FairFin (EN)

Seven of Bloomberg’s top ten 'Greenest Banks' are Climate Killers (News)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:25:51 +0200

This week, Bloomberg published its annual ranking of the “world’s greenest banks”: Citi won, followed by Santander and JPMorgan. The study assesses banks based on their lending to clean-energy projects and reduction in their own power consumption and carbon footprints. However, banks’ support for dirty energy is ignored.

Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas: casinos rather than banks? (News)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:00:30 +0200

Deutsche Bank invests only 19% of its resources into loans to the real economy. More than half of its assets are, every day, on the hunt for short-term profits. This is evident from an analysis by FairFin of the financial statements of seven banks active in Belgium.

Bank in reverse (Publication)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:49:13 +0200

The research paper A bank in reverse: to what extent is the Belgian banking sector operating in the real economy? shows that most megabanks in our country, especially BNP Paribas and

Billions in Profits at Expense of Human Rights (News)

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:53:12 +0200

Leading European financial institutions are heavily invested in high-risk business activities that violate human rights. This is why the campaign FACING FINANCE, in which FairFin participates, unveils the report DIRTY PROFITS on the International Day of Human Rights.

Campaigners protest against food speculation (News)

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:05:39 +0200

Tomorrow, campaigners will use hundreds of pots and pans to spell out ‘Stop food speculation’ in giant letters on the Place de Luxembourg in Brussels. The 925 pots and pans used will represent the 925 million people facing hunger worldwide.

Half a million people Moved their Money (News)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:37:13 +0200

Since January 2012 Move Your Money estimates that 500,000 people have switched their current accounts to ethical alternatives such as Co-ops and mutuals. In the same week that the Libor scandal hit, Triodos Bank saw a 300% increase in the number of online applications.

Samuel Mondlane (JA!) shows mining giants some CSR (Video)

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:12:52 +0200

FairFin interviews Facing Finance partner Samuel Mondlane from the Mozambiquan NGO JA! about their efforts to educate the mining giants that exploit their country with a little CSR skills.

Interview SRI manager Société Géneral and Crédit Agricole (Video)

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:49:01 +0200

Fragment from the documentary Le Marketing Vert: Le Grand Maquillage by Cash Investigation: an interview with the SRI manager who works for Société Géneral and Crédit Agricole.

Cash investigation: Crédit Agricole and the act of greenwashing (Blog post)

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:07:22 +0200

The “Big Greenwash Circus”: that was the title of the conference I participated in Saturday June 22 in Brussels, with different workshops including one on the banking sector. Here is a summary of what I presented there with Frank Vanaerschot from FairFin, with a particular case study on Crédit Agricole, one of three main French banks.

Eurosatory Weapon Convention 2012 (Flickr Gallery)

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:22:31 +0200

Our woman visited the Eurosatory Weapon Convention 2012 and was amazed with what she saw. Combat planes, guns and (oh yeah) cluster munitions were sold as if they were vacuum cleaners.

List of share- and bondholders (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:26:16 +0200

List of share- and bondholders cluster munition producers

List of lists (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:13:02 +0200

Financial institutions banning investments in cluster munitions

Executive summary (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:00:08 +0200

Executive summary report Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions, update June 2012

Table Countries' best practices (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:35:27 +0200

This report also gives insight to the new and unprecedented development of states legislating against investments in cluster munitions.

Summary Table Hall of Fame (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:29:14 +0200

In the “Hall of Fame” and “runners-up” category, 56 financial institutions are credited for disinvesting from cluster munition producers, This is up from 47 last year.

Summary Table Hall of Shame (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:15:20 +0200

Although many states and financial institutions have spoken out against investments in cluster munitions, this worldwide study shows that in the last three years financial institutions:

Hall of Shame (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:09:39 +0200

Although many states and financial institutions have spoken out against investments in cluster munitions, this worldwide study shows that in the last three years financial institutions:

Hall of Fame and Runners-up (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:56:33 +0200

In the “Hall of Fame” and “runners-up” category, 56 financial institutions are credited for disinvesting from cluster munition producers, This is up from 47 last year.

Key Findings (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:51:29 +0200

Worldwide, 137 private and public financial institutions continue to invest almost US$43 billion into producers of banned cluster munitions.

Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:49:05 +0200

Worldwide, 137 private and public financial institutions continue to invest almost US$43 billion into producers of banned cluster munitions.

Countries' best practices (Publication)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:39:56 +0200

This report also gives insight to the new and unprecedented development of states legislating against investments in cluster munitions.

World’s leading banks invest in cluster bombs (News)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:58:47 +0200

Worldwide, 137 private and public financial institutions continue to invest almost US$43 billion into producers of banned cluster munitions. The 2012 report “Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions; a shared responsibility” shows that leading financial investors and loan providers include Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and China Merchants Bank.

New campaign: Tame the Banking Creature (News)

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:44:06 +0200

FairFin launches a new campaign: Tem het Bankwezen (Tame the Banking Creature). By stickering the entire nation and beyond, we want to feed the debate on the financial crisis. Slogans like Bank to Basics and Reclaim Your Bank! should raise questions on the rescuing of banks, casino banking and the way democracy functions in relation to the financial world.

Facing Finance in Brussels (News)

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:08:46 +0200

The entire Facing Finance team is visiting Brussels this week. Partners SODI, urgewald, EarthLink (all from Germany), CentrumCSR.PL (Poland), JA! Justicia Ambiental (Mozambique) and FairFin are setting out the program for the following year.

Another blow to Unicredit investments (News)

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:09:48 +0200

Wall Street Journal brings an interesting article in light of the European coal finance campaign and the exploded police investigation regarding the suspension of EBRD funds for the TES6 coal project.

UK banks introduce blacklist, US investors get irritated (News)

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:05:14 +0200

Four of Britain's biggest banks and insurance companies have blacklisted a dozen companies that manufacture cluster bombs and landmines. US investors and clients are angry.

Sustainable Banks Outperform World's Largest Banks (News)

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:25:03 +0200

A new study shows that sustainable values-based banks, which base their decisions first and foremost on the needs of people and the environment, are outperforming traditional mainstream banks in many areas, including financial indicators such as return on assets, growth in loans and deposits, and capital strength.

As from today, Netwerk Vlaanderen is FairFin! (News)

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:48:10 +0200

FairFin is the reincarnation of Netwerk Vlaanderen, that celebrates its 30st birthday this year. The name FairFin was chosen from the conviction that money can be the engine for a fair society, in which eventually more than money matters. Cartoon: Erik Molkenboer

ING’s dirty laundry and greenwashing (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:12:41 +0200

ING’s costumer service department recently wrote a letter to clients that are concerning climate change. This letter was in reaction to a postcard which clients had sent to their banks.

Update BankSecrets (News)

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:15:17 +0200

The BankSecrets website will be updated next year. In the meantime, we would like to keep you posted on some current banks' secrets, starting in Cairo, Burma and Ghent...

Bankrolling Climate Change (News)

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0200

New study! "Bankrolling Climate Change" examines commercial banks' lending for the coal industry and provides the first comprehensive climate ranking for financial institutions.

Coal Fair: the Video (Video)

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200

June 2010 Netwerk Vlaanderen launched the campaign Bankroet, stimulating Belgian banks to contribute to the fight against climate change.

Bankroet Coal Fair (Flickr Gallery)

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200

June 2010 Netwerk Vlaanderen launched the campaign Bankroet, stimulating Belgian banks to contribute to the fight against climate change.

New English website! (News)

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:45:21 +0200

Netwerk Vlaanderen is proud to present her new English Drupal-based website! Come take a look at our fresh digital platform with loads of space for news, blogs, pictures and videos, all concerning the mighty world of finance. Any comments or suggestions? Feel free to post them! Netwerk Vlaanderen is also represented at Facebook and Twitter.

Join the Coal Fired Power Fair (News)

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:32:36 +0200

For banks, climate is important, but making as much profit as possible is even more important. Bankroet does not put up with steamy declarations and vague intentions. Therefore we organise a Coal Fair at the Kouter in Ghent 22 October. Join the struggle against weak excuses and bowl away coal financing! Put pressure on your own bank.

