ASrIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: SRI LEADERS IN ASIA
Four weeks to go until the ASrIA International Conference 2004 "SRI Leaders in Asia - the People and the Issues", 15-16 July in Singapore. Go to http://www.asria.org/conf for latest on top class speaker line-up, and for registration details. ASrIA's 2004 conference sponsors are IFC, Daiwa Securities Group, Nikko Asset Management, Rabobank and UOB Asset Management with additional support from Calvert Group and FTSE.
This is the only event in 2004 where leading proponents of SRI from within Asia and further afield will be gathered in one place within the region. Don't miss the chance to meet them and hear how they manage the challenges of practicing SRI for Asia.
Please also go to http://www.asria.org/conf for links to the CSR Forum earlier that week and for details of additional activities around the main ASrIA conference.
MORE SRI ACTION IN KOREA
Increasing Korean interest in SRI was evidenced by the CSR Workshop on Socially Responsible Finance held in Seoul at the end of April. This event also saw the signing by the first two banks in Korea of the UNEP FI statement on sustainability.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1084942313
DAIWA SURVEY CHARTS DEVELOPMENT OF SRI IN JAPAN
ASrIA member Daiwa's recent survey on the effects of SRI on Japanese Corporations reveals the attitude of fund managers and buy/sell-side analysts towards the continuing development of SRI in Japan.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1085973125
MTRC WINS ACCA HONG KONG SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AWARDS
ASrIA Member MTR Corporation Limited has won ACCA Hong Kong's first Sustainability Reporting Awards. Initially launched in 2002 as the Hong Kong Environmental Reporting Awards, ACCA decided to extend the scheme to reward best practice in sustainability reporting.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1087375833
MTRC has also recently published its third sustainability report describing the company's approach to corporate sustainability during 2003.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1087443932
2004 CSR RATINGS RELEASED IN JAPAN
Environmental rating body, the Sustainable Management Rating Institute of Japan, has released its second round of corporate rating results. Ranking 67 Japanese companies, the results were shown in the form of "Rating Trees", with different coloured leaves giving a visual representation of a company's performance, focussing especially on management strengths.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1086586219
SINGAPORE PARTNERS UNITE TO PROMOTE CSR
In order to highlight the importance of CSR in the Singapore business community, the National Trades Union Congress, the Ministry of Manpower, the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore National Employers Federation has launched an initiative on CSR to tackle issues such as observing core labour standards, accountability, corporate governance and environmental protection.
http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/2762.html
INVESTOR RESPONSIBILITY RESEARCH CENTRE EXPANDS SERVICES TO ASIA PACIFIC
The investor and corporate responsibility research and services provider, Investor Responsibility Research Center (IRRC) recently opened its Asian office in Tokyo. This new unit will offer IRRC's research and proxy voting services to the Asian market.
http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/2715.html
INVESTORS PUSH ON CARBON DISCLOSURE, MORE ASIAN CORPORATIONS RESPOND
On 19 May the report of the Carbon Disclosure Report 2 was released, providing investment relevant information about climate change from the FT500 Global Corporations. The information was requested by USD10trillion of investor assets and was analysed by Innovest Group. Details may be found at http://www.cdproject.net .More Asian companies responded this time as described in a speech by ASrIA's Chair in Hong Kong on the same day as the formal London launch.
http://www.asria.org/events/hongkong/may04/
INVESTORS MOVE ON VIOLENCE TO FAIRTRADERS IN INDIA
The founder, Kailash Satyarthi, of the fairtrade initiative Rugmark and his team were severely wounded after being attacked by thugs while preparing to visit The Great Roman Circus of Lucknow which allegedly exploits many children in its acts.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1087372987/
BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS BRIEFING, HONG KONG, 10 JULY
Organised by the Corporate Environmental Governance Programme at the University of Hong Kong, this briefing will report on the findings of their recent research on the risks to Hong Kong companies that do business in countries where allegations of human rights violations exist.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1087466058/
