TIAA-CREF invests in Unocal.

Join the Protest!!!

Monday, December 15, 8:30-11
730 Third Ave. (between 45th and 46th streets)

Contact: Moe Chan 646-643-8689

Unocal, an American oil company benefits from forced labor in Burma.
TIAA-CREF one of the biggest pension plans in the United States is investing
milions of dollars in UNOCAL. We are asking TIAA-CREF to use their shareholder influence to get UNOCAL to leave Burma.

A federal court has found that Unocal knew Burma's regime used forced labor
on the Yadana ipeline "as early as its initial deliberations as to becoming a co-venturer with the military." The court also found that once involved,Unocal benefited from forced labor.

According to the AFL-CIO report, "Unocal expects at least a value of $1 billion from the Yadana project"

The project is one of the single largest sources of revenue for the military dictatorship.

The Villagers

Villagers are subject to random acts of theft, harassment and violence on a daily basis. Local villagers say that the Burmese army has rounded up tens of thousands of villagers to build this pipeline as well as roads, airports,military facilities, and multinational oil company buildings.

A US embassy report said that forced labor was common in Burma. "The military continued to force ordinary Burmese on a massive scale (including woman and children) to contribute their labor, often under harsh working conditions, on construction projects around the country," the report said.

Therefore we, US Campaign for Burma, urge you to please join the protest against TIAA-CREF on December 15 as says below.

****************************************************************

ACTIVISTS PROTEST AT ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING

TO PRESS PENSION FUND TO INVEST RESPONSIBLY AND

IMPROVE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

"Out of the Bad and into the Good"

Monday, December 15, 8:30-11 a.m. Annual Shareholder meeting of TIAA-CREF.
A call for the $300 billion pension giant to invest in positive ventures (like low-income housing); divest Unocal, Nike, Wal-Mart, BP, Costco, and Philip-Morris/Altria; and boycott World Bank bonds. Outside of 730 Third Ave. (between 45th and 46th streets). TIAA-CREF pension system participants can call to receive an admission pass to attend or speak up inside the meeting (800-842-2733, 212-490-9000).

During the week of the meeting, TIAA-CREF participants and others please
all CEO Herbert Allison at the same phone numbers and note the above issues.

For information, see www.maketiaa-crefethical.org; 260-982-5346; NJWollman@manchester.edu

Sponsored by Citizens' Coalition, Infact, International Tibet Independence
Movement, Press for Change, Students for a Free Tibet, U.S. Campaign for
Burma, U.S. Tibet Committee, World Bank Bonds Boycott, and Social Choice for
Social Change.

==========================================================

As the nation's largest pension fund, TIAA-CREF, a retirement fund mainly for educators, prides itself on being responsive to shareholders and a socially responsible "concerned investor." However, the fund continues to hold large investments that support tobacco sales, sweatshop labor, harmful environmental practices, and oil companies tied to brutal dictatorships. Other funds earn good returns while investing in more socially beneficial ways.

A broad-based coalition is calling for funds to be invested in affordable housing and in companies that are, for example, pioneering socially or environmentally responsible products or services. Also, TIAA-CREF is weak or contradictory in its own governance practices, despite being considered a leader in good corporate governance. Three relevant shareholder-proposed resolutions are on the annual meeting ballot