(see this earlier post on Citigroup's involvement with coal)

by David Sassoon

CitiGroup held its annual general meeting today under pressure from
angry shareholders both inside and outside the meeting. Before it was
over, Becky Tarbotton, the Global Finance Campaign Director of the
Rainforest Action Network (RAN), had extracted an unexpected promise
from Sir Win Bischoff, the chairman.

He promised to accompany her on a flight over Appalachia to witness
the effects of Mountaintop Removal Mining, financed by his bank, or to
send the CEO, Vikram Pandit, in his stead.

Tarbotton posted her account, called I Got a Date with Citi!, on the RAN blog. Here's a highlight:

When it was my turn to speak I recapped our request to
Citi to cease financing coal and climate, pointed out that it is the
people and lands like those of Appalachia who are truly impacted by our
continued reliance on coal, who are the real victims of climate change.

Then I asked a simple question: Would Vikram Pandit
please commit to accompanying me on a flight over Appalachia to witness
the affects of Mountaintop Removal, financed by his bank?

He laughed. He looked a little uncomfortable. I assured him that I
would be a wonderful flying companion. There was a slightly awkward
silence. Then to my surprise Sir Win Bischoff interjected and said: “I
can commit that one of us will accompany you on that flight."

Wow.

Tarbotton is headed to Bank of America's annual general meeting in
Charlotte on Wednesday. Wonder if she'll collect any additional
passengers.

more great enviromental posts at SolveClimate