Im quite amused, ING finally responded to my divestment email, but stupidly they sent their response by cc-ing all the other people who wrote to them about it. So I wrote back (also cc-ing everyone) saying their response wasnt good enough and I had closed my account. Others are now doing the same and the things people are writing are really quite lovely (see below). Maybe you will join in Divestment Day on 18 Oct (marketforces.org.au) and write to your bank about their investments in fossil fuels? Lianne, Thank you for your email, however if ING continues to invest in fossil fuels I will no longer be able to bank with you. I have several mortgages as well as all of our transaction and savings accounts with ING, and I am really happy with ING as a bank, in the past I have recommended you to family and friends. I am really REALLY not looking forward to switching all of my accounts away as I have everything set up exactly as I like it, however I can not in all good conscious support a bank that is investing in something as dangerous as fossil fuels for the sake of my children, and I will be closing my accounts in the coming months (I will need to shop around for a new mortgage provider etc). My children mean the world to me, and I can not be part of anything that is making the world a more dangerous place to live in for their lifetimes. We need to stop using fossil fuels, not now but a DECADE AGO. We are already so far behind where we need to be, and if you continue to fund fossil fuel projects we will continue to get further and further behind to the point that we may not be able to recover. This is a real phenomenon that needs action. Please change your mind and abandon all fossil fuel funding in the next few weeks. I really don’t want to have to go through all the hassle of changing banks, but I will if there is no change (our work credit union doesn’t invest in fossil fuels and has no fees etc). Regards, Belinda. Hello ING, Thank you for your information regarding your investment in fossil fuels. I have however already withdrawn my savings account funds from ING. I will now close my term deposit as a result of your correspondence. Your position regarding coal and gas investment (and the fact that you have taken almost 4 months to reply to my concerns) shows me that you are not taking seriously what the overwhelming majority of people in every country know: That climate change is the biggest threat to our life on earth, and the burning of fossil fuels for energy drives climate change. These are the simple facts. I urge you show wisdom both economically and morally and stop investing in fossil fuel projects. I will not consider returning my funds to ING until you cease unsustainable investment. Yours in hope of change, Ilka
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:56:36 +0000