Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil and Halliburton Inducted into Corporate Hall of Shame

In yet another public relations blow to mega retailer Wal-Mart, Corporate Accountability International announced that the discount chain, along with ExxonMobil and Halliburton, has been inducted into the Corporate Hall of Shame. The three were selected after 8592 online votes cast between May 16 through June 20.

Half of all voters cast ballots for ExxonMobil and Halliburton, while fellow nominee Kimberly-Clark went toe to toe with Wal-Mart for the third slot for the dubious distinction. Just 60 votes separated the thrid and fourth place finishers. Other nominees for induction into the Hall of Shame were Coke, Ford, Merck and Nestle. In addition to voting for the eight candidates, voters were allowed to write in their own candidates. Of the 300 write-in votes, McDonalds, Lockheed Martin and Monsanto were named most often.

Nominees for the Corporate Hall of Shame were bestowed on companies that have a history of political influence and interference, public deception and documented abuses that harm people or the environment.

"The Hall of Shame demonstrates that thousands of people are fed up with irresponsible corporations," said Kelle Louaillier, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability International

With rising gas prices and global warming being major election year issues, ExxonMobil's place at the top of the list was guaranteed by record profits and their repudiation of global warming. ExxonMobil receives billions of dollars each year in tax breaks and royalty relief for oil taken from public lands, but has still managed to avoid paying the stiff $4.5 billion penalty from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The oil giant has managed to find $16 million to fund groups to delay action on global warming.

Wal-Mart has come under fire for low wages and poor benefits, despite daily sales of almost one billion dollars. Most Wal-Mart employees live close to the poverty line, with over half being unable to afford Wal-Mart's health company health coverage. Over one million current and former female employees are now involved in the largest sex discrimination suit in U.S. history for unfair pay and promotion practices at the world's largest retailer.

Vice President Dick Cheney's former company Halliburton has been awarded more than $20 billion in government contracts since the beginning of the Iraq War. Congress is currently investigating $2.7 billion in fraudulent charges- including overcharges for meals for U.S. troops. Halliburton has also been accused of delivering feces-contaminated water to troops for bathing. Halliburton is now moving from Houston to Dubai, where the tax burden will likely be lower.

According to Louailler, "The competition among these corporate abusers was stiff -- because, unfortunately -- each nominee has a shameful track record. Fortunately, the public's demand for corporate accountability is universal, and the voting for Hall of Shame underscores the desire to eradicate shameful business practices."

Source: The Results Are In- (http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/cms/page1533.cfm)