Divestment

United Methodist Church Divests From US Security Company

June 13, 2014 United Methodist Kairos Response, www.kairosresponse.org Resist! Divestment, Methodists, Palestine, Religion, Social Justice

The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) of The United Methodist Church, which manages an investment portfolio of over $20 billion, has instructed its investment manager to sell immediately all shares in G4S, due in part to concerns about the company's involvement in human rights violations in the Israeli prison system and the military occupation of Palestinian territories.   According to David Wildman, United Methodist Executive Secretary for Human Rights and Racial Justice at the General Board of Global Ministries, "This is the first time that a United Methodist general agency has included human rights violations related to Israel's illegal settlements and military occupation in a decision to divest from a company. We celebrate this strong human rights message both to G4S specifically and to other companies whose business operations support longstanding human rights abuses against Palestinians."   In addition, the church agency has placed a moratorium on any future purchases of G4S, the world's largest security company with operations in over 120 countries, until a new investment screen is implemented that addresses human rights violations such as those by the Israeli Defense Forces against Palestinians.   

DePaul University Student Body Votes To Divest From Israeli Occupation

May 27, 2014 Adam Horowitz, www.mondoweiss.net Resist! Divestment, Israel, Palestine, Student Activism

Student coalition DePaul Divest declares victory in campaign calling for student support to divest from corporations that profit off of human rights abuses against Palestinians. Following two months of campaigning at DePaul University, student coalition DePaul Divest has declared victory in a campaign to divest from corporations that profit off of human rights violations perpetrated against Palestinians via the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. While a majority of campus divestment campaigns across the country have been carried out through student government resolutions, DePaul Divest opted to pose the question of divestment to the entire DePaul student body through a Student Government Association (SGA) referendum this week. With a majority of 1575 votes in favor and 1333 against, it is clear that Palestinian human rights, the rights of minorities within Israel, and ethical investment are issues that concern the DePaul student body. This victory did not come without outside interference by pro-Israel lobby group StandWithUs, whose paid staff, frequently presenting themselves as individuals affiliated with DePaul University, canvassed the student body in a counter campaign to DePaul Divest.

Portland Is First U.S. City To Divest Funds From Walmart

May 18, 2014 Laura Garcia and Molly Rusk, www.yesmagazine.org Organize! Divestment, Walmart

On Thursday, May 15, the city of Portland got rid of $9 million, or 25 percent, of its investments in Walmart. This marks the beginning of a divestment program that will purge Portland's investment portfolio of $36 million in Walmart bonds by 2016, according to a press release. The divestment plan is part of the city's responsible investment initiative, introduced by City Commissioner Steve Novick, and adopted in October 2013. The initiative also prohibits the city from purchasing Walmart bonds in the future. Portland is not only discontinuing its investments in Walmart, but has set up a committee to advise it on making socially responsible investments in the future. The committee will address issues like abusive labor practices, corruption, and health concerns, among other things. During a press conference on May 15, Commissioner Novick encouraged other cities to adopt similar initiatives. From what I can tell, no other U.S. city has looked at socially responsible investing in quite the same way as Portland. I’m hopeful other cities and states take note and adopt similar investment principles to hold companies accountable and align our investment policies with our values.

Student Divestment Victory: Stanford Will No Longer Invest In Coal

May 8, 2014 Michael Peñuelas, www.fossilfreestanford.org Resist! Climate Change, Divestment

Today, the climate movement won a groundbreaking victory. In a striking acknowledgement of the need for a bold and immediate response to climate change, Stanford University is divesting from the coal industry. The Stanford endowment, valued at $18.7 billion, will now become the largest in a growing group of funds to partially divest from fossil fuels. In November 2012, Fossil Free Stanford was born. Shiny new clipboards in hand, we petitioned door to door, watching expressions of initial confusion settle one by one into reflections of cautious hope. Our fellow students began to realize that there was finally an effective movement to help tackle climate change. Today, the orange square, the symbol of our national movement, is recognized in all corners of campus. In classes, dining halls, and residences, our friends and classmates smile and proudly inform us “I voted yes to divest!” (Just weeks ago, 78% of student participants in an undergraduate referendum voted in support of divesting from fossil fuels.) Today, these students had their voices heard and saw their votes lead to bold and meaningful change.

Harvard Students Barricade President’s Office In Call To ‘Divest’

May 1, 2014 Lauren McCauley, www.commondreams.org Resist! Divestment, Harvard, Oil and Gas

Demanding an open meeting to discuss divesting the school's $30 billion endowment from fossil fuel companies, a group of Harvard students barricaded the doors to the school president's office on Wednesday morning and have so far refused efforts by police to disperse. "These guys are not going away!" declared noted climate activist Tim DeChristopher, speaking at a rally in front of historic Massachusetts Hall, where President Drew Faust's office is located. The protesters say they will not move until their demands are heard. "The fossil fuel industry is waging a war on truth by spreading climate denial and taking over our political system," said Harvard Divest co-founder Chloe Maxmin, speaking before the crowd. "At Harvard our motto is 'Veritas,' our motto is 'Truth,' and we should be standing up for truth. Instead, we are complicit in this war on truth." In addition to the blockade, student-led group Divest Harvard is holding a Day of Action on Wednesday, including press events and rallies featuring faculty members and community groups who are joining the students' call to go 'fossil free.'

Students At Portland State Kick Off Divestment Campaign

April 30, 2014 Global Climate Convergence, www.globalclimateconvergence.org Resist! Climate Justice, Divestment, Student Activism

In celebration of Earth Day and to mark the beginning of the Global Climate Convergence, students and alumni at Portland State kicked off their campaign to end PSU’s ties to the fossil fuel industry and Wall St. With their endowment, foundation, and board of trustees deeply connected to the destruction of our communities at home and abroad, PSU can no longer brand itself as a “green” or “sustainable” university. PSU’s branding is handled by Gard Communications, who market PSU as a green university while also doing PR for coal exporting proposals along the Columbia. Even one of PSU’s buildings, the Peter Stott center, is named after a profiteer from the tar sands infrastructure-shipping company Omega-Morgan. We as students, alumni, and community members are waging a campaign on all fronts to ensure that the university claiming “Let knowledge serve the city” can no longer greenwash its image and is truly dedicated to putting People, Planet, and Peace over Profit.

Major Corporations Announce $60m Divestment From Private Prisons

April 24, 2014 VW Staff, www.valuewalk.com Strategize! Criminal Justice and Prisons, Divestment

We earlier reported that Bill Gates and his sake in GEO coming under pressure from Latino activists. Today there is more news on the front regarding for profit prisons. In a groundbreaking move, three major corporations have announced the divestment of a combined total of nearly $60,000,000 from Corrections Corp Of America (NYSE:CXW) and The Geo Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO), confirmed after ColorOfChange.org urged company executives to reconsider the financial, moral, and political implications of private prisons and divest. In the past few months, ColorOfChange has reached out to more than 150 companies urging divestment, and remain in conversations with dozens of company executives about ending support for the industry. Investments in private prison companies are unacceptable “The leadership of these companies sets a much needed, powerful new industry standard: investments in private prison companies are unacceptable. What we see here is not just a fluctuating of stock, but a conscience decision on behalf of major companies to cut ties with private prisons. That’s huge.” explained Rashad Robinson, executive director of ColorofChange.org.

«1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 »

assetto corsa mods

Daily movement news and resources