CitiGroup Chairman Commits to Appalachian Flyover with Climate Activist

CitiGroup held its annual general meeting today under pressure from angry shareholders both inside and outside the meeting. Before it was over, Becky Tarbotton, the Global Finance Campaign Director of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), had extracted an unexpected promise from Sir Win Bischoff, the chairman.

He promised to accompany her on a flight over Appalachia to witness the effects of Mountaintop Removal Mining, financed by his bank, or to send the CEO, Vikram Pandit, in his stead.

Tarbotton posted her account, called I Got a Date with Citi!, on the RAN blog. Here's a highlight:

When it was my turn to speak I recapped our request to Citi to cease financing coal and climate, pointed out that it is the people and lands like those of Appalachia who are truly impacted by our continued reliance on coal, who are the real victims of climate change.

Then I asked a simple question: Would Vikram Pandit please commit to accompanying me on a flight over Appalachia to witness the affects of Mountaintop Removal, financed by his bank?

He laughed. He looked a little uncomfortable. I assured him that I would be a wonderful flying companion. There was a slightly awkward silence. Then to my surprise Sir Win Bischoff interjected and said: “I can commit that one of us will accompany you on that flight."

Wow.

Tarbotton is headed to Bank of America's annual general meeting in Charlotte on Wednesday. Wonder if she'll collect any additional passengers.

 

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