Stewardship is Active, Not Passive
What does the term "stewardship" mean to you? We discussed that during our recent general meeting, and here are a few things folks said:
- A sacred task in the Biblical tradition, including care of the Earth.
- Encompassing, long-term, sustainable care, so that something doesn't disappear and can thrive to its fullest.
- Making sure you take care of resources sustainably and ethically.
In contrast, Vanguard's definition of stewardship is very narrow. Its continued investment in industries that are already destabilizing our climate--and therefore threatening our whole economy--show a real lack of long-term thinking. Its narrow focus only on the value of its shareholders' investments will ultimately hurt, not only the portfolios of those investors, but the web of life on which all of us depend.