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This section contains our TOP FIVE links in each of the main categories of Canadian Ethical Investment sites. For more links click here

ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES
Social Investment Organisation The Social Investment Organization is a national network committed to integrating social responsibility and environmental sustainability with investment. They are a membership-based organization that includes financial institutions, investment firms, financial advisors and investors.

Canadian Business For Social Responsibility (CBSR) CBSR is a national, non-profit, business-led membership organization of Canadian companies that have made a commitment to operate in a socially, environmentally and financially responsible manner.

ethicsinaction organisers of the Ethics in Action™ Awards

Amnesty International has a section here on Socially Responsible Investment
calvert foundation Calvert Social Investment Foundation has Investment, Research and Donation products that support community development organizations, across the country and around the world through socially responsible investment.
PUBLICATIONS
investgreen Lots of information on green compainies offering an alternative approach to atraight financial advice which can be not focused on the environmental and socially resposible investments
The Environmental News Network All the lastest news on the health of our planet
SocialFunds.com features over 10,000 pages of information on SRI mutual funds, community investments, corporate research, shareowner actions, and daily social investment news. US based but Global in outlook.

GreenMoney Journal Packed with news on the green front with a strong emphasis on SRI and ethical investment. US based but with the whole planet in mind
Moneysense.ca has a good article here on the pros and cons of ethical investment
FINANCIAL ADVICE + FUNDS
Acuity Funds Established SRI management company
Domini an investment firm specializing exclusively in socially responsible investing. They manage more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional investors who wish to integrate social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions

Groupe Investissement Responsable French speaking advice on ethical funds
Meritas Funds criteria include negative screening (military, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, gambling, nuclear), positive screening and 2% community based - they also advocate shareholder activism. They have an excellent section explaining SRI including a history and the Meritas view - well wirth a read.
Desjardines the largest cooperative financial group in Canada with 5 million member-owners

Learn more about Ethical Investment
Some commonly used terms explained
For a good overview with interesting facts and figures read Steven J. Schueth's article from First Affirmative Financial Network in the US. From the UK the background information at the EIRIS site is very useful and clear.

Engagement - Where Fund Managers 'engage' with companies to encourage improvement.
SRI -Socially Responsibe Investment.
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
Ethical Investing is a subjective business and whereas most investors may think twice about investing in companies who profit from death, exploitation or pollution, there may be differences of opinion over tobacco, alcohol or gambling. Even so, it is estimated that there is well over 2 trillion dollars invested in some kind of socially screened investment in the USA alone. The power that this money and the millions of ethical investors can wield is now recognised as a key driver for developing strategies to protect the environment, alleviate social hardship and stimulate sustainable economic development.

 
Can I make good returns on my money ?
We do not offer financial advice here but but we have done extensive research to bring you the best sites that can help you make your ethical financial decisions. I think you will be persuaded that you can be a socially responsible, ethical investor and make just as much profit, or more, than by investing conventionally. But when it comes to financial advice take heed of the following wise words " it is very important to remember that one's future financial security should be placed in the hands of advisers who are qualified to advise rather than qualified to sell"
MirandasBeach
We are a non-profitmaking group dedicated to the promotion of
  • ethical behaviour
  • creativity 
  • freedom of expression

    particularly in the fields of Business, Art and Design.
    We have had a keen interest in Ethical Investment as a tool for change for many years and believe that the signs are that this area is set to expand phenomenally in the next decade. Campaigners like Greenpeace and WWF are getting into the business of business and people on the street are expecting higher and higher standards from companies. Socially responsible investing is one way those of us lucky enough to have money to invest can keep the pressure up.
     

    From the UK there is good material at the ethical investors Group and a very good article at the UK Channel 4 site and a good ethical money news section at Guardian Unlimited. For a more in depth look at the issues around ethical trade go to Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which is a UK alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations.

    From the US there is an interesting site that gets into the methods applied when 'screening' companies and other hot topics - visit moneywisdom.com .There is an article packed with facts and figures at the Green Money Journal and there is always good stuff at the sustainableBusiness.com
    , the link here is a preamble for subscription to the Progressive Investor, but it has some interesting information.

    From Australia there is ethical investment services - a financial planning firm that has some great articles on its site     including "buying back the bush" and ethical v mainstream funds.

     
    Corporate Responsibilty Forum
    Environmental Investors Network
    Green Ontario
    Vancity - Socially Responsible Investing
    Canadian Investment Review
    If you know of a Canadian site you think should be included please email the details
     
     
    Author: William F Hoffman
    ethical@mirandasbeach.com
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    If you have any questions or comments about this site please email
    If you wish to have a site included in our guide please email with URL and brief description to ethical@mirandasbeach.com and we will consider it for inclusion
    MirandasBeach 2005