Friday, August 29, 2008

'Socially responsible' investor blacklists McDonald's

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Business/Default.aspx?id=230550

[OneNewsNow] 29 Aug 2008--The president of a pro-family values mutual fund company says the extreme actions of McDonald's has forced the investment firm to publicly clarify that its portfolios won't include any stock in the worldwide hamburger retailer.

Timothy Plan's socially responsible investing includes screening of companies whose revenues or actions support pornography, abortion, anti-family entertainment, or promotion of non-married lifestyles. But Art Ally, president of the investment company, says his group normally does not spotlight or publish notices on businesses they screen out. In this case, however, he says the Timothy Plan could not stay silent when McDonald's went "over the edge."

"McDonald's actually has been on our screen or prohibited list since 1999 -- so this is nothing new," says Ally. "What is new is the aggressive approach that they're moving to, in promoting and supporting the homosexual agenda."

1 comment:

Ron Robins said...

There's a great variety of different types of screens by socially responsible funds. Investors need to be aware that the fund they are investing in has screens that match their values.

I got interested in ethical investing some forty years ago as I believed that when we invest in a company we share in the responsibility for the activities of the company as well as participate in the outcomes of the company's activities. Therefore anyone valuing their spiritual or personal growth has to take these things into account when investing.

I also believe that if everyone does invest according to their personal values, then, since so many of core values are alike -- and are supportive of higher ideals -- that in the long run, only companies employing these higher values will truly prosper.

For anyone interested I have a unique site that covers the latest global news and research on socially responsible/ethical investing. It's at www.investingforthesoul.com

Best wishes, Ron Robins