Co-op to ban involvement with DU

As those of you who follow our disinvestment campaign will know, in-depth research by ICBUW, Network Flanders and Banktrack revealed that UK banks Barclays and The Royal Bank of Scotland are involved in funding DU manufacturers, and at the time we suggested that anybody banking with these institutions move their money to a more ethical bank such as the Cooperative, or Triodos.

Although the Cooperative does not fund any manufacturers of depleted uranium weapons, and has not done so in the past, they are proposing to formally include opposition to DU in their ethical policy. This is part of their regular policy review process, following feedback from their members.

The suggestion is to expand their ethical policy to prohibit them from doing business with companies involved in the manufacture of conventional weapons with indiscriminate effect – a category which includes both cluster munitions and DU.

Obviously CADU very much welcomes this move, and urges everyone who banks with the Cooperative to support this proposed change. Customers can vote on the policy here.