We salute Woody Tasch for This Growing “SLOW MONEY ” Initiative! – Hazel Henderson, Editor

On New Year’s Eve, BusinessWeek reporter John Tozzi set the bar very high for us: he cited Slow Money as one of the “big ideas for 2010.”  This capped a year in which NPR had previously called us a movement and ACRES USA had called us a revolution.

That’s a lot of excitement for a small NGO.  A LOT of excitement.
(more…)

Two NSFM participants are members of the SEC’s newly created Investor Advisory Committee (IAC)
Posted: 05 Mar 2010 07:40 AM PST
Adam Kanzer from Domini Social Equity, LLC., and Stephen Davis from the Yale Milstein Center on Corporate Governance.  The IAC is undertaking consideration of further expanding required environmental, social and governance disclosure under the leadership of the IAC’s Investors as Owners Subcommittee, which Stephen Davis Chairs.

http://www.sec.gov/spotlight/investoradvisorycommittee.shtml

Any NSFM participants who would like to collaborate on comments or a consultation paper for the IAC review, please contact Cynthia Williams at cwilliam@law.uiuc.edu.

SEC Actions and Proposals to Prioritize Needs of Long-Term Investors
Posted: 05 Mar 2010 07:36 AM PST
Recently the SEC issued interpretive guidance for companies concerning their disclosure related to climate change.  A copy of their guidance can be found at: http://www.sec.gov/rules/interp/2010/33-9106.pdf

Soon thereafter, Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar gave a speech putting that action into a larger context, that of the need for the SEC to prioritize the needs of long-term investors.  A copy of the speech can be found at: http://www.sec.gov/news/speech/2010/spch020510laa.htm

Online News 4 March

Senators demand US suspends renewables grant programme
4 March: US senators have asked the Obama administration to suspend a successful grant programme for renewable energy projects because the vast majority of its funds are going to foreign companies. More…

Confusion reigns over Japanese climate bill (from Carbon Finance)
4 March: Japan’s government is reviewing a proposed climate bill – (more…)

Statement No: 1
Issue No :   361, Issue Date : February 10, 2010
Download the report here (PDF)

NEWS HEADLINES: MARCH 3RD, 2010
› Giant Norway fund relaxes controversial exclusion policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minority Groups Seek FCC Investigation of Silicon Valley Giants that Discriminate Against Minorities and Women

The Black Economic Council joined by Latino Business Chamber of Greater LA and Mabuhay Alliance formally requested an investigation by the FCC on Silicon Valley Corporations for discrimination against minorities and women

The request is the San Jose Mercury News investigation reported on February 14, 2010 entitled, “Blacks, Latinos and Women Lose Ground at Silicon Valley Tech Companies.”  The data collected or attempted to collect from the giant Silicon Valley companies that often seek preferences and favorable treatment from the FCC include: AMD, Apple, Calpine, Cisco Systems, eBay, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Oracle, Sanmina, Solectron, Sun Microsystems, SYNNEX and Yahoo.
(more…)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    CONTACT
Tuesday, March 2, 2010                                  Cheryl Kelly (AFSCME), ckelly@afscme.org, 202-429-1145
Timothy Smith (Walden Asset Management), tsmith@bostontrust.com 617-726-7155

Shareholder resolutions filed with over 70 companies by large coalition of investors for 2010

WASHINGTON — Investors pushing for annual advisory shareholder votes on executive compensation today announced that more than 50 companies have now voluntarily adopted giving their shareholders an annual advisory vote on executive compensation, colloquially known as “Say on Pay.” (more…)

… March 4, 2010 News Advisory …
BOSTON – A record number of global warming shareholder resolutions will be considered during the 2010 proxy season as new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidance on climate change disclosure serves as a wake-up call for companies, according to experts who will speak at 11 a.m. EST Thursday (March 4, 2010) during a Ceres and Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) phone-based national news conference.
(more…)

NEWS HEADLINES: MARCH 2ND, 2010
› MSCI sees $50m in RiskMetrics’ deal synergies and staff cuts
› Norway fund giant outlines ESG criteria for real estate billions

Click here for the newsletter…

Good news for UK Pension Beneficiaries: Now let’s hope for a requirement that asset managers switch from Modern (?) Portfolio Theory to ESG asset evaluation models. – Hazel Henderson, Editor

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 08:31 PM PST
UK pension fund professionals representing aggregate assets of £115 billion explored fairer manager fee structures, and incentive schemes that align fund managers more closely with their clients’ interests, at a recent roundtable in London organised by the NSFM.
(more…)

NEWS HEADLINES: MARCH 1ST, 2010
› MSCI buys RiskMetrics for $1.55bn

Distinguished Leader and Company in Clean TechnologyRecognized at Cleantech Forum XXVI

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 26, 2010 – The Cleantech Group™, a leading global research and advisory firm focused on cleantech innovation, announced the winners of its Cleantech Awards today in the categories of Cleantech Leader and Most Promising Technology in front of an audience of industry influencers at Cleantech Forum® XXVI. Read more…

NEWS HEADLINES:  FEBRUARY 22, 2010
› UK trades unions and NGOs unite for pension fund e-mail campaign over BP/Shell tar sands

Click here to read the newsletter.

NEWS HEADLINES: FEBRUARY 22, 2010
› UK trades unions and NGOs unite for pension fund e-mail campaign over BP/Shell tar sands
> Sustainable Emerging Markets, London, 03 March 2010
Organised by Responsible Investor | Lead Sponsor F&C Investments

Click here to read the newsletter.

NEWS HEADLINES: FEBRUARY 19TH, 2010
› RI round-up Feb 19

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010
End of Week Round-Up
Several items to share from the last few days: two speeches that Bob gave at the end of last year are now available and we present a short list of articles that Bob is reading now. (more…)

NEWS HEADLINE: FEBRUARY 18TH, 2010
RI Comment: Feb. 18 Corporate governance agencies: the need for transparent voting decisions

FEATURES:
Spotlight: Corporate governance agencies: the need for transparent voting decisions.

RESPONSIBLE INVESTOR EVENTS: JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER
Hear the latest, cutting-edge risk/return, governance, climate and sustainability debates and research on China , Russia , India , Africa and South America at:
Sustainable Emerging Markets, London, 03 March 2010

Click here to read the newsletter.

NEW ON ETHICSWORLD
February 16, 2010.

In recent days we have received an exceptional number of new subscribers – notably from a range of African countries – WELCOME! Provide your feedback and contributions toEditorEthicsworld@gmail.com
*For the best view of this newsletter, ensure your e-mail allows you to display images.

Every day we are posting new reports on our website…visit us, tell your colleagues and provide us with your views.

upcoming fraud and corruption conference – marcus evans — see full details at our NGO News – LINKS page.

We have added “Views” on current news issues to our Home page News column and on our News page – latest includes:

Turmoil in Kenya – Again its Corruption in the Cabinet.
(more…)

Rosalinda Sanquiche, Executive Director, Ethical Markets Media, February 2010

The UN Global Compact, started in 2000, is a strategic policy initiative for businesses committed to aligning their practices with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Since its inception, the UN Global Compact has added 7700 participants from 135 countries, with more than 5,300 active business participants. The UN Global Compact demonstrates that companies around the world are willing and able to incorporate sustainable practices that consider people, planet and profit. (more…)