Draw the line at genocide
"Ethical investing" may mean different things to different people, but surely there is a minimum standard upon which nearly all of us agree. We do not want our family savings and pension funds invested in companies that help to fund genocide.
The goal of Investors Against Genocide is to convince financial institutions to make a commitment that they will not invest in genocide. Help us send a strong message to these companies to draw the line at genocide.
The investment landscape has changed dramatically in the last year. Following action by American Funds and TIAA-CREF, investors, who are concerned about their savings being connected to genocide, now have clear, mainstream choices. The positive actions by American Funds and TIAA-CREF stand in stark contrast to Vanguard, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton for taking no action and continuing to hold large investments in companies, such as PetroChina, linked to an ongoing genocide.
- TIAA-CREF made a commitment to genocide-free investing! Read news about UUA moving its retirement plan to TIAA-CREF from Fidelity to be genocide-free from May 2010. Read more here about news from March 2009 and January 2010.
- American Funds applied its human rights policy and divested PetroChina! Read more here about news from February 2010.
How you can help
- Sign the petition that asks JPMorgan Chase (JPM) to stop investing in PetroChina and other companies supporting genocide. Genocide-free investing is on the shareholder proxy ballot for JPM's annual meeting on May 17, but JPM is opposing it.
- Sign the petition that asks your representative in the House of Representatives to do what he/she can to support genocide-free investing. Read more about the hearing on "Investments Tied to Genocide" and the details of the legislative recommendations from Investors Against Genocide.
- Vote on genocide free investing, when you have a chance, and tell your friends and family about opportunities to vote. JPMorgan Chase voting has begun on genocide-free investing for their May 17 annual meeting.
- Submit a shareholder proposal to companies and funds where you invest, to encourage them to them to be genocide-free. We've made it easy for you to submit a shareholder proposal on genocide-free investing to your mutual fund or investment firm.
- Send a message to problem investment companies. You can send to all at once, or select the one below where you invest. You don't have to be an investor to object.
Financial companies want your business now or in the future, so your voice will
matter.
Major mutual fund companies:
- BlackRock - More info on iShares
- Fidelity - More info on Fidelity, Fidelity International funds
- Franklin Templeton - More info on Franklin, Templeton funds
- Vanguard - More info
Other major financial institutions:
- Aberdeen Asset Management - More info
- Credit Suisse - More info
- HSBC - More info
- Invesco AIM - More info
- JP Morgan Chase - More info
- KBC Group - More info
- Sumitomo - More info
- UBS - More info
Please join us in drawing the line at genocide. Looking back, who would support the idea of investing in firms that sought to make a profit by selling Zyklon-B gas to the Nazis or machetes for the genocide in Rwanda? Looking forward, who wants their personal savings and pension funds invested in companies that help fund genocide?
Learn more about genocide-free investing and what you can do, using the links above.