Dutch coal fired power plant under fire (Blog post)

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:52:40 +0200

In the meanwhile in Holland, Greenpeace is fighting RWE/Essent who are building a coal fired power plant in the Eemshaven. The construction is already halfway and 2.6 billion euros is invested, but as the court declared, the energy giant does not have a legal permit. Local authorities are eager to 'make it right', but Greenpeace will not give up the battle. "Coal belongs to the past," they rightfully say. Photo: © Greenpeace/ Toala Olivares

British insurer bans cluster munitions producers (Blog post)

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:09:38 +0200

Good news for anti cluster munitions campaigners in the UK! One of the world's largest insurance companies, Aviva, has created a 'black list' of 12 arms manufactures which include the US defence giants Lockheed Martin, Textron and Alliant Techsystems.

Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions (Publication)

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Netwerk Vlaanderen campaigns around banks and their investments in weapons.

Coal's Burial (Video)

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:00:00 +0200

On the 1st of March 2011, Netwerk Vlaanderen buried coal in front of Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas and ING, putting the dirty energy source where it belongs: under the ground.

Update BankSecrets (News)

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:51:28 +0200

Many people have participated in Bank Secrets, an on-line action of Netwerk Vlaanderen. Thank you for this! With your support we are able to campaign against harmful bank investments. Right now, Netwerk Vlaanderen runs the campaign Bankroet against investments in new coal-fired power plants. Help us collect 5000 subscribers for the petition!

BNP Paribas: stop radioactive investments! (News)

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:44:21 +0200

Nuclear energy is not only the most dangerous form of energy, it is also one of the most expensive. To raise the many billions of euros needed to build even a single nuclear reactor, utility companies rely heavily on banks and other financial market players. BNP Paribas, the world’s leading banker of nuclear projects, is currently planning to provide financing for the construction of an out of date nuclear power station – Angra 3 – in Brazil. Greenpeace launches an anti-campaign.

Who profits from the occupation? (News)

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:22:27 +0200

The research project Who Profits from the Occupation presented a detailed report on the involvement of Israelian banks in the occupation of Palestina this month. Loans for builing projects or the aquisistion of houses in the occupied areas, financial service to the colonies’ community councils, as well as the controle over the financial market in Palestina are brought under the attention. Belgium based bank Dexia is one of the involved banks.

SOMO: CSR in financial sector severly limited (News)

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:01:34 +0200

Last year ING, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank together owned almost €150 million of shares in PetroChina, one of the most important players in the oil industry in Sudan fuelling the conflict. This alarming example in the recently published SOMO report Investing Responsibly: A Financial Puzzle reveals the severe limitations of Sustainable Asset Management in the financial sector.

Support Netwerk Vlaanderen online (News)

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:47:01 +0200

Our society is facing enormous challenges. We have to fight global warming, while the credit crisis is working its way through banks and economies to entire nations. The financial system has to be changed drastically. But where to start? Netwerk Vlaanderen wants to stimulate politicians, banks and individuals to take ethical steps and asks you to help us.

Ghent gets its own currency! (News)

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:18:41 +0200

The Ghent area Rabot-Blaisantvest is the first in Flanders to have its own currency! Citizens who take on activities in the public area to create a clean, green, safe and pleasant Rabot, will from now on be appreciated in so-called Torekes. This Torekes can be spend at a number of local shops, at the cinema, to buy ecologically sound materials, to rent an allotment, to take a bus or a tram… Check out the money at www.torekes.be

Australian banks too invest billions in coal (News)

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:39:12 +0200

A report released at the beginning of October by Greenpeace shows Australia's major banks provided loans worth $5.5 billion to the coal industry over the past five years, seven times more than the $784 million lent to the renewable energy sector. Nevertheless, Australia has some of the most abundant sources of clean energy in the world. With the right investment and supportive policies, Greenpeace says, Australia could quickly become a clean energy powerhouse.

Visit to Ruien power station with Netwerk Vlaanderen (Flickr Gallery)

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:08:43 +0200

Bicycle manifestation 'Climate and a Social Justice' in a port of Antwerp (Flickr Gallery)

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:58:10 +0200

Bankers on Tenterhooks (Publication)

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0200

This report shows that Belgian banks finance the building of new coal plants, the extraction of oil from tar sands and deforestation with our savings and investment money.

Ilisu Dam Turkey: Sinking History (Video)

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:28:39 +0200

An ancient village in Hasankeyf, Southeast Turkey, is in danger of being submerged under 30 metres of water due to a new dam, leaving five thousand people homeless and destitute.