Are oil and gas companies legally responsible for the harm caused by climate change? That is the question presented in a lawsuit filed in January 2018 by the City of New York against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, and Royal Dutch Shell. According to the lawsuit, those companies are the five largest, investor-owned producers of … Continue reading Making the Oil and Gas Companies Pay for the Harm Caused by Climate Change
How To Become A Superhero With Your Investments
More and more people are asking the question: “How can I use my investments to advance my values?” I began asking myself that question after the presidential election, when I realized that I couldn’t rely on federal policy to make a difference on the issues I care about – especially climate change. Instead, it … Continue reading How To Become A Superhero With Your Investments
The Big Climate Short
The book and the movie The Big Short documented how a tiny number of investors recognized that sub-prime mortgages and derivatives were headed for a financial train wreck and made a fortune by selling them short. This happened at a time when these assets were the darling of the investment world and when the vast … Continue reading The Big Climate Short
I ♥ New York Advocacy Day in Albany with Divest NY
For lots of years I made the trek to Albany to advocate on a number of important issues – Domestic Violence, Rape, Early Childhood Education, Community Schools. For the last year I’ve made Climate Change my priority. The cause I lobbied for on Tuesday was Divestment of Fossil Fuels, specifically from the NYS Pension Fund. … Continue reading I ♥ New York Advocacy Day in Albany with Divest NY
Discovering Your Fund’s SUPER POWERS
Most of us don't know much about what our investment dollars are doing. Retirement funds and mutual funds operate like opaque machines - you put money in and they spit money out. But, when you look closer, you'll find that funds have super powers that help them shape the nature of our society. 1. Power of Choice … Continue reading Discovering Your Fund’s SUPER POWERS
The Cherry Bumps Are Coming!
I grew up in a "co-op" called Valentine Gardens in South Yonkers (NY). This affordable housing complex featured simple ways to build community - like patios where the adults got some fresh air and chatted while the kids jumped rope, played hand-ball or traded baseball cards a few steps away. Down a steep staircase was … Continue reading The Cherry Bumps Are Coming!
Speaking Truth to Power
Since my visit to the Exxon Pavillon at Epcot in 1990, my negative feelings have not abated, despite Exxon's growing interest in alternative energy. I get a kick out of urging individuals to dump Exxon from their portfolios, and have lobbied NYS legislators to require the NYS Pension Fund to divest its 5 billion in … Continue reading Speaking Truth to Power