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Welcome to the October 2004 Issue of
the TBLI Newsletter!
This newsletter is made in HTML. If you are having difficulty reading
this newsletter, then you can visit Newsletter
October to read the newsletter.
To subscribe click here.
TBLI 2004 is less than three weeks away! If you
haven't done so already, please register
now to avoid disappointment with hotel choice and availability
at TBLI. Click here
for more information about the largest global conference on TBLI
and SRI. |
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• Column:
October 2004
• Feature Articles
• News
• CSR/SRI conferences
• TBLI Conference: November 11-12, 2004
• CD Rom 2003
• TBLI Award
• Lectures & Teaching
• New Publications
• Jobs: Great jobs in
the SRI/CSR business |
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| Fear of Criticism
People seem to be very
sensitive to criticism or shining the spotlight on them. It seems
unless continuous praise and admiration are showered upon them with
no sounds of critique, then we are not worthy or the enemy. This
mentality is also embraced by the CSR and SRI community. Can we
move forward without self-criticism?
Recently, I was asked to participate on a plenary panel at a major
international CSR event. I accepted and was looking forward to participating.
A few weeks after receiving the invitation, I saw that my name was
not on the program and asked if that was an oversight. It wasn't.
One of the other panelists, a so-called "VIP" said that
he would not come if I was on the panel. The organization caved
and asked me not to come. This all stemmed from the critical article
I had written about the gentleman's organization vision on CSR,
which was severely lacking, nearly 3 years ago.
I wasn't bothered that I was not welcome at the panel, but that
the organization preferred to have no critical voices, at all. If
we don't challenge what is being said or done, we cannot grow. This
applies to SRI research organizations, CSR networks, sustainability
consultants, SRI asset managers, engagement houses, governments,
ngo's, churches, etc.
Didn't we always learn by questioning? Yes people don't make an
organization or society grow, and become all that it can.
-- Robert Rubinstein, October 2004
"People say I don't take criticism well,
but I say, what the hell do they know?"
--Groucho Marx
Brooklyn
Bridge-Angel of the Month
Congratulations, Thais Corral, Brooklyn Bridge-Angel of
the Month October 2004.
Thais Corral is a profoundly generous person
who wants to share things, experiences, networks and friends. She
is a true Malcolm Gladwell "connector", of which we are
in short supply. By connecting the the needy doorman in her office
building to her cook so that he will always have at least one decent
meal a day or the Italian millionaire looking for a cause with a
wonderful project that needs funding, she facilitates improvement.
Yenta , the matchmaker, was to marriage what Thais is to societal
benefits. She goes about her work with a passion and excitement,
and always finds the time to help others by utilizing
her extensive network. An opportunist in the good sense: she hates
to lose one. Money is not her goal but the connection of people,
ideas and funds in order to make this world more meaningful. She
always captures the potential of things and people, in a blink of
an eye.
Discretion is her trademark, and operates as the driving force behind
the curtain. If forced to step out in the lime light, she will quickly
defer to anybody who contributed to the success. Her greatest credit
is her total commitment to gender issues and sustainability, which
she has championed for the last 20 years.
Bravo Thais. Keep the energy flowing.
Robert Rubinstein
FEATURE ARTICLES
Socially
Responsible Investing - A Report by
the Natural Capital Institute
The report outlines the ways that SRI industry has failed to respond
to people who want to invest with a conscience and what can be done
to change it. The
report is crucial reading for those who wish to better understand
the issue of normative standards in the SRI field. The
report was developed by the organization founded by Paul Hawken,
a long-time ally of sustainability. (PDF Download)
NEWS
CSR
Disclosure Legislation
Private
Equity Is Now Firmly Anchored in Institutional Portfolios
Many
Top SRI Mutual Funds Fail Socially Responsible Criteria
The
Carbon Trade
The Next
Frontier: Gay Shareholder Activism
Socially
Responsible Investment Firms Urge Stronger Corporate Reporting
Calvert's
Boone Uses Socially Responsible Route to Beat S&P 500
Study
Links Clean Technology to Potent Job Growth
Offerings
for Islamic Investors Growing (registration req'd)
Fiduciary
Duty, Undivided Loyalty, and SRI Performance
European
Push for Aviation Tax Falls Flat
Australian
PM Called Talks to Derail Renewable Energy (registration req'd)
Is
Your Money Where Your Heart Is?
