8. Ethical Finance
So what drives environmental
degradation? Quite often, it’s our desire for economic growth.
You can recycle all the paper you want but if your
savings are with a regular bank the chances are that you are financing the
destruction of forests. Also some banks use our money for some very unethical
activities such as financing the maltreatment of animals or the employment of children
in sweatshops.
The ethical investment market is growing all the time -
a recent share issue by The Ethical Property Co.
sold out rapidly! This kind of purchasing power demonstrates a demand for
corporate responsibility and it’s revolutionising the business world.
Local
Contacts
Ethical Investment Co-operative
Oak
House, The Mount, SY3 8BH
T: 01743 343800
Local ethical finance company, approved & regulated by
the FSA.
Just Credit Union
Shirehall,
Abbey Foregate, SY2 6ND
T: 01743 252325
Ethical and local financial co-operative.
Severn LETS (Local Exchange & Trading System)
T: 01743 260971
W: LETS national website
www.letslinkuk.org.uk
Skills exchange scheme, avoids using money.
Shared Interest
Finance
for Fairtrade, ethical lending society
T: 0191 233 9100
W: www.shared-interest.com
Further
Afield
The Co-operative Bank
T: New/existing accounts 0161-832 3456
Plus
online banking:
W: www.smile.co.uk
www.co-operativebank.com
The only High Street ethical banking service. At Co-op
shops, you can donate your dividend to FoE (or other charities), and their energy
comes from renewable sources.
The Ecology
Building Society
7 Belton Road,
Silsden, Keighley,
West Yorkshire BD20 0EE
T: 08456 745566
W: www.ecology.co.uk
Emphasises environmental improvements in its lending.
Naturesave Policies Ltd.
Freepost,
SWB 30837m, Totnes TQ9.522
T: 01803 864390
W: naturesave.co.uk
Offers ethical insurance to green companies, people and
travel.
Triodos Bank
T: 0500 008720
W: www.triodos.co.uk
Lends your money to socially responsible businesses: Try
their Earth Saver account.
Good website for ethical investment:
W: www.eiris.org
Pensions
FairPensions
T: 020 7403 7800
W: www.fairpensions.org.uk
A campaign group to convince pension funders to be more
socially responsible.
Friends Provident, Scottish Equitable, Scottish Mutual,
all
run ethical fund-based pensions.
Charities
Can
benefit more from your donations if you tick the box for gift aid.
This
means the government gives some of your taxes to the charity.
W: www.justgiving.com is a free online fundraising
service, with automatic Gift Aid
reclaim
service Credit affinity cards can also be used to benefit charities. Used like
normal cards, a small amount is donated to charity when you use them. The
Co-Operative bank runs a number of these, for various charities.
Ethical Gifts – most charities
offer catalogues where you can buy a gift that will be given to people to help
in the developing world. But think hard, buying chickens may be more useful
than goats – which tend to help create deserts by over-eating.
Payroll Giving – regular
donations to charities can be made by deductions from your payroll. Your
employer will have to set up a scheme, but help and grants are available.
T: 0121 326131
W: www.payrollgiving.co.uk
Rules
and regulations can be found at
W: www.hmrc.gov.uk/payrollgiving/
Sharegift
T:0207 337 0501
Can
help you donate small numbers of shares, that aren’t worth selling, to
charities, without incurring charges.
Water Aid – a water
charity, providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene education to 17
countries.
T: 0207 793 4500
W: www.wateraid.org
Support
Friends of the Earth through
your Will:
W:
www.foe.co.uk/legacy