Ethics Newsline®

Ethical Investment Industry Faces New Moral Dilemmas

Jul 21st, 2008 • Posted in: News

Stories include growing scrutiny of divesting from Zimbabwe

VARIOUS DATELINES
Questions involving investments in natural resources and in politically unstable nations arose is several news stories last week. Among them:

• In the investment world, shortages often lead to profitable opportunity. But the Christian Science Monitor speculates on whether speculation in water supplies is unethical. Several experts on a Monitor panel weighed in, and while coming to no firm conclusions, they did note that the decision may come down to a judgment about individual companies involved in water infrastructure projects. Chris Brown, chief investment strategist and portfolio manager for Pax World Balanced Fund, put it this way: “We really have to look at these companies: Are they more focused on profits rather than quality or service? We look at [environmental] violations. Mismanagement of that is an issue and that’s something as an investor we have to focus on and make sure they’re managing responsibly.” Another expert, Eric Fernald of KLK Research & Analytics, also pointed out that bottled water is currently in the ethical crosshairs, with environmentalists worried about plastic waste and the problem of its disposal.
• Ethical investors may benefit from soaring oil prices, according to a report from the official publication of the London Stock Exchange. Mike Fox, Sustainable Leaders Trust fund manager at Co-operative Investments, told LondonStockExchange.com that record oil prices will fuel a surge in demand for public transport. Ethical funds often are heavily invested in public transport ventures.
• The Irish government will scrutinize the ethical integrity of its investments in light of the nation’s pension holdings in Zimbabwe, according to trade journal Investment and Pensions Europe. One of the difficulties in ascertaining ethical investments, the journal reports, is determining how to categorize investments that involve multiple locations — for example, a venture located in Zimbabwe and several other nations. Zimbabwe has been under close scrutiny since its longtime ruler, Robert Mugabe, won a disputed election amid claims that opposition voters were intimidated, injured, and killed.

Sources: Christian Science Monitor, July 18 — Investment and Pensions Europe, July 16 — London Stock Exchange, July 10.

For more information, see: Related Newsline Commentary, July 14 — Related Newsline story, July 7 — Related Newsline story, June 30 — Related Newsline Commentary, June 30 — Related Newsline story, May 27.

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2 Responses »

1. Ethics Newsline® » News » Is Having a Big Family Morally Equivalent to Driving a Gas-Guzzler? on July 28th, 2008 at 8:39 pm:

   [...] more information, see: Related Newsline story, July 21 — Related Newsline story, May 5 — Related Newsline story, May 5 — [...]

2. Ethics Newsline® » News » U.S. Imposes New Sanctions Against Zimbabwe on July 28th, 2008 at 8:44 pm:

   [...] more information, see: Related Newsline story, July 21 — Related Newsline story, July 7 — Related Newsline Commentary, June 20 [...]

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