Hazel Henderson analyses the changing face of financial markets in Nervous Investors Searching for New Asset Classes. She concludes: … the best new asset class is all the entrepreneurial companies that make up the Sustainability Sector. Many of these have quietly out-performed the Dow and S&P indexes.
Category:3 The World of Money
Notorious companies
ArcelorMittal, Citigroup, Chevron, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), ExxonMobil, Nestlé, Samsung, Shell, Total, and Wal-Mart were red-flagged by ECOFACT as the most controversial companies in the world. The companies were routinely in the news and criticized by non-governmental organizations in the first half of this year. Social Funds report
High net worth investors increasing green portfolios
The 12th annual World Wealth Report 2008 released by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch states there are over 10 million people globally with at least $1 million of financial assets in 2007, an increase of 6% over 2006. High net worth investors invested in safety last year with 44% of their financial assets in cash and …
Continue reading High net worth investors increasing green portfolios
Its time for direct democracy.
The recent kerfuffle over the Lisbon Treaty aka the EU constitution demands a rethink of political process in sophisticated societies. Switzerland has been an example of direct democracy for over 150 years, and it works. It is ludicrous to call a system of electing individuals for periods of 4-7 years to make local decisions on …
Continue reading Its time for direct democracy.
Is Thailand beginning to set a good example?
Thaksin Shinawatra is going on trial. And it seems that judicial process might be getting institutional and popular backing. That would be a very positive sign that Thailand is maturing into a sophisticated society and economy. My experience with the judicial process a decade ago was not encouraging. And I doubt we’ll see a conviction. …
Continue reading Is Thailand beginning to set a good example?
EU interest rates up …
The ECB raised EU interest rates yesterday to 4.25% as expected. The stated rationale is to control inflation in the medium term (18 months). That’s the accepted wisdom anyway. But mostly its a signal to the market. Interest rates have been relatively stable over recent years and much of the volatility is underpinned by leveraging …
Continue reading EU interest rates up …
World Values Survey shows we’re getting happier
The recent publication of this year’s World Values survey shows that the world is getting happier. The survey is simple, but revealing and you can download much data here. Two aspects are particularly interesting: In general the Human Development trend points towards stronger secular-rational values and stronger self-expression values. There is a diminishing marginal return …
Continue reading World Values Survey shows we’re getting happier
Natural capitalism’s time is now
While doing research to design a community that lives in and with nature, I came across Rocky Mountain Institute’s declaration of core principles, which are an excellent template for any person or business. One of these advocates Natural Capitalism, which is an inevitable evolutionary step in humanity’s social development as we must now recognise our …
Continue reading Natural capitalism’s time is now
Changing Games in the Global Casino
Hazel Henderson has pioneered natural capitalism for several decades and writes tirelessly on the dysfunctioning of iniquitous economic systems. In mid-June she published a summary and analysis of current events which is reproduced below and on EthicalMarkets.com here. Changing Games in the Global Casino © Hazel Henderson, 2008 Ever since the 1980s when Britain’s Margaret …
Continue reading Changing Games in the Global Casino
OECD also waking up to the reality of a slowdown
Growth is weakening and inflation is likely to remain high across most OECD countries, according to the OECD Economic Outlook. US activity is now projected to be flat through 2008 (and that is still deceptive) and the Euro area economy growth will also be restrained by tighter credit and lower export market growth. The culprits, …
Continue reading OECD also waking up to the reality of a slowdown