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| An overview of SCB's Policy Approval Process is available here.
After reviewing the policy page and resources, one of the most effective ways you can bring science to policymakers is to establish relationships with your government officials wherever you are.
In the U.S., for example, citizens can get to know their Senators, Members of Congress and agency officials working on issues they care about most. Under "Policy Tools and Guidelines for SCB Members" on the navigation bar to the left, we have web sites for offices and research reports to help guide you through the international and U.S. federal policy ecosystems. U.S. SCB members may also want to call the Capitol Operator at 202-225-3121, and ask to be connected to the offices of your House Members and Senators and Committees of interest. |
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(from Co-Op America's Green Investing Newsletter, 4/2/08)
One green investing choice you can make is to select socially responsible (SRI) mutual funds. SRI mutual funds use multiple strategies for investing in a better world. Many screen out the very least responsible companies, and choose to invest only in companies with better records on the environment and social issues. Depending on the fund, an SRI mutual fund may choose to screen specifically to avoid or embrace a particular industry: for example, avoiding weapons manufacturers, or embracing green energy technologies, while earning competitive returns. We host a SRI mutual fund performance chart to our Web site to help you track the progress at some of the best funds. When you invest in mutual funds, you delegate to the fund managers the task of engaging with the companies within the fund, at which SRI funds excel. When you invest in stocks directly, you have the opportunity to push companies to improve by participating in the shareholder proxy-voting process. When enough shareholders (often as few as 20 percent or so) vote to push for change at a company, it gets management's attention and can catalyze change. We've added three proxy voting charts to our Web site to help you prepare. If you may be invested in stocks connected to the climate crisis (oil and gas companies, automobile companies, etc.) or other concerns, check our voting charts to see if you might have a chance to raise your voice and vote as a shareholder this year. Here's to investing in the future!
Alisa Gravitz
Executive Director
Co-op America
Action: Use Your Shareholder Clout –
Vote Your Proxies
If you own stock in businesses connected to problems like the climate crisis, human rights abuses, or other irresponsible ways of doing business, concerned shareholders like you may have already filed resolutions to urge them to take action. Spring is the proxy season, so watch your mail or e-mail for your chance to vote for progress at companies in which you invest, in advance of the company's annual meeting. (Remember that if you invest in mutual funds, you automatically delegate your proxy voting rights to the fund managers.) As a heads-up about some of the resolutions that have already been filed this year, Co-op America (in partnership with our allies at Ceres and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility) has prepared three proxy voting charts, sorted by issue area. Click through below to check whether you own stock in any targeted companies this year, and get ready to vote your proxies!
View Co-Op America's 2008 Climate Change Proxy Chart »
View Co-Op America's 2008 Human Rights Proxy Chart »
View Co-Op America's 2008 Food and Water Proxy Chart »
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