The use of the Internet is increasing throughout the world at
an incredible rate. Home page and e-mail addresses are as likely
to appear on business cards as fax numbers these days. This is
due, in no small part, to the relative ease and inexpensive of
setting up and maintaining websites. Most organizations have found
it a very cost-effective way to disseminate information about
themselves - electrons being much easier and faster to move than
paper.
The social investment community has begun to make use of this
new communications medium. Most of the main organizations have
their own websites. Some of them have made the Web their primary
means of conveying information to the outside world, and have
developed quite extensive websites as a result. In some cases,
it is their sole means, the organizations existing as online entities
only.
Three good examples of SRI organizations that are pioneering fully
developed websites include GreenMoney and Good Money in the US,
and Ethical Business and Investing for Change in the UK.
"GreenMoney On-Line Guide Mission Statement
We promote the awareness of socially and environmentally responsible
business, investing and consumer resources. Our goal is to educate
and empower individuals and businesses to make informed financial
decisions through aligning their corporate and financial principles.
GreenMoney Special Features
GreenMoney Gallery of Products & Services
"GOOD MONEY Home Page
Social, Ethical and Environmental Investments,
Responsible Consuming & Corporate Accountability
...Welcome to the web pages for all those who are interested
in socially and environmentally responsible investing (SRI), consuming
(SRC) and business practices (CSR). For the last several months,
we have been averaging almost 7,000 visitors a week from
all over the world.
These pages are designed for both novices and professionals. They
provide information about how perfectly ordinary people can use
the power of their money as investors, consumers and businesspeople
to bring about the changes necessary to improve social and economic
conditions throughout the world. Indeed, these pages are testimony
to the fact that none of us can do well economically without also
doing good socially."
"What is Ethical Business?
Ethical Business is an on-line resource for people interested
in ethical and environmental business initiatives and the complex
ethical and environmental issues that business faces. It was founded
in March 1995 and has so far received over a quarter of a million
hits.
The primary purpose of Ethical Business is provide a comprehensive,
up to date directory of Ethical Business Websites on the Internet.
While general search engines can be useful, they can take a along
time to find what you are looking for. Our hope is that once you
have found the Ethical Business site, you need look no further
for resources in this area.
In addition it is hoped that as Ethical Business develops it will
contain:
News about ethical business from around the world, including information
about research, conferences, campaigns, new ventures and other
news stories.
Archives of papers, books and articles on ethical business
Background information about of the various kinds of ethically
motivated business, their history and the issues that confront
them.
You might like to check out our sister site Investing for Change."
"Investing for Change is the Website for UK ethical and social
investment. This is the pilot version of the site. Over the coming
months it will developed into an extremely useful site.
As it expands it will include:
The Investing for Change idea has been developed jointly by the
UK Social Investment Forum and Arq, an Internet publishing company
specialising in ethical and environmental business."
