In Support of the Occupy Movement

Posted on October 25, 2011
Filed Under Human Rights, Investment Related, Political Economy, Shareholder Activism, Socially Responsible Investing

By Shane G. Johnston & Judith L. Seid, CFP®

The occupy movement quickly went from local action to a global howl of protest. A month after its launch, more than 900 cities around the world hosted protests affiliated to the Occupy cause.

In light of this public outcry, our community of Responsible Investors declares its support. We echo the sentiments of Zevin Asset Management, as they stated in a public message the week before last:

“In this time of declining living standards and high unemployment, many people feel bitterness and disappointment.  And justifiably so, as overwhelming evidence demonstrates the rich have gotten richer at the expense of the middle class, the working poor, and the unemployed. The rising differential between executive and worker incomes and the disregard exhibited by many corporations for their local communities and the environment are symptoms of a financial system which rewards short-term destructive gambling instead of focusing on the long-term sustainability of our economy. As socially responsible investors, we seek the same goals as those protesting. Therefore we stand alongside the Occupy movement, supporting freedom, transparency, human dignity, and responsibility. We hope that the voices of the 99% will bring much needed changes in government policy to help address excessive corporate greed, greatly weakened environmental and financial regulations, the housing crisis, crumbling infrastructure, shrinking schools and libraries, and a disappearing social safety net. There is no reason for so many to be unemployed when there is so much to be done.”

The views expressed by Zevin Asset Management do not necessarily reflect the views of Multi-Financial Securities Corporation.  This information is provided for educational purposes only.

In Green America’s public post of support, they assert that “For too long, corporate America has externalized its costs, polluting our environment and shipping good-paying jobs overseas. For too long, Wall Street has fattened its own bottom line, exploiting the poor and the middle class, all while CEO salaries have soared, and the income gap between rich and poor has widened.“ And they conclude that “… our society faces a set of interconnected crises – economic, ecological and social – that stem from the misconduct of our economic system. It will take an interconnected set of solutions to fix the system and create a real economic recovery that works for all.”

So let’s work together to support local businesses, clean renewable energy, community development institutions, social and economic justice as we here at Blue Summit continue to pressure corporations through shareholder advocacy for greater transparency, accountability, environmental standards, and promotion of a just and green economy.



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