The latest issue of Multinational Monitor marks the 20th anniversary of its annual “10 Worst Corporations” list. This year's list features Chevron Corporation and General Electric, two companies listed in POGO’s Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD), which compiles instances of misconduct for the top 100 federal contractors.
Chevron gets called out for the ongoing litigation in Ecuador over damages wrought in the Amazon rainforest over many years by its Texaco subsidiary. The so-called "Rainforest Chernobyl" (described more fully in the FCMD here and here) is considered one of the world’s worst ecological disasters. In July, an unnamed Chevron lobbyist caused quite a stir when he told Newsweek, "We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this--companies that have made big investments around the world." Chevron is understandably nervous about the lawsuit, which could cost the company billions if it loses.
Further down the list (the companies are compiled in alphabetical order, not degree of heinousness) is General Electric. Multinational Monitor notes that GE has appeared previously in the “10 Worst Corporations” list for a variety of misbehavior. This year, it returns for new reasons: alleged tax fraud in Brazil and the firing of a whistleblower who tipped off the media about it.
Although publications like Multinational Monitor focus on what’s wrong with corporations like the ones featured in the FCMD, POGO would like to send our readers (hello, KSBR!) off on this Thanksgiving holiday with an upbeat message: Not all contractors are evil. Many do top-notch work and save the government money.
Happy Thanksgiving!
-- Neil Gordon
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