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Violent Video Games: Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto Controversy Indicates Need for Reform
in Video Game Industry, Say Socially Responsible Investors

 

NEW YORK, NY ///July 21, 2005/// The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a coalition of faith-based institutional investors with a combined portfolio value of over $120 billion, pays attention to both the financial and social performances of the companies in which its members invest. Among these companies are video game software developers, console makers and retailers.

We are concerned with how the "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" controversy impacts the video game industry as a whole.

For the past two years, our members have encouraged retailers, game developers and marketers to follow and implement any internal codes and guidelines developed by the interactive game industry to keep games with graphic violence and strong sexual content out of the hands of youth. Recent events related to "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" damage the credibility and effectiveness of current industry guidelines.

We believe a positive outcome to this controversy would be the creation of a
video games ratings process that

· is inclusive of all stakeholders: parents, teachers, the public health community, retailers, game developers and investors;
· is transparent; and
· accountable to stakeholders through public disclosure.

As investors, we believe that taking such steps will better protect companies in our portfolios from risks to shareholder value, while at the same time protect children from inappropriate video games.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

NEW YORK CITY AREA

Cathy Rowan, Corporate Responsibility Consultant, Trinity Health
Phone: 718-822-0820
Fax: 718-504-4787
E-mail: rowan@bestweb.net

Julie Tanner, Christian Brothers Investment Services
Phone: 212-490-0800 ext.147
Fax: 212-490-6092
E-mail: tannerj@cbisonline.com

Gary Brouse, (also NEW JERSEY), Program Director
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Phone: 212-870-2316
Fax: 212-870-2023
E-mail: gbrouse@iccr.org

ILLINOIS

Gwen Farry, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Phone: 312-641-5151
Fax 312-641-1250
E-mail: farry@claret.org

BOSTON AREA

Dawn Wolf, Boston Common Asset Management LLC
Phone: 617-720-5557
Fax: 617-720-5665
E-mail: dwolfe@bostoncommonasset.com

MICHIGAN

Sister. Mary Ellen Gondeck, Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth
Phone: 248-541-3094
Fax: 248-414-3627
E-mail: megssj@aol.com

Sister Regina McKillip, Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
Phone: 708-366-6244
E-mail: opjustice@aol.com

PENNSYVANLIA (Philadelphia area)

Don R. Kuespert, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Phone: 610-793-0990
Fax: 610-793-0347
E-mail: drk@infi.net

Nora Nash, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Phone: 610-558-7661
Fax: 610-558-5855
E-mail: nnash@osfphila.org

Pat Zerega, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Phone: 412-367-7575
Fax: 412-367-7411
E-mail: patricia_zerega@elca.org

 


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