The Challenge to Power

Money, Investing, and Democracy

by John C. Harrington

For the Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2005

The Challenge to Power
Money, Investing, and Democracy
By John C. Harrington

Contact: Jon-Mikel Gates, Publicity Assistant 802-295-6300 x111
jgates@chelseagreen.com

“A hard-hitting analysis of how our own money is being used to undermine our democracy. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever suspected that something has gone terribly wrong with the way things are run, but never could really understand what.”

—Amy Domini, Domini Social Investment Fund

The Challenge to Power (Chelsea Green, 2005) is a thoughtful analysis of the influence corporate power has on democracy in America. Author John C. Harrington takes a hard look at the links between corporations and government, and explores consequences of their interdependency. Left unchecked, corporations are ravaging the environment, destroying democratic societies, and widening the gap between rich and poor. It is an untenable situation, and one that must be changed in order for democracy to survive.

In The Challenge to Power, Harrington writes passionately about the need for individuals and organizations to challenge the stranglehold that big business has on both society and the world economy. Numerous corporate scandals–from Enron to WorldCom–have jolted the public at large out of complacency and renewed public interest in wrestling with the impact of corporations on US and world democracies. Our only chance to take back control of our economy and our political system, Harrington says, lies in our ability to control our dollars.

In order for real change to occur Harrington encourages coordinated actions that include shareholder activism, responsible investing, coordinated corporate campaigns, community mobilization, and active citizenship. With wry humor and real life examples, he discusses what we as individuals can do to challenge corporate power and deconstruct the corporation to create a true market economy which is beneficial for workers, consumers, and the environment.

The Challenge to Power gives the reader strategies to thwart corporate domination of the earth’s resources, decentralize and democratize the economy, restore participatory democracy, tame corruption and revitalize community control of our capital. Anybody who has an interest in the health of our democracy must read this book.

John C. Harrington has been a leader in the socially responsible investment movement for over thirty years, and was a key architect of the divestment movement against the apartheid government in South Africa. He is currently the President and CEO of Harrington Investments, Inc. Author of Investing with Your Conscience, he is also one of the founders and former chairman of the board of Working Assets and Progressive Asset Management, two pioneering socially responsible financial services companies.

Available Sept. 2005 | Paperback | 1-931498-97-0 | $22.50 | 6 x 9 | 376 pages

For more information, please visit www.chelseagreen.com/2005/items/challengetopowercloth.