An awareness of how a range of global developments is threatening the livelihoods of many millions of the world’s citizens in the early 21st century is sharpening. The realities of climate change and environmental destruction, widening socio-economic inequality, wars and conflicts, and unsustainable transport and business models are among these developments. A striking aspect of the response to them at some senior levels is the combination of genuine engagement and - just when the argument might be getting somewhere - mental blockage. If the latter could be overcome, the results in public discussion and policy decision could be momentous. Read more by Paul Rogers on Open Democracy.

In the just published 2009 BBMG Conscious Consumer Report, the researchers asked 2,000 U.S. consumers to name the most and least socially responsible company in the nation – and Walmart topped both lists. A company so large will always have its fans and its critics, but what’s really going on? For a more in-depth analysis of what they call they Walmart Paradox, please see their inaugural blog post for Triple Pundit.

With investors bruised by traditional institutions, the trend toward socially-responsible investing, or “impact investing,” is moving significantly into the mainstream.

Consider:

-        Impact investing could grow into a market of nearly $500 billion — about 1% of professionally managed global assets in 2009 (according to the Monitor Institute’s 2009 Report)

-        The Social Capital Markets 09 conference expects to exceed its impressive 800+ person registration numbers with new investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Nonprofits and corporations alike are overlooking a rich opportunity to offset the decrease in corporate giving dollars by utilizing pro bono and skilled volunteer support, according to the 2009 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey. 

The survey finds that although almost 40% of corporate executive respondents plan on spending between $50,000 and $250,000 this year on outside consultants and contractors, a full 24% of nonprofits have no plans to use any kind of pro bono or skilled volunteer support. 

This is in stark contrast to the 95% percent of nonprofits who say they are in greater need of pro bono support. 

Jim Kim of FierceMarkets asks:

Is there any resentment simmering out in the public over Wall Street’s return to big earnings and big bonuses?

Bill O’Reilly, the Fox News commentator, likened Goldman Sachs bankers to pigs during a segment on his TV show. “You’ve got to make an example of the big boy,” he said. “And this is the big boy.”

Jon Stewart said this: “Goldman Sachs makes $3.4 billion in profit from April to June. I guess the bailouts are working, for Goldman Sachs.”

So there you have it: Criticism from the right and the left. But is this really a populist issue? I’m not so sure. It may be that most people are glad that the big banks are no longer draining taxpayer funds. But there’s still plenty of time for some big banks to really tank. The PR disaster and public anger will come if the bailouts of some big banks appear to be failing. There is time for that still.

For more:
- here’s a New York Times article on class resentment

Foundations seen moving to boost journalism
Foundations are taking surprising steps to help address the crisis in the U.S. newspaper industry, and the CEO of the Knight Foundation believes several of the biggest U.S. foundations may “get into journalism funding in a significant way,” a new report says.

From Philanthropy Journal

Calpers vs Credit Ratings

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, Calpers, has launched a law suit against the ratings agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch.

Full Story at FT Alphaville:

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/07/16/62326/calpers-vs-credit-ratings/