*[Enwl-eng] Re. Apple

[ENWL]

            We’re in the headlines after we stunned everyone at Apple’s big 
shareholder meeting this week!

            Thanks to your signing, sharing and emailing your pension and 
investment funds, we got FOUR TIMES as many votes for human rights at the 
annual meeting than in any previous year.



            It was an unforgettable day for Tibetan-American activist 
Sonamtso and SumOfUs’ very own Vicky. I couldn’t make the trip to 
California, so I stayed glued to my phone for updates!



            Sonamtso and Vicky after the AGM. Watch video on Facebook or on 
YouTube.

            Armed with our 130,000 strong petition -- including your name --  
the intrepid pair made their way to the Steve Jobs Auditorium at Apple HQ, 
California.

            Sonamtso was excited and nervous. It was up to her to make a 
speech to persuade Apple’s board to take action on free expression. She was 
speaking for us all directly to the top bosses of the world's second most 
valuable company. And she nailed it! Watch the video of her speech on 
Facebook or YouTube.

            Minutes later, Sonamtso got her own face to face time with Apple’s 
big boss Tim Cook. She politely confronted him and delivered our petition!



            When the vote came, a surge of support meant more than 40% of 
Apple investors backed us -- even though the company told them not to and 
tried to block us at every turn.

            Two firms that advise the world’s largest investors on how to 
vote at company’s annual meetings -- ISS and Glass Lewis -- came out in 
support of human rights and recommended that investors vote for our 
proposal.

            It looks like big investors listened to them, as well as to 
5,479 SumOfUs members who sent emails to their pension and mutual fund 
managers, asking them to support our proposal.

            Apple bosses know they have to respond. They’ve ignored us for 
years -- but hours before the meeting, maybe panicking at what was to come, 
we finally got an email from Apple. It’s a start -- and we’ll be pushing to 
meet them face to face.

            Apple bosses haven’t agreed to stop backing the government of 
China -- yet. But it’s very clear we’ve rattled them.

            Thank you for the regular donation you already make. It means we 
are ready to leap in at a moment's notice. But now we’ve got Apple on the 
ropes -- so it’s the moment to redouble the pressure. Can you chip in with a 
one-off donation today to keep the fight going?

            I’ll leave you with one final image from this week. Let’s 
remember why we’re doing this.



            Tibetan activists in Dharamsala light lamps for the oppressed 
Tibetan, Chinese, Uyghur and Hong Kong peoples. Watch the video on Facebook 
or Youtube.

            Millions of people are living in fear of the government of 
China. Waiting for a knock on the door. Terrified of the concentration camps 
that await those who displease the authorities.

            If we keep working together, we can build on our success this 
week. Together, we will make Apple see the light and stop helping the 
government of China hurt people.


            Thanks for all that you do,
            Sondhya and the team at SumOfUs



            More information:

            Apple Investor Vote Sounds 'Warning' Over China App Takedowns, 
New York Times, 26 February 2020
            Apple survives shareholder revolt over free speech, The 
Telegraph 26 February 2020
            Apple shareholders call for human rights transparency, Financial 
Times (paywall), 26 February 2020









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            SumOfUs is a community of people from around the world committed 
to curbing the growing power of corporations. We want to buy from, work for 
and invest in companies that respect the environment, treat their workers 
well and respect democracy. And we’re not afraid to stand up to them when 
they don’t.

            Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3



                  Chip in $3





      From: Sondhya Gupta, SumOfUs
      Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2020 12:00 PM
      Subject: Re. Apple







 
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