There are many ways to fix green our daily lives… but a great tool most people don’t think of is greening our investments. In particular, at least stop doing harm, by dumping any investment in oil, coal or natural gas companies.
Really, our investments are a form of working-through-others, always a powerful force multiplier for our personal power and influence. It is not too different from how all skilled managers work through others: It is as if one’s arm suddenly became ten, twenty, a hundred times longer.
That’s muscle, alright… and if you are an organization (or an individual, like a retiree with retirement savings) with an investment portfolio like the folks below, your investment muscle will fight climate change.
Keep our cash far, far away from fossil fuel industry stocks: It is a win for the planet, by making it harder for them to generate cash flow for capital and operations. This is called “divestment.” On the flip side, you can also choose investments in advanced energy and energy-efficiency companies – making your cash a positive force in the marketplace.
But at a minimum, stop doing harm.
For example, nine more organizations of the Roman Catholic Church recently divested all funds from oil, coal and natural gas stocks, as described in an article by Dennis Sadowski of the Catholic News Service, which appeared in the National Catholic Reporter, a U.S. publication.
From the article: “With the announcement, 27 Catholic entities have divested from fossil fuel corporations, according to the Global Catholic Climate Movement.” The divestment movement has grown within the church in the two years since Pope Francis essentially made climate change solutions a doctrine of faith, with his June 2015 publication of “Laudato Si: On the Care of Our Common Home.” Though not known for being hasty, the Church is mobilizing, and divestment is one important initiative.
This is but one story in what is now a broadly-based divestment movement, making where we put our savings a powerful tool in the global warming solutions toolbox…
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Not sure where to start saving the planet (civilization, really)? Our Thesis is: “Start by deeply knowing your three personal Superpowers: ”
1) To save the planet, CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST;
2) To save the planet, INVEST YOUR WORKING LIFE;
3) To save the planet, USE YOUR VOICE and take advocacy seriously! Never miss a vote and never, ever stop influencing your government and all businesses locally, at the state level, and at the national level.
It falls upon you to lead the way with substantive global warming solutions.
And in all cases and at all times, cast aside the learned-helplessness that infects so much of modern life… the time is now for climate change solutions. No one else is going to do your part for you… never give up.
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© WILLIAM MURPHY AND GLOBAL WARMING FOR BUSY PEOPLE™, 2018. EXCERPTS AND LINKS MAY BE USED, PROVIDED THAT FULL AND CLEAR CREDIT IS GIVEN TO WILLIAM MURPHY AND GLOBAL WARMING FOR BUSY PEOPLE WITH APPROPRIATE AND SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT.00000
