Note: This letter from the editor was originally published in our weekly newsletter and is being republished here.
Hey guys,
Over the last few months we’ve been approached by various organisations about ethical finance and it’s wonderful to see that the sustainability movement is evolving to encompass such an important part of our lives.
Tackling money and finances is usually at the bottom of the sustainable lifestyle to-do list when people first ‘go green’. It’s often thrown in the ‘too hard’ basket.
But I recommend that people tackle this part of their lives ASAP (especially as there are so many more responsible financial institutions to choose from!) because it makes no sense carrying around zero waste kits, saying no to plastic and going on climate marches, when they’re money (savings, investments, retirement/super money) is undoing all their positive work and being loaned to and funding industries that don’t align with their eco values such as coal, oil and gas.
So here are some questions for you: Is your bank/financial institution or retirement/super fund investing in fossil fuels (ie coal-fired power plants), weapons manufacture and militarism, live exports, gambling, tobacco etc? Is your savings/investments being used as a force for good?
Now we’ve recently partnered with one of Australia’s pioneering ethical financial institutions Australian Ethical Super (a collab no-brainer as my super has been invested with them since 2016) to raise awareness about this important topic, so if you’re keen to learn more about why I made the ethical super switch, read this post.
Anyway, here’s what I’m reading, watching and listening to:
Podcast Shows / Films:
The Gamechangers Movie. A documentary film about the benefits of plant-based eating for athletes (if you’re health and fitness conscious this is going to get you thinking… and eating more green leafy veg ha!)
Gemma Newman, MD is the Plant Power Doctor, Rich Roll. A wonderful podcast with a family doctor who became convinced about the power of plant-based nutrition after observing the performance results of her marathon-running husband and reviewing the extensive research into plant-based eating.
Books:
Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus aka The Minimalists (still reading, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks).
Articles /Posts:
‘The climate doesn’t need awards’: Greta Thunberg declines environmental prize, The Guardian
Netflix pays barely any tax in Australia. But it isn’t alone– here are some of the other tech companies that avoid it, Business Insider
Unilever CEO tells activists to ‘call us out’ amid plastic criticism, Marketing Week
Chile Protestors: ‘We are subjugated by the rich. It’s time for that to end’, The Guardian
Billionaire clothing dynasty heiress launches Everybody & Everyone to make fashion sustainable, Tech Crunch
Wedding photo showing masked newlyweds in burning California looks apocalyptic, USA Today
Obama advises ‘woke’ young people not to be so judgemental, Sydney Morning Herald
And that’s all from me for this week. Hope you have a relaxing weekend whatever you get up to! And if you’re keen on gardening inspiration, make sure to follow on Insta as Spring has sprung on the farm (FYI: EWP HQ is located on an off-grid certified organic farm) and our gardens are looking amazing! #nature #blessed.
Peace, love and all that jazz,
Jen xx
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Recommending reading:
- Ethical Finance: Rolling My Super Over to Australian Ethical Super
- I’m Almost 28 and Have No Savings and Hefty Student Debt. Here’s How I’m Taking Control of My Finances This Year…
- Climate Activism: Beyond Rebellion to Political and Economic Action
- A Simple Guide to Sustainable Business Practices for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- One Planet Summit: All Green Finance Talk, But What About Action?
- 5 Inspiring Australian Female Politicians You Should Know
- 30 Things You Can Do If You’re Feeling Helpless About Climate Change
- More Millennial Women Are Choosing Not to Have Children for the Environment. Here’s What Five of Them Had to Say…
Feature image via Shutterstock.
