INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT KODAK’S ANNUAL MEETING

SPEAK OUT FOR CLEAN AIR AT KODAK!

Urge Kodak Shareholders to Vote for an Environmental Shareholder Resolution

Kodak neighbors know all about noxious odors near Kodak Park. Thanks to the Bucket Brigade citizen air-monitoring program, we are also learning more about Kodak’s toxic emissions. Now is the time to urge Kodak to improve production and save money, too!

JOIN AN INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT KODAK’S ANNUAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 9 AM, THEATER ON THE RIDGE, ROCHESTER

What will we be telling shareholders?

Recent sampling by the Bucket Brigade found high levels of toxic chemicals in the air near Kodak Park, including acrylonitrile 1,000 times above the DEC annual ambient air guideline. These results confirm neighbors’ worst fears – high levels of toxic chemicals are crossing the fenceline of Kodak Park and entering the surrounding community.

Eastman Kodak is NYS’s #1 manufacturing polluter and one of the largest emitters of cancer-causing chemicals in the United States.

Kodak expects to spend about $57 million for future environmental investigations and cleanups at Kodak Park, part of $141 million in environmental liabilities worldwide.

Kodak spent $84 million worldwide in 2003 alone for pollution prevention, waste treatment and cleanup costs. Non-toxic production will save Kodak money and keep neighbors safe!

Eastman Kodak plans to eliminate 12,000 to 15,000 jobs worldwide because of “accelerating declines in film sales and a need to be more aggressive in digital imaging.”

Kodak has laid off 550 Rochester employees since July, some with only six hours’ notice. How many layoffs could be avoided with a cheaper, non-toxic production plan?

How do Shareholder Resolutions work?

Shareholder resolutions are presented by stock owners at annual meetings to advocate for corporate policy changes. Corporations often use the phrase “responsibility to our shareholders” to avoid investing in environmental protections and other accountability measures. On May 12th shareholders will be voting on an important shareholder resolution, “Adopt a Non-Toxic Chemicals Policy” resolution, which was supported by NYS Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who oversees the NYS Pension System, a major Kodak investor.

“Adopt A Non-Toxic Chemicals Policy” requests that Kodak phase out the use and release of extremely toxic chemicals, and replace them with cost-effective safer alternatives. In addition, Kodak would provide an annual report to shareholders on progress made in addressing pollution problems.

For more information, call Citizens' Environmental Coalition at 716-885-6848 or log onto www.kodakstoxiccolors.org

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Mike Schade
Western New York Director
Citizens' Environmental Coalition
543 Franklin Street.
Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 885-6848 Phone
(716) 885-6845 Fax
cecmike@choiceonemail.com
http://www.cectoxic.org/
http://www.ecothreatny.org/
http://www.kodakstoxiccolors.org/