Thread by @mattmday

Hanging out in Amazon's annual meeting, which is full of shareholder proposals.
Folks advocating for a reduction in food waste, corporate governance reform, facial recognition audits, and a proposal backed by thousands of employees (bloomberg.com/news/articles/…) on climate change.

Shankar Narayan of the ACLU of WA stands for a ban on sales of facial recognition tech to government.
Such tools "permanently alters the balance of power between governments and individuals."

Stan Shikuma, of the Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, advocates for an audit of Amazon's facial recognition tech. Cites the near mistaken internment of his grandfather, and the Japanese Internment generally. "One survivor told me: my face was my crime"

Maurice BP-Weeks of the Action Center on Race and the Economy, says Amazon should audit its policing of hate speech products sold on its retail site.

For the biggest online retailer, the difference between action and inaction could be "tremendously beneficial, or detrimental"

Dozens of folks stand inside the room in support of Amazon's employees' climate change resolution as employee Emily Cunningham speaks.

Most dramatic moment I've seen inside an Amazon shareholders meeting

Before she spoke, she asked the opportunity to address Jeff Bezos in person. Amazon's general counsel, who is running this portion of the meeting, said no.
"Will he be hearing this speech?"
"I assume so."

One journalist appeared to try to take a photo of the employees who stood in support many dressed in white, before an Amazon PR employee stepped in. Company prohibits recording of any kind in its meetings.

Cunningham: no issue more important for customers or employees than climate change.
"We are falling far short ... Jeff, all we need is your leadership."

A speaker rises to ask for a report that Amazon report on board member ideology, says the company takes left wing positions at the expense of conservative causes, particularly in it's SPLC-derivrd definition of hate groups.

Natasha Lamb, on a proposal for broader gender pay gap reporting, says Amazon already discloses median pay by gender as required in the UK. Why not do so for the US, too?

Aaron Brenner of the UFCW union, stands for a proposal to study tying diversity and other environmental, social and governance metrics into executive pay. Cites Amazon's predominantly white, male upper ranks, among other things.

A speaker advocates for one repeat proposal on the ballot, arguing that by counting abstention votes along with "no" votes in its shareholder tallies, Amazon is stacking the deck against its investors.

Amazon says all shareholder proposals were defeated. No vote tallies disclosed. That'll come in a filing on Friday.

And all board candidates approved.

After a promo video, CFO Brian Olsavsky reviewing business highlights in the last year.

Bezos to take questions after.

And, @ShiraOvide , I've finally found some Amazon charts with labelled y axes.

Unfortunately, they are corporate revenue and operating income, and I cannot snap a picture for you.

Amazon's tally of Prime membership remains "more than 100 million." No new figure in the 13 months since Bezos first disclosed it in a shareholder letter.

Olsavsky, who has a knack for touting specific Prime Video offerings during earnings calls, says he hopes shareholders were able to check out Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan in the last year.

Bezos time for shareholder Q&A. Worlds richest man takes the stage in his recent uniform of jeans and a blazer.

First questions are about coast to coast high speed rail (Bezos: it sounds fun, not sure how to pay for it)
The logistical hurdle of delivery drivers.
And somebody who literally wants to return a package to the boss.

Amazon employee asks Jeff if he'll commit to senior exec level goals to eliminate carbon emissions.
Bezos doesn't say either way, but, before deferring to Amazon's sustainability chief, says there is a lot of work underway. Solar panels. Cutting emissions related to delivery. Etc

"We're doing a lot," Bezos says, in both core business model stuff and sustainability programming.
"There are a lot of initiatives underway. And we'll think of more."

Questioner with praise for Amazon's donation of space, money, and time to Mary's Place, which shelters homeless families.
The permanent shelter Amazon is building them in it's campus opens next year.
Still probably the highest profile civic move Amazon has made in it's hometown.

Employee says in his work, dates and milestones are mandatory. So what's the date Amazon will be completely powered by renewables?
Bezos defers to sustainability chief Kara Hurst. Who says they'll disclose carbon footprint later this year, doesn't answer the q.

Meeting adjourned, now the real action is outside. Amazon employees who pushed for the climate resolution holding a press conference.
"Jeff Bezos showed he's still not making the climate crisis the priority it must be."

And here's the story: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…