Caterpillar - International Day of Action June 14th Chicago

Wednesday June 14th,2006, Chicago, shareholders of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial)will be rejoicing in the Q1 2006 results announced on 12th April 2006. The company reported record revenues of $657 million for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of $114 million or 21 % compared with the same period in 2005. Profit after tax was a record $118 million, a $35 million or 42 % increase over the first quarter of 2005.

Caterpillar Vice President and Cat Financial President Kent M. Adams said, "We are off to a great start in 2006 with a record quarter for revenues and net income, and the continued growth and strong performance of our portfolio."

However, this year again as in the last 2 years CAT shareholders have profounder problems than how to spend their dividends net profits and costs of production.

Worldwide a massive and mounting corporate accountability campaign is on the move, this year, CAT shareholders will be challenged with the question of how it can reconcile its bulldozer sales to Israel, to be used in contravention of international humanitarian and human rights law with its own code of corporate conduct (Caterpillar Inc., Code of Worldwide Business Conduct, October 1, 2000) which declares "as a company, we strive to contribute toward a global environment in which all people can work safely and live healthy, productive lives, now and in the future."

Last year April 13th, 2005 a shareholder resolution calling for Caterpillar to investigate whether their sale of bulldozers to Israel violates the CAT "good global citizen" code of conduct received a 3% vote at the annual shareholder. The resolution was backed by investors with holdings estimated to be well over $600 million, including CalPERS, the largest pension in the world.

February 7 2006, the Synod of the Church of England overwhelmingly decided to divest itself of approximately USD$2.2 million in Caterpillar Inc. shares, property of the Church of England.


To participate in the National Day of Action you can visit the site here :

Go to Chicago and join the day-time vigil: Outside the shareholder meeting, activists will be participating in a vigil and a press conference. If you live in the Midwest, organize a bus load of like-minded people to drive into Chicago on the 14th.

For more information on how to participate in Chicago, write to matt@stopcat.org

To launch your own CAT Campaign, click here and contact: organizing@endtheoccupation.org.

Get the Fact Sheet on the 64 ton CAT D9 armored bulldozer which is produced by Caterpillar Inc. and sold through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program, whereby the U.S. Department of Defense purchases goods from U.S. manufacturers and resells them to foreign governments. e-mail Lord Patel if you support the campaign