Responsible Investment at Harvard

02/12/2019

“The reason that we feel it's really, really important that students, the community, and really the wider world know about Harvard's investments in this land is because we're asking Harvard to abide by the principles that they have set out to be a responsible investor, which includes respecting human rights and includes respecting the environment." - Isabelle Flores-Jones ’19.

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/2/12/divestment-prisons-farmland-rally/

Two divestment activist groups organized on Harvard’s campus last week, calling for ends to the University's farmland holdings and companies connected to the U.S. prison system.

03/26/2015

Harvard found to have destroyed Aboriginal burial grounds to make way for a cotton farm in Riverina.

It's time for Harvard to be a responsible owner of its agricultural land.... our university shouldn't stoop this low just to make a profit.

Unbelievable... Harvard University found to have damaged aboriginal cultural sites and cleared native vegetation in Australia, to make way for a cotton farm.

Cartoon via The Weekly Times.

Read more here: http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/harvard-university-found-to-have-damaged-aboriginal-cultural-sites/story-fnkfnspy-1227276312094

10/29/2014

Harvard Management Corporation (HMC) signed up to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) less than a year ago, but the company that manages the $36 billion Harvard University endowment is already moving rapidly to build environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into ev…

08/30/2014

"Members of the class of 1969 have been critical of the compensation at Boston-based Harvard Management since 2003 when the university disclosed that its five highest-paid endowment employees got a combined $100 million in one year, including about $35 million each for two traders."

A group of alumni that has previously criticized Harvard University for how much it pays its endowment managers is again finding fault after compensation more than doubled in three years at the investment arm.

06/30/2014

Check out this article by Emilio Spataro published in World Rainforest Movement bulletin:

"The HMC’s entire line of argument is based on the great myths about tree plantations. They essentially equate tree plantations with forests, claim that they help to combat climate change, and maintain that FSC certification of the plantations guarantees environmental sustainability, social equity and corporate responsibility to the community.

But if the extensive worldwide debate and the opinions of various environmental, peasant farmer, indigenous and trade union organizations who challenge these myths have no importance for the managers of the HMC, it is enough to observe what is happening in the concrete case of our territory."

Harvard University is the owner, through the Harvard Management Company (HMC), of the world’s largest endowment, which handles 32 billion dollars annually.

06/12/2014

"We challenge HMC to announce their policy for responsible investment, to release documentation on the Argentina plantations, and to publicly discuss these issues with student leaders, civil society groups, and members of the local community."

Read our response to Andrew Wiltshire's op-ed published tonight in the Harvard Political Review! Like and share if you believe in an honest and

http://harvardpolitics.com/harvard/harvard-management-company-crimson-add-insult-injury/

Can Harvard engage in good-faith, substantive dialogues with stakeholders about how to invest responsibly?

06/07/2014

05/04/2014

Members of RI@H explain how the Scolopax scandal in Romania demonstrates the need for Harvard to be more transparent and accountable:

"While the Responsible Investment at Harvard Coalition has only scratched the surface of investigating Harvard’s extensive global investments, the number of ethical violations that we have uncovered is deeply disturbing. Harvard must set up rigorous and transparent standards for accountability to students, alumni, workers, and faculty. Only with a clear and consistent policy of responsible ownership can Harvard avoid future scandals."

The unfortunate events at Scolopax highlight the sense of urgency need in implementing responsible ownership at Harvard.

04/28/2014

04/24/2014

Only days after HMC pleads innocent in the Crimson, a Harvard-owned company is found guilty for the 4th time in Chilean courts, resulting in criminal fines for illegally destroying protected native forests.

http://www.biobiochile.cl/2014/04/18/confirman-multa-de-17-millones-que-debe-pagar-empresa-de-harvard-por-tala-de-bosque-nativo-en-ancud.shtml

Una empresa agrícola de la Universidad de Harvard deberá pagar $17 millones y reforestar más de 76 hectáreas por talar ilegalmente un bosque nativo en Ancud, luego que la Corte de ...

04/22/2014

Harvard Management Company's Andrew Wiltshire says, "[P]lantations can cause negative impacts in some cases if poorly developed or located..."

We agree! Harvard farms timber in the world's second largest wetlands. If that isn't poor placement, what is?

04/18/2014

Harvard Management Company says,"[O]ur local property management teams delight us with their commitment, energy, experience and dedication."

But what's really happening on the ground?