BMP is an experimental attempt to create a map of the business world that starts from critical information regarding certain companies, extends to their organizational structures, and spreads out to their shareholders, partners, etc.

Our database grows through two main efforts:

1. Searching for articles featuring a business element criticized for issues such as war profiteering, worker abuse and a bad environmental record, taking these companies and extracting all possible information on their business structure – including subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, owners and investments.

2. Charting as much of the general business world as possible, with an emphasis on household names and companies that supply common services and produce consumer products.

This growing map of the business world provides a scale by which to measure companies of interest, and to judge how much “blood money” runs through their corporate veins.

By looking up their preferred toothpaste brand, local gas stations, insurance company or stock portfolios, users will help in the effort to make BMP a comprehensive tool that covers much of the business world.

We hope to see ethical considerations become a stronger influence on shopping habits, and offer BMP as a research tool for professionals, activists, and consumers. Our view is that all our efforts in condemning these corporations are diminished when we end up buying their products, and that the public battle should be taken to the financial field. Instead of cooing at some of these companies when they pledge to make minor concessions, we should promote their best available competitors, and keep our grudge until the corporate climate and culture changes.