We're Not Gonna Protest!

My company gets protested periodically because we made the tractors that are the Israel Defense Forces bulldozers, which are used to knock down buildings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This week, some protesters went downtown where they waived signs, blaming Cat for the deaths of peace protestors and demanded the company stop selling D9 dozers to Israel. Claims that it is unethical to sell equipment that would be used for such a purpose are being made. This claim has been countered with the statement that Cat does not possess right or ability to interfere with the way product is used after it's purchased.


Story from WEEK News about this week's protest:

Group Protests Caterpillar
Mar 16, 2006 - National and local political activists rallied in front of the Caterpillar's headquarters in downtown Peoria Thursday.

They say they want the company to stop selling bulldozers to an Israeli military that uses them to knock down Palestinian homes.

The protest comes on a third anniversary of the death of a 23-year old American activist Rachel Corrie who was run over by an Israeli soldier driving a Caterpillar bulldozer.

Joe Carr with the International Solidarity Movement said, "Caterpillar Corporation is fully aware of what Israel is using their equipment to do. They know that Israel is systematically violating Palestinian rights, destroying homes, annexing lands and killing people. So therefore, they are enabling Israeli war crimes and they must held responsible for their actions."

According to the police, four arrests were made, after the protesters attempted to lie on Adams street covered with fake blood. The protest blocked traffic for some time over the lunch hour.

Caterpillar issued a written statement today, saying that it "fully complies with all local, U.S. and international laws and policies governing sales of its products around the world, including the U.S. foreign Military Sales Program."



Corporate Statement on Global Unrest

Middle East
"For the past four years, activists have wrongly included Caterpillar in a publicity campaign aimed at advancing their much larger political agendas. Over that same period of time, we've repeatedly evaluated our position - as have our shareholders - and determined that while the protests occasionally succeed in gaining headlines, they neither change the facts nor our position.

"As a well-respected and responsible global citizen, Caterpillar fully complies with all local, U.S. and international laws and policies governing sales of our products around the world, including the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program. In addition, we clearly have neither the legal right nor the tangible ability to regulate how customers use their machines.

"While it's disappointing that a small number of activists continue to use our international visibility, leadership and reputation to draw attention to their cause, we have no intention of participating in a debate that appears aimed not at our company, but at the policies established and controlled by the governments of the United States and Israel."