Cintas
Settles Lawsuit and Supports Vendor Standards Resolution
EHS
Auditors Slow to Take Up GRI
Companies
That Care (registration req'd)
Institutional
Investors Can Hedge Climate Risk With New Investment Strategy
Companies
Ignore Risk from Environment Damage
US
Firms Ponder Emissions Cuts in Kyoto World
Corporate
Governance - Let It Be, Let It Be
We select a variety of current news items 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. Letters
to the editor may be published in future newsletters.
 CONFERENCES
.CLEANTECH
VENTURE FORUM V
25-27 October, Toronto Canada
A pre-conference "Discovery Showcase" highlights
trends and breakthrough technologies that will shape the electric
energy system of the future. The conference also showcases 20-25
of the most promising venture-grade cleantech investment opportunities.
This is one of the best global events for investors interested in
cleantech private equity.
THE
INVESTORS’ CIRCLE NATIONAL CONFERENCE & VENTURE FAIR
24-26 October, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
URBAN
CHALLENGES IN 21ST CENTURY EUROPE
29 - 30 October, International Convention Centre,
Birmingham UK
WHAT
ASSURES?
17th - 19th November 2004, London
The world's first global sustainability assurance conference
converging around assurance and the AA1000 Assurance Standard.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORTING:
HARNESSING THE BENEFITS
November 23 - 24, London UK
2004 BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS
SEMINAR
9 December, London UK
CSM 4th Annual Conference
on Corporate Citizenship
17-18 December 2004, Mumbai, India
For more information, please e-mail Dr. Tapati Ghosh
TBLI Consulting is pleased to announce several new
packages of consulting, education, and information services.
These service packages are customized to meet the needs financial
institutions, business organizations, non-governmental organizations
and government entities. Details will be available at the TBLI 2004
Conference.
Contact Robert Earhart for more information.
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TBLI 2004 / November 11-12, 2004 in Amsterdam
Triple Bottom Line Investing 2004 is celebrating its sixth anniversary.
Maximizing both shareholder and stakeholder value at reduced risk
is key to triple bottom line investing. The theme this year is "GROWTH".
In a recent development, the City of Amsterdam has kindly offered
to host our opening reception at the Stadhuis (City Hall). The opening
reception is on Wednesday, 10 November at 7:00PM.
Still haven't registered for TBLI conference? TBLI
2004 is filling up fast. With over 90 leading speakers, 500 guests
anticipated and plenty of social and networking opportunities, it
is clear why TBLI is seen by many participants as the SRI event
of the year. If you can only attend one event on SRI or corporate
governance, this is it.
Visit our web site www.tbli.org
for regular updates of the conference program.
To register now and ensure a place at this unique
global event, click
here.
Group Discounts
Looking at the fully integrated social, environmental and financial
performance is becoming more and more the norm for the financial
sector. This value added "non-financial" risk assessment,
or intangible assets and liabilities approach, includes public equity,
private equity, bonds, micro-financing, etc. Companies are seeing
the financial opportunity of TBLI, and need to update staff on all
the opportunities, risks, benefits and methodology. The TBLI Conference
offers your company with the opportunity to provide your staff with
the latest information and cutting-edge practices of in sustainable
finance. We are providing a special discounted rate for groups of
five people or more from the same company or organization. To learn
more about this discount please send an email to robert@tbli.org.
Sponsors
If you would like to be a corporate or a network sponsor, or if
you would like to reserve an exhibition booth, please send an email
to robert@tbli.org or visit
www.tbli.org for sponsorship details.
