavery is eradicated within their spheres of influence. With the eyes of the world trained on the Olympic Games, these companies are well-positioned to take steps to prevent it. With the help of our allies in theU.K., our initiative can help focus attention on this global problem,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS.

Companies in the tourism sector that acknowledged the coalition’s letter include: Accor, Best Western, British Airways, Choice Hotels, Carlson, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Thomas Cook, and Whitbread. Olympic sponsors that acknowledged the letter include: Adidas, ArcelorMittal, BMW, Coca-Cola, John Lewis, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Next, Procter & Gamble, Rio Tinto, Sainsbury’s and Samsung. Non-responding companies will be noted in a future press release with general trend analysis of the responses.

“We are very heartened that the vast majority of companies that received the letter will be taking action. Companies that already have formal anti-trafficking programs in place are showing genuine leadership, including conducting training sessions for staff and for suppliers, to make sure human trafficking will not be a blight on this summer’s games and to help end this practice once and for all,” said Lee Coates, Chair of The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility.

To impact future Olympics, select members of the coalition sent a letter urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to require that all Olympic corporate sponsors, suppliers, contractors and host cities take concrete steps to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children and labor trafficking.

“We expect the IOC going forward to incorporate clear guidelines on trafficking and slavery that include public reporting of results. Our request is in line with the IOC’s Charter that includes support for environmental issues and sustainable development and with the requests made in our letters to companies,” said Rev. David Schilling, director of Human Rights,InterfaithCenter on Corporate Responsibility.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of a private member’s bill introduced in the UK House of Commons in February by Fiona MacTaggart, Member of Parliament forSlough. The bill modeled on The California Transparency in Supply Chains Law would require retailers and manufactures in theUKto disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains.

“The coalition’s Olympic campaign demonstrates investor support for adequate corporate disclosures of policies on the identification and eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery from business operations. We hope to see more investors work with the coalition to engageUKcompanies on this important human rights and reputation issue both in the run-up to and after the Olympic games.” said Louise Rouse, Director of Engagement at FairPensions.

To involve the public, the coalition has launched a Celebration Without Exploitation website that includes links to fact sheets, anti-trafficking materials to download and bring to hotels, and letter-writing campaigns to join, as well as tools for investors and companies that are working to end these egregious human rights abuses.

For more information about Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), please contact Rachael Fisher-Layne of JCPR, at 00 1 973-850-7318 or rfisher-layne@jcprinc.com; or go to http://www.cbisonline.com/.

The seemingly arbitrary benchmark is play on numbers, so to speak, of the amount of money that roughly 1.4 billion people around the world are able to spend on food each day.

“The intention is to increase awareness that will drive action to support poverty,” said Michael Trainer, U.S. country director for the Global Poverty Project, in an interview with Mashable.com.

Globally, food and water shortages – especially with the increased threat of climate change – are becoming more and more prevalent, as they are progressively moving (or growing, rather) from third world countries and into more developed regions across the globe.

Live Below The Line

As it stands, far greater populations are being forced to adapt to severe food, water, money and other crucial resource shortages than ever before.

Given the realities, it is quite a challenge for anyone – especially those considered by much of the world to be far more “privileged” – to even consider living a single day this way, let alone five.

The campaign – as a means to make people realize the potential of community while calling attention to the problem at hand – offers suggestions and tips on a variety of foods and meals that all fit within the $1.50 budget while actively encouraging the utilization of a more “communal effort”.

Participants are also encouraged to host meal time get-togethers with friends and other participants using a price model of only $.50 per guest.

“We’re trying to make this incorporate online activism with an offline experience,” Trainer continued. “The engineering of this is intended to be social – pooling your resources and sharing your experiences – you can afford more food if you join together with friends.”

What do you think…do you have what it takes to eat/live on only $1.50 per day?

The seemingly arbitrary benchmark is play on numbers, so to speak, of the amount of money that roughly 1.4 billion people around the world are able to spend on food each day.

