Is it right for universities...
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Is it right for universities...
Is it right for universities to invest in the arms industry?
I have just found out that my uni (Swansea), as well as some others, invest millions of pounds of our tuition fees in cluster bombs, land mines and other assorted nasties.
I'm sure you can all guess my view, what's yours?
I have just found out that my uni (Swansea), as well as some others, invest millions of pounds of our tuition fees in cluster bombs, land mines and other assorted nasties.
I'm sure you can all guess my view, what's yours?
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Re: Is it right for universities...
Can you elaborate Hendrik?Hendrik wrote:Is it right for universities to invest in the arms industry?
I have just found out that my uni (Swansea), as well as some others, invest millions of pounds of our tuition fees in cluster bombs, land mines and other assorted nasties.
I'm sure you can all guess my view, what's yours?
How do they do it?
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I work in researching investments etc for charities which universities are and its amazing what so many do have investments in. Each charity has to have an investment policy that reflects their objectives etc as a charity and will state whether or not they have a large stance against an area, for example environmental charities will not invest in companies that destroy it.
Therefore if the university does not have a stance against fire arms etc they can tehnically if they want to invest. Fund Managers will do as asked so if the charity doesnt ask for something to excluded then they will invest if it meets thecriteria. Which is why so many charities are going for ethical/social investment funds
Therefore if the university does not have a stance against fire arms etc they can tehnically if they want to invest. Fund Managers will do as asked so if the charity doesnt ask for something to excluded then they will invest if it meets thecriteria. Which is why so many charities are going for ethical/social investment funds
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Re: Is it right for universities...
You'd be amazed how many companies have some involvement in the arms trade - Mercedes Benz (and others) make lorries - lorries can be used for carrying people - people include soldiers - soldiers kill peeps .....Hendrik wrote:Is it right for universities to invest in the arms industry?
I have just found out that my uni (Swansea), as well as some others, invest millions of pounds of our tuition fees in cluster bombs, land mines and other assorted nasties.
I'm sure you can all guess my view, what's yours?
I was involved with a major pharmaceuticals company which was not involved in the arms trade (apart from presumably supplying antibiotics anaesthetics and the like); they allowed a staff member to set up an arms length subsidiary which sourced non-group materials (like dentists sterilising equipment) and sold them. One early product was used to protect soldiers - would you ban the parent company?
There are some which are more openly / obviously involved; BAE make aircraft parts and (do or are hoping to) refit US army vehicles.
Where do you draw the line????? This is the classic problem.
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
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I was informed of this by Campaign Against the Arms Trade on campus. They're a pretty big organisation with lots of pretty big names on board and tend to know what they're talking about.
Blondie, I know they're allowed to, otherwise they wouldn't (couldn't get away with it). Anyone can legally invest in the arms trade, infact I'm sure the government would go out of their way to help you do it. My question is, is it ethical to do so?
Where would I draw the line? Good question, as with almost everything in this universe it isn't black or white, but on a continuum. However, when the company's primary source of income (and thus raison d'etre) is from making things which kill people, I think we can safely call them arms dealers.
Two names which I've heard so far are Rolls Royce (yes, they make exceedingly posh cars, but make a lot more military aircraft) and BAE aka British Aerospace.
Blondie, I know they're allowed to, otherwise they wouldn't (couldn't get away with it). Anyone can legally invest in the arms trade, infact I'm sure the government would go out of their way to help you do it. My question is, is it ethical to do so?
Where would I draw the line? Good question, as with almost everything in this universe it isn't black or white, but on a continuum. However, when the company's primary source of income (and thus raison d'etre) is from making things which kill people, I think we can safely call them arms dealers.
Two names which I've heard so far are Rolls Royce (yes, they make exceedingly posh cars, but make a lot more military aircraft) and BAE aka British Aerospace.
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Just a point on Rollers - afaik, the company who make the cars and the company that makes the jet engines are now too different things...Hendrik wrote:I was informed of this by Campaign Against the Arms Trade on campus. They're a pretty big organisation with lots of pretty big names on board and tend to know what they're talking about.
Blondie, I know they're allowed to, otherwise they wouldn't (couldn't get away with it). Anyone can legally invest in the arms trade, infact I'm sure the government would go out of their way to help you do it. My question is, is it ethical to do so?
Where would I draw the line? Good question, as with almost everything in this universe it isn't black or white, but on a continuum. However, when the company's primary source of income (and thus raison d'etre) is from making things which kill people, I think we can safely call them arms dealers.
Two names which I've heard so far are Rolls Royce (yes, they make exceedingly posh cars, but make a lot more military aircraft) and BAE aka British Aerospace.
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