CD-ROM
TBLI Conference 2003
If you were unable to attend TBLI 2003 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 will receive the latest CD-ROM
with their conference materials.
For more information please visit the TBLI
Web site.
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| The nominations
for this year's TBLI Award are:
Rainforest Alliance Network
This organization was highly instrumental in pressuring banks
to create the Equator Principles. This requires the signatories
to adhere to social and environmental impact studies before providing
project financing to a project in developing markets.
VBDO
This is a foundation that works towards a sustainable society by
focusing on the corporate world, in particular, the financial sector.
They have been pushing SRI among institutional investors and have
several large pension funds that are members. It is a network and
government lobbyist organization.
UKSIF
This is the oldest and largest network organization dealing explicitly
with promoting SRI on the institutional and retail level. They have
also been active in lobbying the UK government to further SRI.
The winner will be announced at the gala dinner of the TBLI
Conference 2004 on Thursday, 11 November.
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| Is your organization unsure about the potential effects of
new environmental, social, and corporate governance regulations
in Europe or North America? We offer workshops that can help you
better understand the potential impacts of current and potential
legislation on your company.
If you would like to have a workshop given in your organization
regarding the principles, practices and competitive advantages of
Triple Bottom Investment , please contact us at lecture@tbli.org. Different workshops in our
lecture series can be customized to meet your education and training
goals. |
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| Teaching
Business Sustainability: From Theory to Practice
Edited by Chris Galea, Saint Francis
Xavier University, Canada
ISBN 1 874719 54 3 | £40.00 US$75.00
Corporate Social
Opportunity
Seven Steps to Make Corporate Social Responsibility Work for Your
Business
Paperback: ISBN 1 874719 83 7 | £19.95 US$40.00
Socially
Responsible Investing (PDF download)
A Report by Natural Capital Institute: How the SRI industry has
failed to respond to people who want to invest with conscience and
what can be done to change it.
CSR in
Central and Eastern Europe (PDF download)
Third Semi-Annual Survey of Reporting on Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) by the Largest Listed Companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Report by Capital Markets Research
New Sustainability Reports
ABN
AMRO, Sustainability Report 2003
Allianz Group, Sustainability Status Report
Mattel,
Inc., Corporate Social Responsibility Report
PotashCorp, Sustainability Starts From the Ground Up
EnQ CSM - Corporate
Sustainability Management and Reporting System
CSM-software is based on GRI guidelines
2002, and has been developed from the perspective that sustainability
data needs to be gathered and consolidated with same kind of control
level as the financial data for annual statements.
Is there a publication or report that you think should be included
in the TBLI Newsletter? Do you have thoughts or comments about any
of the publications listed here? Let us know. Send a letter to the editor.
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3IG
Secretary General
The International Interfaith Investment Group (3iG), founded
in 2004, provides the world’s Faiths with a reliable and creative
vehicle that enables them and their members to harness the economic
power of their assets, including shares, land, properties, water
resources, and intellectual properties to support and promote programs,
policies and practices that are consonant with their shared values
and beliefs.
Hong
Kong/China Director, Advisory Services
Business for Social Responsibility (China)
Senior
Technical Advisor
AcountAbility (London, UK)
Sustainability
Coordinator
Dartmouth College, Provost’s Office (Hanover, NH, USA)
Senior
Program Finance Officer
Rudolf Steiner Foundation (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Campaigns
Officer
Fair Share (London, UK)
If you would like to post a job opening, email jobs@tbli.org.
Please be sure to include an Internet link that can be posted so
that interested applicants can obtain more information.
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| BB raises consciousness of self-interest
to institutionalize sustainability.
TBLI Conference • - TBLI Consultancy •- TBLI Academy
TBLI Lecture •- TBLI Expert Meeting •- TBLI Eat
To Meet
TBLI Venture Fair •- TBLI E-Newsletter •- TBLI Award
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PRINCIPLES: We assist individuals
and companies with achieving their goals of institutionalizing
sustainability, or linking with relevant parties. Mutual and
global benefit must be the basis.
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