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Boston Common Asks Wal-Mart, Target and Costco to Stop Selling Gems Mined in Burma (Myanmar)

BOSTON, MA March 23, 2006 -- Boston Common initiated dialogue with Wal-Mart, Target and Costco to encourage the companies to forbid the sale of any jewelry containing gems mined in Burma.  Trade in Burmese gems provides significant revenue for the ruling military junta, a repressive government with a long history of committing human rights abuses against its people.  Boston Common is pleased Wal-Mart stopped selling clothing made in Burma in 1992, and is urging all the companies to adopt a similar policy for jewelry.

For more information please contact: Lauren Compere, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Boston Common Asset Management, (617) 720-5557, lcompere(at)bostoncommonasset.com