January-February 1999:
Kosova: Prospects for Peace
Breaking the Culture of Fear
Critical Resistance
Activist Reviews
Activist Letters/WRL News/Activist News
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War Resisters League
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| ACTIVIST LETTERS |
Irresponsible Investment
Bob Feldman's letter about Domini Social Equity Fund's investments in what many WRL supporters would not consider "socially responsible" corporations points out something more basic about investing: the term "socially responsible investment" is an oxymoron.
Investments of any kind contradict social responsibility in several ways: (1) They allow the investor to profit without doing any work using money not needed to meet basic needs. This system discriminates against people with low or moderate incomes who have little or no money to "invest." It also allows some people to make money (often a lot of money) simply by having money and making no productive contribution to our economic system.
(2) They provide money to medium or large size corporations who will use that money to buy out or destroy or take business away from their less financially endowed competitors, including small, locally owned businesses. It contributes to the increasing differences in wealth. This is true even for Ben and Jerry's or other corporations who most fit the description of "socially responsible."
(3) Corporations' bottom line, in most cases, is "keep the investors happy," which means that almost all corporations consider dividends and larger profits a higher priority than anything that might be considered "socially responsible." The money they pay out as dividends has to come from somewhere. It usually comes from downsizing, union-busting, lower pay or benefits, unsafe working conditions, pollution, etc.
For WRL supporters who want to use their money in a truly "socially responsible" way, you can do that by lending money at no interest to groups such as the First Nations Development Institute, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Grassroots International, or to a local social change organization that can use funds on a short or long term basis to more effectively accomplish its goals.
-Larry Dansinger, Monroe, ME
| WRL NEWS |
New WRL Executive
Ballots were counted just before Christmas for seven open places on the National Committee, the WRL governing body, and six open spots on the New-York based Executive Committee, which oversees day-to-day WRL operations. (Approximately one-third of each body is elected each year.) The 1998 National Committee consists of (newly elected members in italics; re-elected incumbents marked with an asterisk): (Mid-Atlantic) *Janet Ney of Allentown, PA, Martin Kelly of Philadelphia and Bob Smith of Swarthmore, PA; (New England) Sam Diener of Arlington, MA, and Timothy Forman of Amherst, MA; (South) Riley Bostrom of Fairfax, VA, Claire Hanrahan of Asheville, NC, and David Selgary of Houston; (Midwest) *Tom Howard-Hastings of Maple, WI, Tammy McKenna, of Minneapolis and Pamela Jean Owens of Chicago; (West) Rick Bickhardt of Boulder, CO, Tana De Vieti, of Portland, OR, Carol Jahnkow of Encinitas, CA, Ellen Klowden of Eugene, OR, and Geov Parrish, of Seattle; (at-large) Ynestra King of New York City and *Lisa Miller of Brooklyn.
The 1998 Executive Committee consists of: Adrianna Coe, Jon Cohen, Heidi Dorow, Phyllis Eckhaus, Dennison Joyce, Sachio KoYin, Bob Lepley, *Elmer Maas, John M. Miller, Bre Reiber Carmen Trotta and *Betty Winkler. WRL welcomes all the new arrivals and says a regretful goodbye to those members who decided in 1998 that they had served long enough on the executive body, especially at-large NC member Greg Payton. The new EC meets for the first time Jan. 6; the new NC meets in New York Feb. 12-15.
| ACTIVIST NEWS |
Toxic Planet
Diverse Nature Alert-known as DNA-occupied an old local government office in London last October for a week of action to splice through the corporate propaganda of genetic engineering. From Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, the organization used the building for a public interactive art and information event called Toxic Planet that included movies, a multimedia exhibition, a genetically modified-free café with organic vegan food, a permaculture garden, an indoor playground for children (and adults), street theater, talks, workshops and up-to-date information for action against genetic engineering.
DNA is a loose collective of concerned artists, mutant squatters, scientists, performers and horticulturists seeking to highlight the perils of biotechnology and genetic manipulation. As the genetic millennium approaches and world governments sit back and allow the nightmare to continue, people are left confused by multi-corporate business heads in league with jargon-cranking scientists and double-speaking politicians. "From the bowels of our fair city of London,' said organizers of the event, "comes a rumbling quaking, reverberating through the sidewalks. DNA is fighting back."
They added, "Combining direct action and art, it is an attempt to provide alternatives to the corporate exploitation of natural resources and destruction of genetic diversity. Toxic Planet provides a springboard for people of every kind to understand these issues, have a fun time and find out how to take positive direct action against the activities of Monsanto et al."
For more information, contact: Toxic Planet, The Old Neighbourhood Office, 173/174 Upper Street, London N1 1XS; +44-171-226 8672.
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