“The intention is to increase awareness that will drive action to support poverty,” said Michael Trainer, U.S. country director for the Global Poverty Project, in an interview with Mashable.com.

Globally, food and water shortages – especially with the increased threat of climate change – are becoming more and more prevalent, as they are progressively moving (or growing, rather) from third world countries and into more developed regions across the globe.

Live Below The Line

As it stands, far greater populations are being forced to adapt to severe food, water, money and other crucial resource shortages than ever before.

Given the realities, it is quite a challenge for anyone – especially those considered by much of the world to be far more “privileged” – to even consider living a single day this way, let alone five.

The campaign – as a means to make people realize the potential of community while calling attention to the problem at hand – offers suggestions and tips on a variety of foods and meals that all fit within the $1.50 budget while actively encouraging the utilization of a more “communal effort”.

Participants are also encouraged to host meal time get-togethers with friends and other participants using a price model of only $.50 per guest.

“We’re trying to make this incorporate online activism with an offline experience,” Trainer continued. “The engineering of this is intended to be social – pooling your resources and sharing your experiences – you can afford more food if you join together with friends.”

What do you think…do you have what it takes to eat/live on only $1.50 per day?

The seemingly arbitrary benchmark is play on numbers, so to speak, of the amount of money that roughly 1.4 billion people around the world are able to spend on food each day.

“The intention is to increase awareness that will drive action to support poverty,” said Michael Trainer, U.S. country director for the Global Poverty Project, in an interview with Mashable.com.

Globally, food and water shortages – especially with the increased threat of climate change – are becoming more and more prevalent, as they are progressively moving (or growing, rather) from third world countries and into more developed regions across the globe.

Live Below The Line

As it stands, far greater populations are being forced to adapt to severe food, water, money and other crucial resource shortages than ever before.

Given the realities, it is quite a challenge for anyone – especially those considered by much of the world to be far more “privileged” – to even consider living a single day this way, let alone five.

The campaign – as a means to make people realize the potential of community while calling attention to the problem at hand – offers suggestions and tips on a variety of foods and meals that all fit within the $1.50 budget while actively encouraging the utilization of a more “communal effort”.

Participants are also encouraged to host meal time get-togethers with friends and other participants using a price model of only $.50 per guest.

“We’re trying to make this incorporate online activism with an offline experience,” Trainer continued. “The engineering of this is intended to be social – pooling your resources and sharing your experiences – you can afford more food if you join together with friends.”

What do you think…do you have what it takes to eat/live on only $1.50 per day?

The seemingly arbitrary benchmark is play on numbers, so to speak, of the amount of money that roughly 1.4 billion people around the world are able to spend on food each day.

“The intention is to increase awareness that will drive action to support poverty,” said Michael Trainer, U.S. country director for the Global Poverty Project, in an interview with Mashable.com.

Globally, food and water shortages – especially with the increased threat of climate change – are becoming more and more prevalent, as they are progressively moving (or growing, rather) from third world countries and into more developed regions across the globe.

Live Below The Line

As it stands, far greater populations are being forced to adapt to severe food, water, money and other crucial resource shortages than ever before.

Given the realities, it is quite a challenge for anyone – especially those considered by much of the world to be far more “privileged” – to even consider living a single day this way, let alone five.

The campaign – as a means to make people realize the potential of community while calling attention to the problem at hand – offers suggestions and tips on a variety of foods and meals that all fit within the $1.50 budget while actively encouraging the utilization of a more “communal effort”.

Participants are also encouraged to host meal time get-togethers with friends and other participants using a price model of only $.50 per guest.

“We’re trying to make this incorporate online activism with an offline experience,” Trainer continued. “The engineering of this is intended to be social – pooling your resources and sharing your experiences – you can afford more food if you join together with friends.”

What do you think…do you have what it takes to eat/live on only $1.50 per day?