While the homeless polar bears and community members talk to people as they enter the ANZ AGM, shareholders are ruffling feathers from the inside by asking ANZ management uncomfortable questions. And they have good reason to. Last month, a resolution for today’s AGM supported by over 100 ANZ shareholders was denied by ANZ without explanation. The shareholders were concerned about ANZ’s carbon-intensive investments, but their concerns were ignored. Meanwhile, Mike is asking shareholders to grant him a wee $3.15 million bonus for his efforts.
Photos by James Alcock.
Source: greenpeace.org
Greenpeace is asking the bank to explain to the broader community what its policy actually means, and to rule out financing new coal power stations in Australia. Before CEO Mike Smith puts his hand out for a few million more in pay, shareholders have a right to ask him to do his homework and manage their risks with a little more care and thought – if not courage.
What is crystal clear, however, is that any customers who wish to bank with an organisation that recognises the risk posed by climate change and one that is actively trying to manage it, they would be well advised to look further afield than ANZ.
Miranda ANZ Flyering by Greenpeace Australia Pacific on Flickr.
Good on the amazing folks from Sutherland Climate Action Network for keeping up the fight to stop ANZ financing another generation of polluting coal power stations! Props to Tassia, Col & Bill.
Via Flickr:
Sutherland Climate Action Network flyer in front an ANZ branch in Miranda. The Dirty Banks campaign is exposing the big four Australian banks’ investment in polluting coal. While ANZ claims to be a leader in sustainability, they are the worst offender with nearly $1.6 billion of finance provided to coal mines, coal ports and coal power stations. Find out more at greenpeace.org.au/dirtybanks
Miranda, 11 Aug 11.
“Now I’ve had my morning coffee, I’ve realised financing new coal power stations isn’t such a good idea after all.” That’s what it says on the cups of free coffee Greenpeace activists are handing out to ANZ staff at their global headquarters in Docklands, Melbourne this morning.
A photo I took at yesterday’s Greenpeace action outside ANZ’s headquarters.
Dirty Video Revealed on Coal Cooling Tower (by Greenpeace Australia Pacific)
