Going Green and Socially Responsible Investing have deep roots in America!

The origins of socially responsible investing (SRI) may date back to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). In 1758, the Quaker Philadelphia Yearly Meeting prohibited members from participating in the slave trade–buying or selling humans.

Religious institutions have been at the forefront of social investing. One of the most articulate early adopters of SRI was John Wesley (1703-1791), one of the founders of Methodism. Wesley’s sermon “The Use of Money” outlined his basic tenets of social investing – i.e. not to harm your neighbor through your business practices and to avoid industries like tanning and chemical production, which can harm the health of workers. Some of the most well known applications of socially responsible investing were religiously motivated. Investors would avoid “sinful” companies, such as those associated with products such as guns, liquor, and tobacco.

The modern socially responsible investing movement evolved with the political climate of the 1960s. Economic development projects started or managed by Dr. Martin Luther King, like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Operation Breadbasket Project in Chicago, established the model for future socially responsible investing efforts. King combined ongoing dialog with boycotts and direct action targeting specific corporations. Concerns about the Vietnam War were incorporated by some social investors.[1][2]. Many people living during the era remember a picture in June 1972 of a naked nine year-old girl, Phan Thị Kim Phúc, running towards a photographer screaming, her back burning from the napalm dropped on her village. That photograph channeled outrage against Dow Chemical[3], the manufacturer of napalm, and prompted protests across the country against Dow Chemical and other companies profiting from the Vietnam War (historical data from Wikipedia).

Today we have the opportunity to invest via a variety of mutual funds that provide screens. Child labor, human rights, polution, oil, tabacco, alcohol…whatever your spirit speaks to you or moral compass dictates is an unwise use of your hard earned dollars in investments you can create a screen with mutual funds to be sure that you are not investing in objectional companies and pracitices.
Funds such as Calvert, Pax, Domini and even American Funds has a socially responsible fund are available for reasonable minimum investments and you can dollar cost average into them using a voided check and a dollar amount of your choice.

Take a look at each mutual funds top ten holdings…for instance in Calvert’s water fund it is fascinating to see the top ten water stocks that Calvert has selected…be sure to read the prospectus to understand why they were chosen or go to the library and get an S and P to read on each company it is absolutely fascinating to see what is being done to make sure you and I are and our children and grandchildren have pure waters to drink to not only survive but thrive!!!

Socially responsible investing and green investing have deep roots in our history as Americans. We are the empowered decision makers about our money and treasure. Be sure to consider green investing an socially responsible investing for your next long term investment decision. And….take a look at buying the actual stocks in the mutual funds…always, always dollar cost average into your investments that way up or down you are getting a good “average” price.

Every blessing to you and your family,
Stanette Marie Rose
CEO/Founder
Maple Valley Money

www.MapleValleyMoney.com
C: 206-718-5224