| COLUMN
I have been seeing a great number of initiatives dealing
with the topic of philanthropy. Significant effort has been carried
out to mobilize the wealth of high net worth individuals, companies
and small investors for philanthropic causes. Companies, wealthy
individuals, investors, foundations have created philanthropic units
to process some of their assets. This is wonderful. Does it help
and is it effective?
The way one earns the money is as important as the way one gives
the money. Intentions are well meaning, but if the bulk of the money
is earned in a way that furthers environmental and social destruction
what is the point. Most foundations still do not manage their money
in a responsible or sustainable manner. Always follow the money.
Can you integrate philanthropy with investment? Must it always be
separate? Is philanthropy an end of pipe solution? Could investment
in cleantech or sustainable businesses, in the developed or developing
world, help remove the need for philanthropy in some cases. There
will always be a need for education and health care which is not
an investment, with a short term financial return.
With the growth of investments that provide a social and environmental
added value, as well as market returns, we should rethink philanthropy.
It is possible now to invest in public equity, private equity, bonds,
real estate, micro finance, etc. according to the triple bottom
line.
Investment in enterprise that creates a sustainable economy, and
managing philanthropic sources according to a triple bottom line
is a development that is long overdue. I welcome and encourage all
these developments
Brooklyn
Bridge-Angel of the Month
A mutual friend introduced me to Count Albrecht Matushcka. Count
Matuschka is wild, fun, passionate, knowledgeable, warm, engaging,
and most of all committed to an economy based upon well being. From
the moment we met, he has continuously opened his network to me.
Once, he called his relations and tried to get meetings for me while
I was there. It was something that I wasn't used to. Someone sharing
without questioning or keeping score. This was refreshing and rewarding.
I was able to meet many more people in Germany, than I would have
normally.
He opened his world, his home and his family to me. I especially
was grateful for his insight and wisdom as to scaling up sustainability.
Albrecht is a true angel of the month. Taking the time, using his
reputation, and sharing his network to help others, for the sole
purpose of helping someone else achieve their dreams.
Thank you.
Quote
"We make a living by what we get, but we
make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
FEATURE ARTICLES
Global
Development Bonds (PDF Download)
By the EFC Study Team,
Michael Eckhart & John E. Mullen
This
paper introduces a proposal to establish a new category of U.S.
investment security called Global Development Bonds (GDBs). The
objective is to mobilize a higher flow of capital investment by
U.S. investors, especially institutional investors, to projects
and companies in developing countries, for sustainable development.
Whispering
in the Dark (PDF Download from ICCSR)
By Nigel Roome and Jan Jonke, Hosted by the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Nottingham University Business School
This
paper presents a brief overview of a research project that set out
to identify, describe, analyze and compare a number of pioneering
European companies with an established record of combining achievement
in Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR] with business performance.
The project has led to the development of a conceptual model and
related theory that sees the dynamics of a strategic approach to
CSR in terms of a process of organizational innovation.
Feature articles focus on current trends and investment opportunities
in the field of SRI, TBLI and Corporate Governance, offering a source
of new information and insights. If you have an idea for an article,
or would like to submit an article for publication that meets this
criteria, please send a letter
to the editor.
NEWS
SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
Expansion Capital
Clean Technology Fund Has Initial Closing of 20M
Chrysalix
CELP II (Hydrogen Fuel Cell) Finalizes First Close
85
Percent Rank CR a Central Consideration in Investment Decisions
Shareholders
Who Answer to a Higher C.E.O.
The
Art and Science of Corporate Tax Avoidance
World
Bank Issues Report On Its Environmental, Social Commitments
Renewable Energy:
The Next Opportunity for Silicon Valley
Motley
Fool: The Myth of Socially Responsible Investing, Part 2
Starbucks
Rewards Shareholders with Record Breaking Numbers
SCREENING & REPORTING
Managing and Reporting Sustainability (CMA Canada)
Global
100 Most Sustainable Companies Announced, Innovest (pdf file)
First
Australian and Israeli Socially Responsible Investing Indexes Launched
Calvert
Short Duration Income Fund Receives 5-Star Morningstar Rating
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Economist:
Responses to Survey on CSR
Ethical
Corporation: Bad Arguments Against the Good Company
Gap
Inc., World Bank Sign Garment Deal
Building
a Company and a Community
Entertainment
Industry Makes the Case for Social Responsibility
Tsunami
Aid: Firms Acting Responsibly?
