Netwerk Vlaanderen

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Netwerk Vlaanderen conducts studies into dubious investment practices and gives a critical look at the role of our money in society.

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Belgium bans investments in depleted uranium weapons

New Belgian law is the first of its kind
Brussels, 3rd July 2009, Netwerk Vlaanderen, Belgian Coalition 'Stop Uranium Weapons!', Réseau Financement Alternatif

Yesterday the Belgian Parliament unanimously approved a law forbidding investments in depleted uranium weapons. Belgium is now the first country to prevent the flow of money to producers of uranium weapons. This law complements the country’s ban on their manufacture, testing, use, sale and stockpiling which came into force on June 21st last. The use of depleted uranium armour piercing munitions during combat causes the release of chemically toxic and radioactive particles which represent a long term hazard for the environment as well as for human health.

Banktrack members unveil banks' secrets

Six european organizations launch a revealing website: www.banksecrets.eu

Brussels,25/06/2009.

Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mundiale (Italy), Friends of the Earth (France), Netwerk Vlaanderen (Belgium), Platform (UK), SETEM (Spain) and Urgewald (Germany) expose investments in harmful practices and companies of thirteen large European banks in this new website. Despite of the banking crisis, financial institutions continue to do harmful investments in a sphere of secrecy. To expose banks´ secrets, activists ‘undressed the banks’ by staging parallel theatrical activities in the main European capitals.

Concerned investors send bailiff to minister Reynders

Investments in cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines remains possible two years after ban
Brussels, 8th May 2009. Netwerk Vlaanderen, Vrede, Vredesactie, Friends of the Earth Flanders & Brussels, Réseau Financement Alternatif

On 20 March 2007 the Belgian parliament unanimously approved a law banning investments in cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines. Two years later, the law is still being breached. Fortis, Dexia, Delta Lloyd, Citibank and Bank Degroof offer funds that invest in producers of cluster munitions, according to new research from Netwerk Vlaanderen. For this reason, peace organisations and concerned investors have sent a bailiff to Belgian finance minister Didier Reynders. As long as he has not drawn up an essential implementing decree that makes the law operational, individuals and institutions run the risk of unwittingly breaching the law.

BNP Paribas: very high risk of harmful investments

Brussels, 19th March 2009. New research from Netwerk Vlaanderen shows need for regulation of the banking industry.

Customers of BNP Paribas run a very high risk of harmful investments. This is revealed in new research that forms part of the "Banking Secrets" campaign of Netwerk Vlaanderen. The French bank owns or manages 657 million dollars in shares of ten companies that harm people and the environment, such as mining company Barrick Gold and Freeport McMoran. Netwerk Vlaanderen conducted research into the harmful investments made by AXA, Citibank, Dexia, Deutsche Bank, ING, KBC and Triodos Bank regarding environment, peace, freedom & democracy and decent working conditions. The results are disappointing. “The government must urgently put conditions in place for support for banks. Only the banks that put a stop to harmful investments should be eligible for government support", according to Mathias Bienstman, campaigner with Netwerk Vlaanderen.

Banks shun harmful investments

Brussels, 11 Juni 2008.

Today sees the launch of the report ‘Ending Harmful Investments’ by Netwerk Vlaanderen in cooperation with the international organisation BankTrack. The report discusses limits to investments in four damaging practices: the support of dictators, the infringement of labour laws, the destruction of the environment and the production of weapons.The report contains examples of pioneering financial institutions. The leaders in the field are the Dutch Algemene Spaarbank voor Nederland (ASN), the Italian Banca Etica, The Co-operative Bank from the UK and Triodos Bank. A number of traditional banks and pension funds are beginning to follow their example, albeit reluctantly.

Risk of harmful investments is too high for Belgian customers

Netwerk Vlaanderen ranks banks operating in Belgium
Brussels, 5 June 2008

Today the Belgian NGO Netwerk Vlaanderen publishes a ranking of the largest banks active in Belgium. The classification is based on a new research into the banks policies and investments. Conclusion: bank customers still run an unacceptably high risk of involvement with harmful investments. Dexia and KBC achieve the best scores amongst the large banks. Deutsche Bank performs very badly. Therefore an action will take place this afternoon in the head office of Deutsche Bank.

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