Natural Capitalism: Creating The Next Industrial Revolution By Paul Hawken

Socially responsible investing can promote wealth, and a healthier world. Most of us think of investing as putting our hard-earned money to work in stocks or mutual funds. We hope (and pray) that we've made good choices so that our money will yield a decent return. We hope that we've invested in the "right thing."

What does it mean to invest in the "right thing?" Obviously, an investment that makes us money is right in one sense. What about an investment that affirms our values and reflects our desire to do something positive for society and our planet?

How many of you recycle? Conserve water and electricity? Own a hybrid car, or are thinking about getting one? We do these things because we all have a sense that we need to take care of our planet for future generations.

Hunter Lovins): as we get better at producing stuff and increasing our standard of living, our impact on the environment becomes increasingly negative. Blindly pursuing a higher standard of living does have a downside.

But it doesn't have to be this way. The "green movement" is gaining momentum as awareness grows regarding the need to preserve and protect our environment. Underlying this movement is the concept of sustainability. Sustainability refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. From the preservation of drinking water, to organic farming, smart forestry and renewable energy, sustainability will help slow depletion of critical resources.

How does all this relate to Socially Responsible Investing, or SRI? SRI is sometimes called "sustainable and responsible investing." It is an investment strategy that combines the intentions to maximize financial return and social