COPORATE GOVERNANCE
OECD
Principles of Corporate Governance: 2004
Rating
Companies on Attitude
The
Race to Stay Ahead of the Regulators in Europe
CLIMATE CHANGE
NASA:
2005 Could be Warmest Year Recorded
California
Pension Fund Presses Companies to Disclose Climate Risk
An
Economist's View of the Kyoto Climate Treaty
US
Climate Debate Threatens 'Clear Skies' Bill
US
Ready to Join Climate Debate
MISCELLANEOUS
First Responsible Business
and Investing Show Debuts in USA
The Marketplace Report: Word of Mouth Marketing (audio, requires
RMP)
We select a variety of current news items hosted at third-party
websites that cover a broad range of issues from different perspectives
around sustainable finance and asset management, corporate social
responsibility, climate change, and corporate governance. Please
let us know if there is a story we should include in next month's
newsletter.
Do you have a comment or reaction on any of the material presented
in the TBLI Newsletter? Send a letter to the editor.
CONFERENCES
Sustainability
Congress
1-2 March 2005, Federal Building (Bundeshaus), Bonn, Germany
The annual conference is intended
to play an important part in further developing the role of sustainable
investments in society, politics and economy. The conference is
scheduled to hold several plenary sessions as well as a large number
of workshops, for example on the performance of sustainable funds,
risk management, the Eurosif transparency guidelines and the connections
between SRI and CSR. The congress will be accompanied by an exhibition,
at which various organizations, asset managers, banks and insurance
companies will be present.
FEDERE 2005
31 March – 1 April 2005, Palais des Congrès,
Paris, France
This forum, presented by Les Echos,
the foremost French daily business newspaper, brings together around
1000 decision-makers in sustainable development: leaders from the
business world and international organizations, political leaders,
investors, banks and financial institutions, rating agencies, NGOs,
associations, and experts. The following themes will be explored:
future markets, responsible buying, transport, energy and global
warming, and costs and indicators in sustainable development.
6th Dutch National Sustainability Conference
17 March, Bussum, Netherlands
Ceres 2005 Conference: Building Equity, Reducing Risk
13-14 April 2005, Boston MA, USA
Sustainable
Investment 2005 Conference
April 13th-14th, 2005, Frankfurt, Germany
Conference on Responsible Competitiveness
19 April 2005, Brussels
Business Ethics
Summit
21 April 2005, New York Helmsley Hotel, New York, NY USA
OECD FORUM 2005
Fuelling the Future: Security, Stability, Development
2-3 May, Centre de Conférences Internationals, Paris
Responsible Management in an
Uncertain World
4-7 May 2005, Munich, Germany
Ethical
Corporation 2005: Key Challenges for Business in Society
1-2 June, London
CALL FOR PAPERS
Sustainable Management in Action
19th - 20th September 2005, University of Geneva
Do you have an upcoming event that you would like to post
in the TBLI Newsletter? Send
a letter to the editor. We have limited space, so we may not
be able to post all the announcements that we receive.
The TBLI Consultancy offers planning
and development services to financial institutions and other organizations
interested in implementing sustainable investment products.
NEW SERVICE - TBLI INVESTOR SALON offers a unique
opportunity for financial institutions, asset managers, and private
banks to market existing or new socially responsible investment
products to prospective or current clients. These events can help
your organization build better relationships with your investors.
Click here to learn
more about this service.
Click here to go to the
Consulting website.
Contact Robert Earhart
for more information. |
TBLI 2005 in Frankfurt
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
Brooklyn Bridge is currently accepting proposals for presenters
at the 2005 TBLI Conference, held from 2–4 November at the
Messe in Frankfurt. TBLI is the largest annual global event on Socially
Responsible Investment, with participants and speakers from six
continents. If you would like to be a presenter, please send a proposal
that meets the following criteria to robert@tbli.org. Proposals
must be received by 21 March 2005 to be considered. At present,
the program is 25% full.
Presentation Criteria
• Presenters are eligible only if they have not presented
at the past three TBLI Conferences.
• Presenters must agree to submit a final version of their
presentation no later than 30 September 2005 so that session facilitators
may prepare and presentations can be provided in electronic format
to conference participants.
•Presentations must provide some sort of new information or
educational benefit to the audience. (Presentations that come across
as marketing or sales pitches will be refused.)
Proposals should include your name and contact information, the
organization and/or company that you represent, and a brief description
of your planned presentation.
Sponsors
If you would like to be a corporate sponsor for TBLI 2005, please
send an email to robert@tbli.org.
Click TBLI
sponsor packages for details. We welcome the following sponsors:
Corporate Sponsorship
Lead Sponsor: Deutsche Bank
Exhibition Booth: GES
Network Sponsor
Asria, GES, Good Company, UK Social Investment Forum
Media Sponsor
Sustainable Business.Com
CD-ROM TBLI Conference 2004
If you were unable to attend TBLI 2004 or previous
events and would like to receive all the presentations, acv's, and
quick time video(s) of the event, visit the TBLI
CD-Rom order page. The price is €119, (including VAT 19%,
and postage).
Conference attendees at TBLI 2004 received the latest CD-ROM with
their conference materials.
For more information please visit the TBLI
Web site.
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