July
  2004
ABOUT US

The Edmund Rice Business Ethics Initiative, launched in 1991, exists to promote a conversation between business and the community on values and ethics: promoting life humanly in our businesses, our communities, our planet. It aims to create a space where these issues can be discussed and researched in mutually supportive ways. It seems to promote better communication for the sake of better outcomes for us all.

<Click for more>
ASBESTOS WOES
The ripples of James Hardie's move off-shore are growing. As share prices fall, actuaries and lawyers are now coming under scrutiny in the NSW inquiry into whether the building materials giant deceived the Supreme Court when it made assurances in 2001 to pay adequate compensation for victims of asbestos-related disease.

<Click for more>
ETHICAL AND SOUND INVESTMENT
Westpac's reinvention of itself after almost coming unstuck in 1990's has a high ethical profile. The bank has recently sold its Sustainability Fund shares in James Hardie NV.

<Click for more>
CEOS WITH THE COMMUNITY
CEOs prioritise better community relations in latest survey in the US. Or are they?

<Click for more>
MITSUBISHI APOLOGIZES FOR COVER-UPS
"Chief executive, Mr Okazaki promised the company would strengthen quality control and bring in outsiders to monitor corporate ethics and promote social responsibility in its workers' ranks." (SMH)

<Click for more>
FORMER ENRON CEO TO BE CHARGED
July 7, 2004. Kenneth Lay, founding CEO of Enron, has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Houston and subsequently arrested.

<Click for more>
"BECAUSE I COULD..."
Mike Walsh
In response to a question from Dan Rather in a recent "60 Minutes" interview, Bill Clinton offered as the reason for his affair with Monica Lewinski "because I could." He then, with some grace, went on to say, "this is just about the most morally indefensible reason anybody could have for doing anything."

<Click for more>
  John Ingram
» FORUM: Hypothetical
Who really runs the country?
··ASBESTOS WOES
··ETHICAL AND SOUND INVESTMENT
··CEOS WITH THE COMMUNITY
··MITSUBISHI APOLOGIZES FOR COVER-UPS
··FORMER ENRON CEO TO BE CHARGED
··"BECAUSE I COULD..."
This newsletter is a publication of the Edmund Rice Centre and the Trustees of the Christian Brothers. While all reasonable attempts have been taken to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct and that opinions and points of view are in accordance with the purpose of the Business Ethics Initiative, the Edmund Rice Centre and the Trustees of the Christian Brothers do not guarantee its accuracy nor should anything contained in the newsletter be treated as professional advice. The Edmund Rice Centre and the Trustees of the Christian Brothers do not necessarily endorse or recommend any opinions, individuals or organisations which are linked to, or mentioned in, this newsletter.