Tag Archives: money

I see a ship in the harbour

boatSomalia has opened the Mogadishu port and for the first time in more than 10 years a ship has docked. Until now porters had to unload ships from natural harbours and carry the goods ashore. Workers have been working hard to clear the access to the port.

This is a good sign for a country that has been plagued with strife and hardship. Ships arriving at the port are expected to bring down the price of goods such as TVs. There is hope that the opening of this port will also help curb piracy in the local seas.

“Mogadishu’s port used to be one of the busiest in East Africa, before the conflict led to its closure.

The port and international airport have been closed since United Nations and US troops ended their operations in the city as it descended into chaos in the mid-1990s following the collapse of central government.”

Socially Conscious Capitalism

The WorldWatch Institute is running an article that asks Is Capitalism Growing More Socially Conscious? It looks like yes, the case is that capitalism is showing a little heart. Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining influence in investment firms and Fortune 500 companies.

I know that this isn’t great news, but as far as I’m concerned, capitalism caring for people is hugely symbolic. I hope that this trend continues.

“The growth of CSR among major corporations has been spurred by a parallel development in social consciousness among investment firms. In April, the United Nations launched its new Principles for Responsible Investment, a series of guidelines on how to integrate environmental, social, and corporate governance issues into the financial industry. As of August 1, the diverse signatories to the Principles together controlled more than $5 trillion in assets. This enormous quantity of money, expected to grow as the initiative wins new adherents, will make SRI central to the practices of the financial investment industry.”

ADB Dislikes Corruption

divulge large expenditures to ensure that governments are transparent. Hopefully then, governments will be held accountable for their actions.

“ADB today launched a government and anticorruption action plan which aims to improve the effectiveness of ADB’s development assistance and to contribute to poverty reduction throughout the region.

ADB is committing $4 million to support initial implementation of the new plan, which follows a comprehensive review of the implementation of ADB’s first action plan, adopted in 2000, and will enable developing member countries in partnership with ADB to design and deliver better quality projects and programs.”

Investing in Green Companies = Profit

windmillCompanies that address global warming head-on is where you should put your money. Green companies in the KLD Global Climate 100 Index outperformed the market by almost 5 percentage points!

It’s easier than ever to put your money where your beliefs are.

“This past July marks the first birthday of KLD’s Global Climate 100 Index, which lists 100 global companies that are committed to positively influencing climate change.

The diverse index is made up of companies varying drastically in size that focus on issues of renewable energy, “future” fuel, or clean technology and efficiency. “