Last week saw the launch of a South East group for the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR). ECCR works for economic justice, human rights and environmental sustainability and engages with organisations and individuals on issues of how to use money to match values. The guest speaker at the launch event was Dr Robert Howell from New Zealand who spoke about the issues of sustainability, economics and the environment in investments.

In the light of events such as National Ethical Investment Week we are increasingly exposed to the ways in which we can use our money to match the principles and values we live by. Where we choose to put our money is exactly that, a choice, which can be based upon the same personal values we use when demonstrating our buyer power in the shops.

I was introduced to the ‘Mickey Mouse’ model of finance which shows that economic outcomes are still considered more than the environmental and social outcomes of investment.

Dr Howell indicated the lack of sustainability in such a model where long term investments must consider the sustainability of all outcomes to create a more equal ratio between these three outcomes.

As a parting comment we were left with the point that we should consider how to invest to save the world instead of destroy it.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation