Contact: Sean Mc Manus, 202-488-0107, Sean@HolyLandPrinciples.org
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Efforts have escalated to get Cisco to sign the Holy Land Principles -- an 8-point corporate code of conduct for the 545 American companies doing business in Israel-Palestine/Palestine-Israel.
The Capitol Hill-based Holy Land Principles Inc. has published an updated Pamphlet, "Why Cisco Should Sign the Holy Land Principles"-- a moral appeal to all Cisco investors, shareholders and stakeholders to convince Cisco to sign the Holy Land Principles. (The first Cisco pamphlet by the same title was published November 2013).
The Holy Land Principles are pro-Jewish, pro-Palestinian and pro-company. The Principles do not call for quotas, reverse discrimination, divestment or disinvestment-- only for fair employment by American companies. The Principles are modeled on the Mac Bride Principles, universally regarded as the most effective campaign ever against anti-Catholic discrimination in Northern Ireland.
The colored, 41-page 7.25" x10" pamphlet also importantly contains an independent report on Cisco. The report -- commissioned by Holy Land Principles, Inc. -- is by the Institute for Sustainable Investments (Si2), "Cisco Systems and Human Rights: Focus on Israel-Palestine." The pamphlet will be sent to key Cisco investors, shareholders and stakeholders; to all of the 545 companies; to all Members of Congress, House and Senate; and to the faith and justice groups involved in working for justice and peace in Palestine-Israel. It is also available at HolyLandPrinciples.org
Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of Holy Land Principles, Inc. -- also president of the Irish National Caucus, which launched the Mac Bride Principles on November 5, 1984 -- explained: "Our mission is to get all 545 companies to sign the Holy Land Principles. But in this instance, we are focusing on Cisco, which not only has made large investments in the area, but also presents itself as a positive force in the region. Furthermore, Cisco emphasizes its commitment to human rights.
We, of course, know that the 545 companies have certain fair employment guidelines already in place --just as we knew, before we launched the Mac Bride Principles, that those companies doing business in Northern Ireland had fair employment guidelines in place. However – as the historical record has abundantly established -- it was not until those companies signed the Mac Bride Principles that real progress was made in fair employment. As with the Mac Bride Principles, the Holy Land Principles do not try to address political problems. That is not the proper business of American companies--or so companies might try to conveniently argue-- but fair employment most assuredly is their business. Furthermore, the Holy Land Principles are the perfect way to particularize and implement the Ruggie Principles."
Holy Land Principles, Inc. owns shares in Cisco, and has already filed a shareholder resolution with Cisco, whose Annual Meeting will be later this Fall.
