*[Enwl-eng] People power, activated

[ecology]

            Before the year closes, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the 
Ekō movement — a fierce, unstoppable community that keeps showing what’s 
possible when ordinary people take extraordinary action together.

            2025 was not an easy year: genocide, climate disasters, the rise 
of oligarchs, and concentrated AI power. But through it all, this movement 
rose to meet the moment, pushing for accountability, defending human rights, 
and challenging the systems that put profit over people and planet. So now, 
let’s look back on twelve months of resistance, courage, and impact — a year 
powered by all of us, together.

            The Year We Fought for Human Rights

            Shifting Europe’s Political Landscape: At a moment of profound 
global crisis, Ekō members united in solidarity. Across Europe, our movement 
helped drive unprecedented pressure to suspend the EU–Israel Association 
Agreement. Polling we commissioned in Italy showed overwhelming public 
support, generating major headlines and prompting a shift in Prime Minister 
Meloni’s stance. In Denmark, a full-page Ekō ad urging the Prime Minister to 
“choose the right side of history” was followed days later by Denmark 
announcing its support for trade suspension and new sanctions. Thanks to Ekō 
members, these major breakthroughs have reshaped the political debate.

            Exposing Maersk’s Role in Genocide: Ekō members helped force a 
breakthrough in corporate accountability by pushing Maersk to stop shipping 
goods to illegal Israeli settlements. The UN had named the company in an 
expert report on the “economy of genocide,” and Ekō members amplified the 
pressure: filing a hard-hitting shareholder resolution, sending thousands of 
emails, and funding bold ads during Maersk’s AGM, making it impossible for 
Maersk to hide its role in genocide.



            Challenging EU Leadership on Palestine: As public outrage grew 
over the EU’s failure to act on Gaza, Ekō members mobilised at lightning 
speed. Working closely with MEP Manon Aubry, we drove thousands of calls 
into MEPs’ offices in under 48 hours, urging them to support a no-confidence 
motion against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 72 MEPs 
signed on, enough to formally submit the motion. While it ultimately failed 
to pass, it showed von der Leyen how close she is to getting sacked for her 
corruption and loyalty to war criminals. And forced her to propose, for the 
first time, the suspension of the EU-Israel trade deal.

            Forcing AXA to Divest: After six years of sustained campaigning, 
Ekō members helped win a monumental victory: AXA fully divested from weapons 
manufacturers supplying Israel’s assault on Gaza. And Ekō's campaign report 
on AXA was featured in the new UN special rapporteur's report. This is one 
of the largest financial wins in the fight for accountability, made possible 
by persistence and people power.



            The Year We Built the Future, Responsibly

            Protecting AI for the Public: This year, our movement made it 
clear: the future of AI must serve people, not private greed. When Big Tech 
tried to refashion OpenAI for profit, our community mobilised. We launched a 
bold, superhero-themed ad campaign targeting Attorneys General in California 
and Delaware, plastered flyers outside their offices, lit up Times Square 
with a towering Sam Altman billboard, and ran a digital ad storm following 
OpenAI’s board members wherever they went.

            Even as OpenAI pushed ahead with its for-profit restructure, our 
member pressure forced major concessions: an OpenAI board member must now 
meet every six months with California Attorney General Rob Bonta to report 
on progress toward the company’s non-profit mission, and board member Zico 
Kolter, head of the safety and security committee, now holds the power to 
halt new product launches if there are safety concerns—a direct check on 
runaway tech before the damage is done.

            And we’re not letting up. We’ve already begun holding OpenAI to 
account post-restructure by exposing how its new video generation tool, Sora 
2, allows teens to generate and view violent and racist content. We sent 
these findings directly to the Attorney General’s office and briefed the 
press, including Rolling Stone, sending a clear signal: we are watching, and 
OpenAI must prove it is putting humanity over profit.



            Challenging Microsoft’s Role in Genocide: When Microsoft’s cloud 
and AI systems became embedded in Israel’s military operations, we helped 
expose the company’s role. Together with Microsoft workers, we co-filed a 
shareholder resolution backed by 58 investors — an unprecedented number, and 
then received about a quarter of the vote from shareholders, which is 
exceptionally strong for a first-time resolution. We also advanced a global 
legal strategy, submitting a GDPR complaint to the Irish data protection 
regulator, and preparing avenues for ICC complaints. Our movement made 
Microsoft a central target in the fight against tech-enabled war crimes.

            Exposing Tech’s Harm: In 2025, Ekō members pushed some of the 
world’s most powerful tech companies to face the consequences of their 
actions. We exposed how Meta and X profit from extremism and war — approving 
ads that fund Israeli military gear tied to war crimes and allowing 
far-right campaigns that spread genocidal rhetoric. We delivered our 
findings directly to EU regulators, strengthening and expanding 
investigations into Big Tech’s failures. And our pressure is already paying 
off: Elon Musk was just hit with a €120 million fine under one of these 
investigations.



