In the first quarter of 2018, we continued using shareholder advocacy for positive impact and long-term risk management. We joined with fellow socially responsible investors to urge gunmakers, retailers, and financial firms to address the risks of gun violence; we moved hotel giant Marriott toward greater diversity and equity; we joined a campaign to push companies toward carbon disclosure; and we continued work pressing employers on paid family leave policy, with new wins at CVS Health and TJX Companies. Pat Miguel Tomaino has our quarterly Advocacy Update.
War! What Is It Good For?
The classic anti-war song of the 1960s “War” performed by Edwin Starr for Motown records was intended as a protest against military conflict during the war in Vietnam. The singer’s bold and definitive conclusion that war is good for “absolutely nothing” is equally applicable to the misguided policy of trade wars. Yet here we are in the early days of this exact policy blunder, which has been condemned as shortsighted and destructive by virtually every economist, political scientist, business leader, and elected official — save one: President Trump.
Zevin Asset Management Named a Leading Money Manager for Positive Impact
Zevin Asset Management has been honored as a leading socially responsible investment manager by experts at Real Impact Tracker. Real Impact Tracker is an easy-to-use, new tool to help individuals and institutions find money managers that create positive social and environmental benefit with their investments. Real Impact Tracker estimates that only 7 percent of investment funds would qualify for the certification Zevin Asset Management has received. Read more about this new tool and Zevin's rating.
Q4 2017 Advocacy Update
In the fourth quarter of 2017, we continued using shareholder advocacy for positive impact and long-term risk management. We led climate risk proposals at oil and gas majors, continued our push on paid family leave and human capital management, pushed TJX on supply chain working conditions, and co-filed a first-ever proposal for opioid accountability in the pharmaceutical sector. Pat Miguel Tomaino has our quarterly Advocacy Update.
Pat Miguel Tomaino is "One to Watch"
Our shareholder advocate Pat Miguel Tomaino has been honored by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of 20 people who will change business in 2018. Download a full press release, or check out the list and learn about the impact investing work Pat and Emily DeMasi are leading on paid family leave.
Zevin Gives on Giving Tuesday
For the past five years, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving has been dubbed Giving Tuesday, as an antidote to the more grossly commercial Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While any day is a good day to give to organizations whose missions you believe in, Giving Tuesday acts as an encouragement and a reminder of the impact that can be made through the generosity of individuals and institutions. We wanted to take this opportunity to inform you about just a few of the organizations that Zevin supports, not only today but also throughout the year.
Investors "Take the Lead" on Advocating for Gender Equality
Amid the #MeToo campaign, the fight for pay equity, and under an administration that ignores women’s health, investors, consumers & lenders must push for gender equality. Read more about Zevin Asset Management’s upcoming collaboration with Take The Lead and Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy and how we are addressing gender equity issues in our portfolios.