This month we remember the United States bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago. On August 6 and August 9, 1945, those cities were destroyed, instantly killing or injuring at least 200,000 people. The bombings scarred the lives of the survivors, the hibakusha — many of whom succumbed to related diseases years later and the last of whom mark this anniversary with us. The bombings also shaped the last 75 years of global politics and forced us to question our belief in a positive future for humankind.
Q2 2020 Impact Update
We build responsible investment portfolios for our clients. From there we address risks and create positive social impact through advocacy, specifically at several shareholder meetings this quarter. As the world turned its attention to systemic racism and police brutality against Black people, we continued to challenge racist policies and outcomes regarding companies in our portfolio and beyond. During this time, we also kept up work related to COVID-19 and the climate crisis.
Q1 2020 Impact Update
At Zevin Asset Management, we build responsible investment portfolios for our clients. We then address risks and create positive social impact by engaging with portfolio companies. As the start of 2020 brought uncertainty related to the novel coronavirus outbreak, we continued challenging companies for accountability and positive change.
Pressing Apple for change at The Oscars of capitalism
The media calls the shareholder meeting of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway “Woodstock for capitalists.” Apple’s annual meeting in California, which we attended late last month, should be called “The Oscars of capitalism.” The Apple shareholder meeting is exclusive (it’s difficult for investors to nab a ticket and Al Gore is in attendance), slickly produced in the gleaming “Steve Jobs Theater,” and surrounded by several layers of Secret Service-level security.
Climate Change: The Physical Risks
Climate change risk is a real concern for the world. Last year, scientists approached a consensus that our opportunity to reach the ambitious goal of curbing emissions to avoid global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels has come and gone. In the current climate, coral reefs are dying, deforestation is proceeding rapidly, and Australia has succumbed to a continental rash of fires.