Violence & Militarization of Society
	Introduction Goals & Objectives Resources Contact
	One of the concerns of the Militarism and Violence in Society Working Group is the inappropriate marketing of violent video games to youth. Corporations must assume greater responsibility for education about, and enforcement of, rating systems and guidelines applicable to violent interactive videos.
	Issues / Working Groups Access to Health Care Contract Supplier System Corporate Governance Enabling Access to Capital Environmental Justice Global Warming Promoting Human Rights Violence & Militarization of Society Water & Food Resources Access to Health Care Contract Supplier System Corporate Governance Enabling Access to Capital Environmental Justice Global Warming Promoting Human Rights Violence & Militarization of Society Water & Food

My name is Cathy Rowan. I am a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of 275 faith-based institutional investors: denominations, religious orders, dioceses and healthcare corporations. In that coalition I represent Trinity Health, a Catholic healthcare system based in Michigan.

In order to be faithful to our mission as institutions that promote healthy communities, that promote justice and peace, we use our investments to monitor the impact of corporate practices on society and on the environment, and hold corporations accountable for their actions. For over 30 years we have used our voice as shareholders to engage in dialogue and actions with corporations on many social and environmental issues.

As institutional investors committed to corporate responsibility, one of the issues we are concerned about is the impact that violent media has on children, the access that children have to that media, and what the retail companies we invest in are doing to prevent that access.

Leaders of our faith communities speak out on the culture of violence as reflected in aspects of public life and in the entertainment media. Our hospitals and clinics daily face what has been called a public health emergency: the violence done to and done by children and youth in our society.

Years of research has shown that viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children. Research on violent interactive media, such as video and computer games, indicates that it has a stronger and more lasting effect on violent behavior.

We want to know if companies have policies to prohibit minors from purchasing violent entertainment products, and what they are doing to ensure their employees understand and enforce these policies. If they have policies, we want to know what these companies are doing to educate the public about them.

Members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are writing to the nations' largest retailing companies to seek dialogue and action from corporations to prevent children's exposure to harmful violent media.

While violent video games are not the only factor contributing to violence, they are clearly a factor. And they can be easily addressed. Corporations already take action to keep harmful products away from children. We believe that in the case of inappropriate and violent media, they can do the same.