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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY In 2002, we put in place a formal Corporate Social Responsibility Policy and pledged our support to the United Nations Global Compact, which challenges businesses to endorse and support nine principles in the areas of human rights, labor and the environment. We engaged in discussions with both internal and external stakeholders to better understand their positions and perspectives on our operations. Based on these discussions and led by our values, we are improving our existing programs and are developing new programs to address gaps. Amerada Hess has a long history of socially responsible community involvement and charitable contributions. In our 2001 Environment, Health, Safety and Social Responsibility report we presented several studies detailing Amerada Hess' sponsored social efforts, many of which are highlighted on our website at www.hess.com. We continued many of these community activities in 2002, such as participation in the March of Dimes, disaster relief efforts, and various charities and sponsorships. While these initiatives serve as a cornerstone of our efforts, we believe that corporate social responsibility is founded on sound economic development performed in a manner that upholds ethical standards and contributes positively to members of the community. Some of the social responsibility challenges we face, and our response to them, are provided below: Transparency – We support transparency initiatives within our own operations and within the oil and gas industry. The Company published its first Environment, Health and Safety Annual Report in 1997. Since then, we have added a discussion of our social responsibility efforts to our annual report, and have engaged independent report verifiers to help improve our reporting processes and provide assurances to our readers in regards to our report content. Stakeholder Engagement – We believe that it is essential to engage and build cooperative relationships with our stakeholders. Examples of some of our stakeholder engagement efforts include discussions with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), either directly or through industry organizations; discussions with multi-national intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme, UN Development Programme, and the World Bank, discussions with community advisory panels, meetings with neighborhood groups and associations, and support of and participation in local community events. In an effort to support engagement and transparency within the investment community, we participated in various “socially responsible” investment surveys focused on environmental, social, and economic performance. Business Practices – We have revised our existing Business Practice Guide to provide our employees guidance and expectations in regards to business ethics, corporate citizenship, contracting and labor practices, regulatory compliance, employee safety, and protection of the environment. All employees must review and sign the Business Practice Guide when hired, and employees are required to report violations. Employees – We strive to attract, motivate and reward highly talented people. In regards to employment practices, the Company has a Corporate Employment Practices Policy which addresses issues such as diversity, equal employment opportunity discrimination, sexual harassment, consensual relationships, and employee training. The policy applies to all of our operations, and audits are performed in regards to the policy requirements. Human Rights –In our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, we committed to accept and uphold the principles contained in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, meaning that we strive to provide safe and healthy working conditions to our employees; support freedom of association; oppose discrimination and forced or child labor; support responsible use of security forces; and promote economic livelihood and public debate. In response to human rights issues, we apply our policies in all countries where we operate and have conducted assessments against our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy to evaluate contractor and service provider performance. Community Projects – As part of our efforts to provide value to our stakeholders, we strive to improve the educational, health, cultural, and socio-economic conditions of community members wherever we operate. In 2002, we initiated a social investment pilot project for one of our operations in West Africa focused on stakeholder engagement, partnering and capacity building, and sustainable implementation. We intend to employ our learnings from this pilot project to other community well-being projects. Environment, Health and Safety – In addition to focusing on improved environmental performance, we are identifying areas where we can enhance and protect biodiversity. We are also implementing employee medical, travel, security, and fitness programs aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of employees, and are committed to implementing new safety and wellness programs to help us attain our safety improvement goals. Security – Our corporate security program is based on best industry practices and meets the security principles contained in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The program objective is to provide the Company with the tools and expertise necessary to protect our personnel, facilities and assets on a global basis. We recognize that both our EH&S and SR performance is of interest to an increasingly broad spectrum of stakeholders, including our employees, our shareholders, host governments, local communities, NGOs and others. We are mindful that, in the modern era, a larger role is expected of companies by all segments of society and that in the final analysis, our success depends on our performance. |
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