            The Year We Protected the Wild

            Saving Dolphins in Mexico: A heartbreaking video of Mincho the 
dolphin collapsing during a forced performance sparked national outrage and 
together with partners, Ekō members helped turn that outrage into real 
change. We pushed authorities to shut the tank down and then we fought for a 
national ban on dolphin captivity. Together, we helped win the Mincho Law, 
ending dolphin torture across Mexico.

            Putting an EU Octopus Ban on the Agenda: Ekō members helped make 
history in Brussels by supporting the EU Parliament’s first-ever policy 
event calling for a ban on octopus farming. Scientists, lawyers, 
researchers, civil society groups, and MEPs came together to map the legal 
pathways to stop this industry before it begins. We hand-delivered thousands 
of signatures directly to the lawmakers leading the charge. This is a major 
step toward a Europe-wide ban, and with our partners at Eurogroup for 
Animals, we’ll keep going until it becomes law.



            Defending Donkey Lives in the United States: Our movement helped 
reintroduce federal legislation to ban the brutal donkey-skin trade in the 
U.S. Together with our coalition of partners, Ekō members powered advocacy 
days on Capitol Hill where our partners met directly with House 
Representatives, and ran nationwide digital ads that lawmakers could not 
ignore. Thanks to this collective pressure, the bill is back on the table 
and gaining real momentum.

            Challenging Horse-Blood Cruelty in Iceland: Ekō members helped 
shine a global spotlight on Iceland’s horse-blood farms. Alongside the 
Animal Welfare Foundation and our Icelandic partners, we staged a powerful 
“bloody” protest at the Icelandic Parliament and met with the Minister of 
Industries to urge the government not to renew Isteka’s licence. The action 
was covered by major media outlets across Iceland. Together with our 
partners, we are mobilising public outrage, amping up political pressure, 
and forcing this cruelty into the open.



            The Year We Challenged Planet-Wrecking Power

            Pressuring Swiss Re: Together with Public Eye, Ekō members 
pushed one of the world’s largest insurers to strengthen its environmental 
and human-rights safeguards in Brazil. Thousands of us signed the petition, 
which we delivered directly at Swiss Re’s AGM in Zurich — even when 
executives tried to avoid receiving it. Weeks later, Swiss Re confirmed 
updates to its ESG risk processes for Brazil, integrating stronger 
protections for Indigenous territories and conservation areas. It’s a modest 
but meaningful shift — and a sign that even global financial giants feel the 
pressure when people act together.

            Taxing Luxury Pollution: Working with the Global Solidarity 
Taskforce, Ekō members helped push governments to back a levy on private 
jets and luxury flight tickets — a policy designed to make the world’s 
wealthiest polluters finally pay. Ekō members flooded ministries with 
messages. And days later, France, Spain, and others publicly backed this 
groundbreaking proposal.

            Blocking Environmental Rollbacks in Brazil and Taking the Fight 
to COP: When Brazil’s Congress passed a bill gutting environmental 
protections, letting oil and gas companies self-approve drilling, the Ekō 
community mobilised fast. We launched a rapid-response campaign and 
delivered our petition straight to the Presidential Palace in Brasília. The 
pressure paid off: President Lula da Silva vetoed key sections of the bill, 
stopping some of its most dangerous provisions.

            We then took the fight to the global stage. On the eve of COP30, 
Ekō lit up the Rio de Janeiro skyline with a massive projection calling on 
world leaders to defend the Paris Agreement. Alongside Indigenous leaders 
from the Aliança pela Volta Grande do Xingu, we staged a powerful river 
action on Guajará Bay demanding an end to the extractive industry in the 
Amazon. And inside the negotiations themselves, we transformed COP’s massive 
globe into a direct call on President Lula to reverse oil drilling in the 
Amazon — backed by our poll showing 61% of Brazilians oppose drilling in the 
Amazon basin. From Brasília to the Amazon to the heart of COP itself, our 
movement forced this fight into the spotlight.



            This has been a year defined by resistance, courage, and 
impact — month after month, campaign after campaign. A year that shows how 
powerful a global community can be.

            As we step into 2026, we carry this momentum with us. The 
systems we’re challenging are vast, but so is the force we’ve built 
together. If this year proved anything, it’s that the Ekō movement is ready 
for whatever comes next — and ready to win.


            Thanks for all that you do,
            Deborah and the team at Ekō









--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Ekō 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 Ekō strong by chipping in $3 or become an Ekō 
core member with a regular monthly donation.



                  Set up a monthly donation


      From: Report Back Team <us at eko.org>
      Date: пт, 12 дек. 2025 г. в 11:56
      Subject: People power, activated
      his is what collective action looks like





 
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