IN THIS ISSUE:

ASIAN SRI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

1. SRI Leadership in Asia: The People and the Practice - ASrIA's third international conference, Singapore, 15-16 July
2. First conference for Asia Pacific CSR network, Singapore, 12-13 July
3. SRI for beginners
4. Indian Who's Who in CSR
5. China joins World Business Council for Sustainable Development
6. First CSR in Hong Kong best practice survey
7. Business commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility briefing, Hong Kong, 3 March
    

GLOBAL SRI NEWS

1. Labour standards a focus of ISIS report on leading technology companies
2. SRI investors encouraged to support new CSR benchmark for extractive industries
3. Independent study rates SAM as the leader In sustainability research
4. World Economic Forum report forecasts mainstreaming of CSR
5. New US$1 million prize for sustainability contributions
6. Ethical Corporation China operations corporate responsibility conference in London, 30-31 March
7. 1st Middle East Corporate Social Responsibility summit, Dubai, 25-27 April
    

SRI LEADERSHIP IN ASIA: THE PEOPLE AND THE PRACTICE - ASrIA'S THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, SINGAPORE, 15-16 JULY
This year's conference focuses strongly on the practicalities of SRI for Asia, pulling together leading practitioners to examine successful examples, the performance question and investment style as well interpretation of SRI issues for Asia. Don't miss this chance to meet the market makers.
http://www.asria.org/events/singapore/july04/home

FIRST CONFERENCE FOR ASIA PACIFIC CSR NETWORK, SINGAPORE, 12-13 JULY
Organised by the Singapore Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility in partnership with the Social Venture Network, this conference has the theme "Spirit of CSR - Time For Action" and involves stakeholder groups ranging from legal and accounting bodies to youth action from the Asia Pacific region. The event is the same week as ASrIA's conference, thereby maximising the benefit of a Singapore visit for more distant travellers.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1077776251

SRI FOR BEGINNERS
ASrIA is pleased to announce a new interactive tool on our website which explains SRI in 10 easy steps. This is a great learning resource for beginners. Have a bit of fun and try it out. Introduce it to your colleagues and friends.
http://www.asria.org/flash/flash_intro_eng

INDIAN WHO'S WHO IN CSR
ASrIA member the Centre for Social Markets (CSM) will soon publish a guide detailing the major players, key information and other important resources related to CSR in India. Parties interested to be included in this guide can contact CSM. The guide is the first in a series that includes other major developing countries such as Russia, South Africa, China and Brazil.
http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/2423.html

CHINA JOINS WORLD BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
China recently joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's (WBCSD) Regional Network. The China Business Council for Sustainable Development is the first organisation of this nature in the country, and brings together a cross-section of national and foreign companies.
http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/2409.html

FIRST CSR IN HONG KONG BEST PRACTICE SURVEY
The first research on best practice in CSR in Hong Kong, jointly conducted by Hong Kong University's Corporate Environmental Governance Programme and Community Business, was recently released.
http://www.asria.org/ref/library/csrreports/1077520930

BUSINESS COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BRIEFING, HONG KONG, 3 MARCH
This briefing, organised by Community Business, reports on the results of a CSR survey conducted by the Corporate Environmental Governance Programme at the University of Hong Kong. Fifteen countries in Europe, North American and across Asia (including Hong Kong) were studied.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1075867666

LABOUR STANDARDS A FOCUS OF ISIS REPORT ON LEADING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
ASrIA member ISIS Asset Management's recently released a report into the management of social and environmental issues in the supply and disposal chains of 11 global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. ISIS found that while ICT companies often have a good track record in dealing with environmental issues, their handling of labour standards lagged considerably behind.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1075346191

SRI INVESTORS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT NEW CSR BENCHMARK FOR EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
Following 3 years of global multi-stakeholder consultations, the World Bank has recently concluded the Extractive Industries Review (EIR), which examines how extractive industries can positively contribute to poverty alleviation in the developing world. Some of the concepts in the review represent environmental and social best practice, and can be seen as a new CSR benchmark for extractive industries. The World Bank is now considering whether it should accept the EIR's recommendations. SRI investors are encouraged to sign on to a letter asking the World Bank president to adopt the EIR proposals.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1077014278

INDEPENDENT STUDY RATES SAM AS THE LEADER IN SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH
ASrIA member Sustainable Asset Management Research was identified as the leading organisation involved in SRI/sustainability research in a report recently released by sustainable development consultancy, SustainAbility. The "Values for money: Reviewing the Quality of SRI Research" report reviewed 15 global SRI research organisations.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1077507868

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM REPORT FORECASTS MAINSTREAMING OF CSR
The World Economic Forum's recent report "Values and Value: Communicating the Strategic Importance of Corporate Citizenship to Investors" credits socially responsible investing, among other trends, for influencing mainstream investors to take corporate citizenship more seriously. Surveying chief executive officers, chief financial officers, and investor relations officers from 14 different countries, the report reveals that despite little current interest in CSR shown by mainstream investors, many companies believe that mainstream investors will soon have an increased interest in CSR issues.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1074576140

NEW $US1 MILLION PRIZE FOR SUSTAINABILITY CONTRIBUTIONS
Global leader in aluminium/packaging and aluminium recycling, Alcan Inc. has created a US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability as part of their ongoing initiative to support the non-profit sector and their contributions to economic, environmental and/or social sustainability.
The deadline for entries in 31st March 2004.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1076920621

ETHICAL CORPORATION CHINA OPERATIONS CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CONFERENCE IN LONDON, 30-31 MARCH
This 2-day business conference will look at the challenges facing a range of business sectors and industries in operating responsibly across China. A number of varied and interesting issues will be covered.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1073892415

1st MIDDLE EAST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SUMMIT, DUBAI, 25-27 APRIL
This event, organised by the Institute of International Research, aims to raise awareness about the importance of CSR for the Middle Eastern region's growth and long-term development. Bringing together a number of well-know multinationals, NGOs and government officials, the forum will look at the advantages of practicing CSR as well as setting out a framework to do so.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1076640103

 

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