Ethical investing for peace - 20 Sep 2006

20 September 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

While Australians are celebrating International Peace Day tomorrow, many of them will be unaware that their savings and superannuation could be being used to fund companies which manufacture armaments, support oppressive regimes or are invested in ways which perpetuate the problems which lead to unrest and conflict.

This is because 98.86% of the overall market for managed funds is invested with fund managers who only consider financial criteria when investing your money. Only the remaining 1.14% is invested with ethical fund managers who screen potential investments according to both financial and ethical criteria.

Australian Ethical is a pioneer in the ethical investment industry and its level of ethical screening is considered the most rigorous in the Australian marketplace.

Based on the Australian Ethical Charter, Australian Ethical not only avoids companies which perpetuate militarism, support oppressive regimes or manufacture armaments but more broadly also avoids companies involved in activities which lead to unrest and conflict such as worker exploitation, environmental degradation, discrimination in employment or advertising, and the inhibition of human rights.

Australian Ethical also stands out from the pack by remaining one of the few funds which does not invest in uranium. As well as the issues of safety and waste management, another key reason for avoiding this industry is the potential use of enriched uranium in the manufacture of weapons.

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For further information or comment please contact:

James Thier Executive Director, Australian Ethical Investment
Ph 0410 442 701