Friends Fiduciary

FFC Calls for Reform in Global Apparel Supply Chains

pvallee — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:34:08 +0000

FFC has joined with other ICCR investors representing over $1 trillion in assets in urging industry leaders to implement systemic reforms to ensure worker safety and welfare. Further we are asking companies to adopt zero tolerance policies on global supply chain abuses. The recent calamities in Bangladesh apparel manufacturing factories underscore the critical need for reform. Current models incentivize lax regulations and oversight in order to readily supply North America and Europe with inexpensive goods. This can lead some factories to disregard fundamental human rights of workers, including health, safety, and right to collective bargaining. As investors we are asking retailers to implement the internationally recognized labor standards of the International Labor Organization. The ICCR press release was featured in a New York Times story today.

FFC Supports Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking

pvallee — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:26:20 +0000

Friends Fiduciary worked with Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), a diverse alliance of U.S.-based human rights organizations, to request that members of the House and Senate support increased reporting on human trafficking and funding for family reunification with human trafficking survivors in the United States. Human trafficking and slavery has grown into a $30 billion a year illicit “industry” and increased reporting and monitoring of financial networks are necessary to reducing these destructive activities.

To read the full letters, click here and here.

Quaker Fundraisers Gathering

pvallee — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:29:39 +0000

The 2013 Quaker Fundraisers Gathering will be September 29-30 at the Marriott at Penn Square in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For more information and the registration form, click here.

FFC Calls on Congress to Prioritize Immigration Legislation

pvallee — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:59:02 +0000

Friends Fiduciary joined over 70 investors representing more than $890 billion in assets to call on members of Congress to make comprehensive immigration reform a priority, including providing opportunities for currently undocumented immigrants to earn legal status and citizenship in the United States. As the letter states, “Such legislation would be pro-growth and consistent with our country’s values and proud immigrant history.”

To read the full letter, click here.

FFC Op-ed Supports Ohio’s Renewable Energy Goals

pvallee — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:05:34 +0000

An op-ed piece by Jeff Perkins, FFC Executive Director, supporting Ohio’s renewable energy standards was published in The Cincinnati Enquirer. Perkins says that current attempts to roll back renewable energy sourcing is short sighted noting that “clean energy is cost-effective, it’s helping Ohioans find jobs, and it’s benefitting businesses that are building their own renewable energy,” including a new solar installation by Campbell Soup Company. Perkins goes on to say that forward thinking energy policies that encourage businesses to develop and maintain sustainable operations can generate strong financial returns and build a better future.

To read the article, click here.

FFC Urges Stronger Disclosure by U.S. Water Utilities

pvallee — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:57:30 +0000

Friends Fiduciary joined a dozen investors managing $40 billion in assets in requesting that the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA) subject water utilities to stronger disclosure requirements on issues like water supply scenario planning, climate change impacts and pricing strategies. This letter follows a recent Ceres report, Water Ripples, Expanding Risks for U.S. Water Providers, which outlines the various challenges and risks that water providers are facing, including failing infrastructure, growing environmental and water availability pressures, and declining revenues.

To read the full letter to NFMA, click here.

FFC Advocates for Renewable Portfolio Standards by Challenging Company Ties to ALEC

pvallee — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:19:38 +0000

Due to efforts by the American Legislation Exchange Council (ALEC) to roll back Renewable Portfolio Standards, FFC is urging some companies we own to reconsider their affiliation with the group. ALEC continues to falsely claim that such renewable energy targets are costly to ratepayers. However, non-partisan research organizations have repeatedly published data showing that a state-level renewable energy standard has no significant impact on how much energy rates have changed. In our request FFC notes that ALEC’s efforts conflict with the values and public statements of these companies we hold. Therefore we are encouraging the companies to disassociate themselves from ALEC.

To read the full letter to Duke Energy, click here.

To read the full letter to Comcast Corporation, click here.

To read the full letter to Spectra Energy, click here.

To read the full letter to GlaxoSmithKline, click here.

FFC Supports Payday Lending Regulation

pvallee — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:14:41 +0000

Friends Fiduciary urges federal regulators to review bank payday lending practices. Friends Fiduciary, with other socially responsible investors and concerned organizations, has signed onto a letter urging the Federal Reserve, FDIC, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Comptroller of the Currency to regulate payday lending practices. In the fall of 2012, FFC co-filed shareholder resolutions with Regions Financial and Wells Fargo on their payday lending practices and engaged in direct dialogues with these companies. We have partnered with The Center for Responsible Lending in this work.

To view the letter and signatories click here.

Webinar – Save the Date April 24, 2013

pvallee — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:11:30 +0000

Join us on Wednesday, April 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET for a review of first quarter 2013 investment performance for the Consolidated Fund and the Short Term Investment Fund. Rich will also discuss recent changes to Consolidated Fund investments. Registration information will be forthcoming.

For more information, please contact us at info@friendsfiduciary.org.

SRI E-Bulletin Released

pvallee — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:06:49 +0000

Earlier this month, Friends Fiduciary released a brief synopsis of our recent SRI activities to keep our stakeholders better informed of our shareholder advocacy work. Friends Fiduciary has engaged in shareholder advocacy on several social and environmental issues this proxy season, including greenhouse gas emissions, payday lending, and wind production tax credit. We encourage you to share this information with the Peace and Social Concerns Committees in your monthly and yearly meetings.

Click here to view the SRI E-Bulletin.

If you would like to be added to the SRI E-Bulletin list, please email us at info@friendsfiduciary.org.