Largest US Pension Fund Invested in Monsanto

Article was first seen on Alternet

Investing in a company that sells harmful products like the toxic herbicide Roundup is counter to CalPERS' mission.

By Zen Honeycutt / AlterNet

mayo 17, 2017

I was recently informed by a former California public health employee, that CalPERS, the state's pension and health care fund, the largest in the nation, has invested $136 million in Monsanto.

As a California activist committed to healthy communities, I see this investment as a huge conflict of interest. For its health plan subscribers, the CalPERS mission to “advance the financial and health security” of the participants does not align with the detrimental effects of the toxic herbicide Roundup, Monsanto’s number-one product.

The day after finding out about this ill-advised investment, I sent a letter to CalPERS urging it to divest from Monsanto. They have not responded.

Concerned Californians should be outraged by this investment by CalPERS in Monsanto and the harm that inevitably impacts the very retirees CalPERS is responsible to protect.

Click here for link to fulll Alternet Article.

March Against Monsanto in Akron, Ohio (abril 8, 2011).

Photo Credit: Bill Baker/Flickr

Sample letter written by Kat Furey of the CA State Guild, MAA supporter.

You may cut and paste to send or write your own. They ARE tracking calls and emails.

[correo electrónico protegido]

CalPERS, Board of Directors and Marci Frost, CEO

Tel number: 916-795-3829

400 Q St, Sacramento, CA 95811

mayo 19. 2017

Dear Board of CalPERS,

I am shocked and horrified to learn that CalPERS,
"CalPERS builds retirement and health security for California state, school, and public agency members. We manage the largest public pension fund in the US."

has invested $136 Million CalPERS PENSION FUNDS in Monsanto Corporation, company that brought the world DDT, AGENT ORANGE, PCB's, GLYPHOSATE (originally a chelator for cleaning out pipes) herbicide, antibiotic, endocrine disruptor, neurotoxin, which is found in 85% of US FOOD, and in a vast majority of waterways, in human breast milk, urine and blood samples in a number of tests. Glyphosate has been ADDED by OEHHA to the PROP 65 Toxics List, as a human carcinogen:

https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/comments/proposed-specific-regulatory-level-chemical-causing-cancer-glyphosate

In addition, Monsanto is being sued pervasively for PCB poisoning

in the Bay Area, Michigan, and many other places; a series of Class

Action Lawsuits are in the works across the nation and around the world, for people and their loved ones who have been poisoned by glyphosate and have Non-Hodchkins lymphoma. Glyphosate bans are increasing in number all over California and around the world.

From an investment standpoint alone, these are HUGE STRIKES

AGAINST this corporation, all well deserved, and easily compel
the case that MONSANTO IS DOING BAD BUSINESS FOR HUGE

PROFIT - AND IT'S CATCHING UP TO THEM.

You have done a good job investing in renewables and THERE is

where you need to keep investing! I urge you to DIVEST IMMEDIATELY from Monsanto because ALL THE products they MAKE DESTROY THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE, SOIL, WATER AND ECOSYTEMS AROUND THE GLOBE.

A RETIRMENT PENSION PLAN FOR CALIFORNIANS MUST PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS GOALS AND MISSION ARE. Investment in DEADLY POISONS is NOT consistent with CalPERS' mission of health, by any standard whatsoever.

STAND UP NOW FOR REAL FOR CALIFORNIA, AND DUMP MONSANTO. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING and we are active, spreading the word, and will not stop until you divest.

Sinceramente,

Your Name

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Alexis Keiser comentado 2017-06-03 16:09:14 -0400
If I were expecting a pension from CALPERS I would be petitioning them myself to dump Monsanto stock.
Jon abrahamson comentado 2017-05-20 23:50:36 -0400
THOSE HIPPOCRATES! Unbelievable! Even with all those lawsuits! I wonder who’s palm got heavily greased for this one? I know some one got a lot of money to do this! With pensions starting to fail all over our country! FMTT!
Done 5/20/17 @ 10:30