Letters / Don’t teach what they preach
In reply to Donnie Morrison (Unethical investment; SN 8.6.13), I have no problem with the SIC’s investments, they are invested with the view of gaining maximum return, which in my opinion is in the best interest of our island communities.
What I do have a problem with is various councillors making a lot of noise about ethical investments, but purely focusing on the tobacco industry (I’m a non-smoker).
If they truly believe in ethical investments then they would be requesting the SIC to remove the bulk of their investments from the FTSE-100 and this is where it all falls down.
If these councillors want to champion public health then they should be hitting the tobacco companies where it hurts and reduce the number of people in Shetland who smoke.
If the government and councils focused on this aspect then tobacco companies’ revenues would fall and no longer become a successful investment. Instead they tax the addicted to the hilt and pretend they care.
Since you bring up SuS, I see a lot of similarities in the two cases. Here is a group of protestors who focus on noise, pollution, destruction of the natural environment and human health aspects, yet are happy to standby and watch, in fact publicly endorse, Total build a hydrocarbon processing plant, which will belch out C02 and other hazardous gases in the north mainland of Shetland.
They also completely ignore the fact that the community of Cullivoe have just been given the go ahead to build a wind farm, where noise, pollution, destruction of the natural environment and human health aspects will all be affected.
They simply don’t teach what they preach.
As for joining SuS, I’d rather take my chances on an ice berg with a polar bear.
Craig Johnson
Northmavine
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