Article by Kip Coerper, organist and choirmaster for St. James’ Episcopal Church in Skaneateles and a GreenFaith Fellow. He offers reflections on Creation Care in the monthly “Green Corner.”
Fossil fuels power our vehicles, control the climate in our buildings, and—perhaps of primary concern—is used to make plastics. Fossil fuel companies are heavily subsidized by governments and supported by banks and financial institutions. Fossil fuel companies need to be responsible for the the consequences of their negative impact on the environment. And banks and institutions need to also feel responsibility for their support for this pollution creating industry. We, the consumer, can help move the needle toward more corporate responsibility by divesting our money in banks and institutions that support fossil fuel exploration.
From Forbes, February 2021:
An Oxford study made this point, stating, “the most far-reaching threat to fossil fuel companies” comes from increased social and political stigmatization of their activities and the resultant uncertainties around their long-term viability. Within finance, government, and civil society, the divestment movement has forced a fundamental reckoning with the future of the global energy system.
Every consumer can be a part of this movement. What credit cards or bank do you use? Choose a credit card and/or bank that avoids fossil fuel investment and invests in local communities and alternative energy. Find them at greenamerica.org/getabetterbank. If you want to learn more, please consider coming to a workshop on divestment hosted by St. James’ Episcopal Church in Skaneateles at noon on Sunday, October 2nd: Divest/Invest: Align Your Money With Your Values.
