Although corporations can and should contribute to social well-being for its own sake, a just and peaceful society also serves the business sector's interests. Few corporations can be profitable in the long run in a world without social, political, and economic justice. In the same vein, religious investors believe that their investments and the companies in which they invest must not only provide significant earnings to shareholders but also must do so in ways that contribute to a cleaner, safer world for our children and grandchildren. I propose that corporate social and environmental responsibility be the foundation for business ethics in the new millennium. By holding corporations accountable for their actions, we can build the social and economic justice that is necessary for a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful society.
Employees deserve a living wage and safe working conditions.
The environment is a resource to be protected, not taken from future generations. Products that kill or maim should not be sold. Government repression of democracy, workers, unions, and citizens does not create an appropriate environment for business. Since the early 1970s, conscientious investors have sought to invest funds in ways that are consistent with their social and moral philosophies. The most common goal of religious investors who screen their portfolios has been to avoid investing in or profiting from unethical corporate behavior.