Geraldine reports that some Mount Pleasantites are debating Ethical Investing

Some Mount Pleasantites are debating ethical investing stimulated by several important but seemingly unrelated events. A variety of issues seeded the discussons along a winding path.

This month the proposed annexing of an adjoining municipality took centre stage. A one hundred year old shooting range is contained in the property and is generating much of the heat surrounding the expropriation issue. Mount Pleasant’s land control by-laws prohibit the use of firearms within city limits. Long time range users are justifiably concerned with the prospect of losing their right to shoot and gun control advocates want no part of modifying the by-laws.

Conversations were soon underway, particularly among Kumar, Celine and her brother, Rene. The head of the Police Commission, Larry Quong stated publically his views on the need for tight gun control measures. Stuart Mckenzie the owner of Northern Outfitters relies on firearms availability for his customers. While the annexation issue has many components the bulk of the discussions coalesced around the shooting range.

Coincidentally a series of investment seminars were being held at the Credit Union. One featured ethical investing. Military focused companies are frequently excluded from ethical funds. A business article in the Observer added fuel to the conversations because it heralded the successes of Smith and Weston, Sturm Ruger and Markel Jagd-und Sport-waffen Gmbh, all small arms manufacturers. Sometimes Mount Pleasantites draw on different stories to form one subject worthy of exploration. In this case an annexation, a gun range, an article about guns and an investment seminar all merged, leading to conversations about ethical investing.

Celine believes ethical investing revolves around booze, smokes, and guns. Stuart argues ethical investing is less about specifics and much more about corporate social responsibility.

Kumar, Celine and Stuart continued to advance their individual ethical investing points of view. Kumar sees it as a business opportunity by providing an ethical fund to clients. Celine attacks businesses which she sees as harmful to the community. Stuart is sympathetic to the corporate social responsibility mantra. He draws the line at further limiting firearm usage and impeding his outfitting business.

Increasingly quandaries of this nature cloud the investment world and add to the conundrums of an already complicated process.