Walking through my mind, I am amazed to find, memories of each passing season, which we remember for some reason. Having experienced the fall and winter, we are just a couple of weeks away from experiencing the beautiful spring in DC!

During fall, the leaves were of so many different shades and one could just stare at them in awe for hours, and now is the cold continuing with showers of snow once in a while. Winter will soon end, spring will be here and it would just be the right time to enjoy every minute of the bright, beautiful sun.

Just like the seasons, our moods go up and down and small little things can bring a smile on a dull gloomy day. This Valentine’s was my first after marriage and I was quite upset about not being with my husband. Back home in the evening from office – I saw a packet delivered for me. I opened it and found my ‘smile’ for the day! It was a cute little stuff toy - a dog with a flower in hand and a box of chocolates with a little note sent by my husband. I couldn’t have been happier.

On work front, I had the privilege to represent Free the Slaves in the Shareholders Resolutions and Social Advocacy meeting organized by DC BAR Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section and Corporation, Finance an Securities Law Section and hear some really interesting speakers on the subject.

Shareholder resolutions have become a potent and effective, but controversial tool for public interest organizations to advance environmental, social and human rights issues through the use of corporate governance process and attendant media attention. Some recent campaigns have addressed climate change, animal testing, recycling and human rights.

I learnt about the Social Investments’ firms, which specialize exclusively in socially responsible investing. The firms manage funds for individual and institutional investors who wish to integrate social and environmental standards into their investment decisions and analyze corporate holdings against social and environmental criteria’s. I also got to know about filing proxies and how shareholders could vote their proxies to support the program goals. For example, they can vote for resolutions urging companies to become environmentally responsible or to end certain exploitative practices.

Paul Shapiro from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) spoke about the advocacy efforts for humane treatment of animals in agribusinesses. He referred to the egg industry as a huge problem, wherein the hens are confined in some most outrageous conditions. He spoke about HSUS advocating strongly for ‘cage free’ eggs and in this context have been educating shareholders about the important role they can play. He spoke about shareholders resolution and citing a few examples said that while on one hand Wall- Mart is challenging their resolution and not being receptive, Safeway (one of the leading grocery chains) after a couple of meetings have finally introduced new policies representing important progress on basic animal welfare issues and is sure to positively affect many thousands of animals. He said that Safeway's move also sends a strong message to the agribusiness industry that it must rapidly move away from the worst factory farming abuses, such as intensive confinement systems and the conventional poultry slaughter method. Safeway has establish a purchasing preference for cage-free eggs, which is intended to favor producers who are converting away from battery-cage confinement systems. He also mentioned that Safeway has decided to give purchasing preference to poultry slaughterers that use Controlled Atmosphere Stunning, which causes significantly less suffering than the conventional poultry slaughter method.

During the weekend, I met Gargi’s friends Dolly & Nazmul, a very fun – loving couple and we stayed over at their place on Saturday night. Dolly made some excellent food and I was amazed with her pickle making skills...absolutely delicious!

As seasons come and go…memories are locked in our minds…and we remember the gone seasons for a reason!