Greene County Democrat

Tag: PepsiCo

  • Newswire: Vice President Harris announces commitments exceeding $900 million for the Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire

    Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday announced the Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) Initiative, which the White House says supports the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) theme of “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All.” Its goal is to strengthen women’s economic empowerment globally.
    
The initiative contains over $900 million in commitments from governments, private sector companies, foundations, and civil society. The funds will bolster women’s economic participation in key sectors such as clean energy, fisheries, recycling, forest management, and environmental conservation.
    
The WISE Initiative is a core element of the broader Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to advancing women’s economic empowerment globally. The commitment aligns with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and the U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security. Notably, it builds on the administration’s previous announcement in Ghana, where $1 billion was pledged to empower women globally and bridge the digital gender divide.
    
According to a White House Fact Sheet, the initiative operates on three foundational pillars:
    
1. Promoting Well-Paying Jobs: Ensuring women have the necessary skills, training, and access to decent jobs in energy, land, and water use and management.


    2. Supporting Women-Owned Businesses: Facilitating increased access to banking, financial services, networks, markets, and technical assistance for women in critical sectors

    
3. Eliminating Barriers: Advancing STEM education for girls and addressing obstacles to women’s economic participation in energy, land, and water use and management.
    
Under the WISE umbrella, flagship initiatives include the Engendering Industries program, focusing on creating economic opportunities for women in sectors like water, agriculture, energy, and information technology.
    
The Climate Gender Equity Fund (CGEF), a public-private partnership under the direction of USAID, promotes financial inclusion for women-led organizations in climate finance for long-term economic growth.
    
Global commitments from governments include Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and Norway, each contributing significant funds to support women’s economic participation and empowerment.
    
Administration officials confirmed that the private sector, philanthropic organizations, and civil society are active participants. Major players such as Amazon, CARE, Citi, LinkedIn, Mastercard Impact Fund, PepsiCo, Reckitt, Unilever, and the Visa Foundation commit substantial financial resources to promoting women’s economic empowerment.
    
In reinforcing the U.S. commitment, Harris announced a contribution of $163 million to advance women’s economic security domestically and globally. Collectively, partners are pledging over $900 million, marking a historic step towards fostering women’s participation in the sustainable economy. “This initiative not only aligns with the APEC theme but also represents a bold stride in the global pursuit of gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable development,” administration officials said in a release.

  • Newswire : Native American groups ask NFL to force Washington Redskins name change

    By: Stephen Whyno, AP Sports Writer

    Native Americans protest racism

    WASHINGTON (AP) — More than a dozen Native American leaders and organizations sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday calling for the league to force Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the team name immediately.

    The letter was signed by 15 Native American advocates and obtained by The Associated Press. It demands the team and the NFL cease the use of Native American names, imagery and logos — with specific importance put on Washington, which last week launched a “ thorough review ” of its name.

    The letter was delivered on the same day that President Donald Trump voiced his opposition to any name change by the team. Several team sponsors have come out in favor of change recently and Snyder showed his first indication of willingness to do so amid a nationwide movement to erase racially insensitive symbols.

    According to their letter, the groups “expect the NFL to engage in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leaders, tribes, and organizations to repair the decades of emotional violence and other serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples.”

    The NFL did not immediately respond to a message confirming receipt of the letter. Goodell last week expressed support for Snyder’s review process of the name.

    Retired PGA Tour golfer Notah Begay, IllumiNative founder Crystal Echo Hawk, two former executive directors of the National Congress of American Indians and several authors and professors signed on to the letter, which wants a full re-branding of the team “to ensure that continuing harm is not perpetuated by anyone.”

    Trump is against re-branding the Redskins and Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians, who are also considering a name change.

    Trump tweeted: “They name teams out of STRENGTH, not weakness, but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like they are going to be changing their names in order to be politically correct.”

    Snyder had been steadfast against changing the name on several occasions since buying the team in 1999. Last week, sponsors FedEx, PepsiCo, Nike and Bank of America released statements saying they requested a change, and several online stores removed the team’s gear.

    “We believe it is time for a change,” PepsiCo said.

    FedEx CEO Frederick Smith is a minority owner, and the company is the title sponsor of the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland. The sudden flood of sponsors coming out against the name prompted the organizational review announced Friday.

    “This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the local community it is proud to represent on and off the field,” Snyder said.

    The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in May sparked protests and a nationwide debate on racism. That conversation renewed calls for Snyder to change the name called a “dictionary defined racial slur” by Native American advocates and experts.

    “We’ve never been faced with a greater opportunity and moment for this to finally happen,” Echo Hawk said last month.

    “Native Americans have been working and fighting on this issue for decades, decades and decades, and I think really talking with different Native leaders around the country, this is the moment. There’s really no excuse now for this Washington team and for the NFL to do the right thing.”