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Politics

WHO DO YOU BANK WITH? State-owned Royal Bank of Scotland – to give financial aid to companies that manufacture cluster bombs

30 replies

Tortington · 17/08/2011 17:07

IS IT JUST TOO HARD TO CHANGE DIRECT DEBITS 'N' SHIT? OR WILL YOU continue to bank with these fuckers?

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Tortington · 18/08/2011 23:46

fluffy - not sure where aircraft came into it or the labour rant.

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what the last poster said really

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SardineQueen · 18/08/2011 18:48

I don't understand the objections.

Individuals don't have much say over what happens in govt. Theoretically we can express our wishes but in practice we get one lot or the other lot and then they get on with doing whatever they fancy doing.

An awful lot of people didn't support the war in Iraq - there were protest marches at the time - and a lot of them were labour voters and turned away from the party because of it. Meanwhile we know that a conservative government would have done the same ie gone to war so it's the same result whatever colour you are.

That's all that.

What we do have power to do as individuals is vote with our feet when it comes to the products and services we buy. Irrespective of the fact that our government went to war, a war which would have happened whoever was in power, there is a possibility as an individual to say "I won't buy / use a product which supports practices that I disagree with. If you don't support the use of cluster bombs then withdrawing support from institutions involved with manufacturers is a fairly simple thing to do (well assuming there are any!). I don't understand why people wouldn't do that on the basis of what the previous government did. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that.

fluffyhands · 18/08/2011 18:27

This is hardly fair on RBS or consistent given the Labour government's willingness to work with Lockheed-Martin.

The Labour government decided to be the only non-US Tier 1 partner on LMs F35 strike fighter project since it wanted companies like Rolls-Royce and BAE to get workshare.

I don't think you can tell LM we want a slice of the biggest defence project on the planet but British banks won't lend you any money or invest.

"The Joint Strike Fighter, which is being built by Lockheed Martin as the F35, will be known in UK service as the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA). Although Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor, the UK is a Level 1 partner with the US and a number of British companies, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, will have extensive involvement in building and developing the aircraft. "
www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/f35jointstrikefighter.cfm

create · 18/08/2011 17:45

I didn't cite anything Wink

Tortington · 18/08/2011 17:35

im not saying either is right just saying that you were citing buying cluster bombs we are discussing investing in them which is different

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create · 18/08/2011 17:06

Sorry, so it's Ok to buy and use cluster bombs, but not to invest in their manufacture?

If there was no market for them, investors would lose the lot. I think buying something from a High Street Store is exactly the same as investing in them, if not worse - it creates the market that makes them an attractive investment.

NickettyNacketty · 18/08/2011 15:47

From your link above-
"It will not lend to companies which export to oppressive regimes, but it does not exclude the armaments sector. On the positive side, the bank does support charities and positive business ventures which encourage fair..."

Tortington · 18/08/2011 10:47

can i have a link to the coop where it says they do not avoid arnament manufacturers?

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Tortington · 18/08/2011 10:40

my beloved labour party?

bit of a stretch that

anti tory = labour

so are you saying its ok to invest your savings in rbs - for rbs to invest that money in cluster bombs?

i mean that different from purchasing them

let me put it this way

you could invest in a high street store or you could go in and buy something - not quite the same

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AlpinePony · 18/08/2011 10:27

You do realise that when your beloved Labour party started an illegal war in Iraq that they used cluster bombs all over the place right? They didn't take out the Iraqi army using snipers! Hmm

MugglesandLuna · 17/08/2011 20:33

I have never had a problem with Co-op bank.

NickettyNacketty · 17/08/2011 20:30

I do realize that it would be the right thing to do- to switch, however having checked out the process on the cooperative's site I have remembered the reasons I won't be.
Btw the info on the cooperative says they do not avoid armaments manufacturers.
I will sign up to the Amnesty thing though.

edam · 17/08/2011 20:27

I bank with RBS. They are shit in so many ways but this the depths of depravity.

I used to bank with the Co-op and they were shit too - terrible customer service, kept screwing up our direct debits and landing us with extra charges. This was a few years back, maybe they are better now, but I don't trust them.

Will write to RBS but unless I can find an ethical bank that is NOT the Co-op, I won't be changing my account. No point leaving Satan just to jump into bed with Beelzebub.

claig · 17/08/2011 20:20

'google ethical banks'

I did and it came back with nothing

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Tortington · 17/08/2011 18:39

google ethical banks

i only know cooperative and smile - and smile is part of the cooperative

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NickettyNacketty · 17/08/2011 18:29

Which, if any bank should we be banking with then?

2blessed2bstressed · 17/08/2011 18:21

Small point - not actually "state owned".
As you were.

SardineQueen · 17/08/2011 18:16

Oh for fucks sake barstardness everywhere all the bloody time

Tortington · 17/08/2011 18:13

bump

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EdithWeston · 17/08/2011 17:46

Which banks are they? And what do their ethical policies actually cover?

Tortington · 17/08/2011 17:40

i join you in smugness

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 17/08/2011 17:38

I bank with smile. Has ethical policy [smug]