Armaments
Forum Ethibel position statement
International law on armament and war aims to strike a balance between the legitimate right of self-defence and the reduction of human suffering and killing. There are many laws regulating warfare and the use of arms.
A number of arms are explicitly forbidden under international law for any purpose as they cause disproportionate and/or indiscriminate suffering. These arms include: anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions; nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; depleted uranium weapons; blinding laser weapons; and incendiary weapons.
Due to the controversial nature of armaments, Forum ETHIBEL has set strict guidelines for three kinds of companies: those producing armaments; financial institutions financing weapon production; and companies distributing weapons.
Eligibility
Sub-category 1: Production or sale of controversial weapons
- Not eligible: Always
- Eligible: 0%
Sub-category 3: Production or sale of key parts/services for weapons
- Not eligible: >5%
- Eligible: 0 - 5%
Sub-category 5: Financing controversial weapons
- Not eligible: Always
- Eligible: 0%
Sub-category 2: Production or sale of other offensive weapons
- Not eligible: Always
- Eligible: 0%
Sub-category 4: Production or sale of other military parts or services
- Not eligible: >5%
- Eligible: 0 - 5%
Sub-category 6: Financing conventional weapons
- Not eligible: >1% (of total activa)
- Eligible: 0 - 1% (of total activa)
Definition
Forum Ethibel distinguishes between the following categories in terms of armament:
- Production of controversial armament: Production of armaments that are illegal under international law: cluster munitions, antipersonnel landmines, nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons, blinding laser weapons, incendiary weapons, depleted uranium weapons, white phosphorus weapons.
- Production of offensive armament: Production of armament directly designed to kill, wound or destroy. This includes (civilian and military) firearms, bombs, missiles, torpedoes, combat vehicles, grenades, mines, ammunition and IT systems for weapon control.
- Production and sale of key parts/services for armament: Key parts include subsystems of the whole weapon system, as well as end products that are essential to weapon systems (e.g. combat equipment). Key services include services that are essential to weapon systems and combat (e.g. communication services and flight simulation training).
- Production and sales of other parts or services for armament: Secondary parts and services: subsystems to key parts of weapons. This also covers non-weapon related key products or services for armament, such as transport vehicles, camouflaged uniforms, etc.
- Financing of controversial armament : Financing a company involved in the production of controversial armament.
- Financing of conventional armament: Financing a company involved in the production of conventional armament
Gambling
Forum Ethibel position statement
Gambling is defined as an activity of engaging a game of chance, for money or other stakes. For the majority of people, gambling has no negative consequences. However, obsessive gambling can lead to severe individual and societal problems. Gambling can lead to difficulties related to financial problems and the ability to function properly at work, school with family or friends. On average, 2% of the population suffers from a gambling addiction or is prone to obsessive gambling.
Gambling is legal in most countries, albeit under strict conditions: a licence is typically needed to organise games of chance, run a casino or advertise gambling.
Taking the above-mentioned issues into account, Forum ETHIBEL decided to include gambling as an exclusionary criterion in its methodology.
Eligiblity
Sub-category 1: Gambling devices and organisation of gambling
- Not eligible: >5%
- Case-by-case: 0 - 5%
Sub-category 2: Distribution of gambling products/services
- Not eligible: >10%
- Case-by-case: 0 - 10%
Definition
Forum Ethibel distinguishes between the following two categories in terms of gambling:
- Gambling devices and organisation: Gambling is defined as the activity of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes. Gambling devices are for instance slot machines and table games (e.g. card games). Organisation of gambling includes the management of casinos, gambling websites, organising betting on such competitive events as animal races or sports matches.
- Distribution and sales of gambling activities: This includes activities such as the sale of lottery tickets, provision of access to (online) betting services, gambling or casino operations.
Nuclear energy
Forum Ethibel position statement
Nuclear energy serves as a low carbon alternative to fossil fuels. However, the production of nuclear energy is controversial due to the risks of radioactivity. Exposure to radioactivity has a severe negative impact on human and animal health, as well as on the environment. Depending on the degree of exposure, radioactivity can cause dysfunctional organs, skin irritation, bleeding, infection, problems with the nervous system, and even death. Long-term exposure to very limited levels of radioactivity, such as to workers in nuclear plants, tends to cause cancer.
The installation and production costs of nuclear energy are very high and are mostly carried by countries (taxpayers), not by companies. Major nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima are rare but do occur. Additionally, access to nuclear energy can lead to the production of nuclear weapons, which would cause mass destruction if used. Given its potential to cause serious long-term harm, Forum ETHIBEL wishes to fully avoid exposure to nuclear energy.
Eligibility
Sub-category 1: Nuclear power
- Not eligible: >5%
- Case-by-case: 0 - 5%
- Eligible: 0%
Sub-category 2: Semi-nuclear activities
- Not eligible: /
- Case-by-case: >10%
- Eligible: 0 - 10%
Definition
Forum Ethibel distinguishes between the following categories in terms of nuclear energy:
- Nuclear-related activities: Tailor-made products or services to produce nuclear energy and uranium. This includes: design, building and management of nuclear energy plants, including specific research and consultancy services; supply of essential parts for nuclear energy installations or nuclear weapons (first level suppliers); mining of uranium or other resources of nuclear fuel; processing or sale of uranium or other nuclear fuels.
- Semi-nuclear activities: Products/services also available for non-nuclear applications; and non-essential parts of nuclear energy installations. This includes: supply of non-nuclear related services to nuclear installations (examples: maintenance, security, insurance, etc.) or products that are used only indirectly for nuclear energy installations (second level suppliers); deconstruction of nuclear installations and transport, processing and storage of nuclear waste stemming from these activities.
Tobacco
Forum Ethibel position statement
There is overwhelming evidence that the use of tobacco products causes serious health problems. Various data from the World Health Organisation indicate that tobacco kills six million people each year. Up to half of tobacco users die as a direct result of tobacco use. In addition to the risks to tobacco users’ health, tobacco production and use also causes other problems:
- Second-hand tobacco smoke exposure causes more than 600 000 premature deaths per year.
- Child labour in tobacco farms in Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
- Tobacco companies lobbying, aimed at influencing public health legislation, advertising and marketing laws, as well as scientific opinion.
- ...
Given these facts, Forum Ethibel has decided to treat tobacco as an exclusionary criterion.
Eligiblity
Sub-category 1: Production of core tobacco products
- Not eligible: Always
- Case-by-case: /
- Eligible: 0%
Sub-category 3: Distribution of tobacco products
- Not eligible: >10%
- Case-by-case: 5 - 10%
- Eligible: 0 - 5%
Sub-category 2: Production of secondary (ancillary) tobacco products
- Not eligible: 10%
- Case-by-case: 5 - 10%
- Eligible: 0 - 5%
Definition
Forum Ethibel distinguishes between the following categories in terms of tobacco:
- Production of core tobacco products: Leaf tobacco, (e-) cigarettes, cigars, hand rolling tobacco, pipe snuff and chewing tobacco.
- Production of secondary (ancillary) tobacco products: Production of products that do not contain tobacco themselves, but are specifically manufactured to be used in the consumption of tobacco products. E.g. tobacco sorting machines, filters, pipes, cigarette paper.
- Distribution of core tobacco products: Distribution of leaf tobacco, (e-) cigarettes, cigars, hand rolling tobacco, pipe snuff and chewing tobacco.