EXTRACT: “Including companies such as BP and Shell is a pragmatic compromise…
By Faith Archer
Last Updated: 12:40am GMT 17/03/2007
Marks & Spencer has launched a new ethical investment fund which has troubled oil giant BP as one of its biggest holdings.
BP has been criticised for safety and pollution failings, including the deaths of 15 workers at its Texas City refinery and oil pipeline spills at its Alaskan unit. Also, US regulators are scrutinising BP’s dominance in the propane gas market after allegations of price-fixing.
The new M&S Money Ethical fund seeks to invest in UK companies that make a “positive contribution to the community or environment”, and to avoid investing in companies that have a “poor environmental record”.
James Thorpe, spokesman for M&S Money, said: “The fund does not exclude oil companies but, as oil and gas stocks have a high impact on the environment, it can only invest in ‘best in class’ companies.
“BP may have had some high-profile accidents but in terms of the overall business it is one of the best in the world at creating cleaner fuels and leaving the smallest footprint on the environment they are working in.”
Marks & Spencer sold off its financial services division to HSBC in 2004, while retaining a half share in any profits.
HSBC has split the ethical fund’s management between two companies, with Sinopia Asset Management investing 60pc of the fund’s assets, including the holdings in BP, while Jupiter Asset Management invests the remaining 40pc. Brigid Benson from ethical investment specialist independent financial advisers The Gaeia Partnership said: “Including companies such as BP and Shell is a pragmatic compromise, as best in sector compared to other major oil companies such as Exxon and Total.
“An ethical fund which avoided oil, banks and pharmaceutical companies would be very volatile and could underperform the market.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/03/17/cnmarks17.xml
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Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
