Take Action
Stop banks polluting the planet
ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB & Westpac are the biggest providers of finance to the coal industry in Australia. At a time when we need to be cutting our carbon emissions, they're on the brink of funding another generation of polluting coal power stations. It's time they use their power to secure Australia a clean energy future.
Banks spend millions of dollars each year to improve their reputation, keep existing customers and attract new ones – when we ask for change, they'll be listening.
Email the CEO of ANZ - the worst offender
Let ANZ know exactly what you think by sending them an email. We've made this quick and easy for you. Just fill in the form and hit send. You can also share this with your friends, family and workmates. We've made that bit easy too.
Use your bank's feedback channels
ANZ
- 1800 805 154
- Online feedback form: http://bit.ly/DirtyANZ
- Locked Bag 4050, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Commonwealth Bank
- 1800 805 605
- Online feedback form: http://bit.ly/DirtyCBA
- Customer Relations, GPO Box 41, Sydney NSW 2001
National Australia Bank
- 1800 152 015
- Online feedback form: http://bit.ly/DirtyNAB
- Customer Resolutions, Reply Paid 2870, Melbourne VIC 8060
Westpac
- 1300 130 467
- Online feedback form: http://bit.ly/DirtyWestpac
- Reply Paid 5265, Sydney NSW 2001
Talk to your bank manager
Drop into a local bank branch and ask to speak to the manager about their coal investments.
Get active on our ANZ campaign
- Check-out where the next ANZ activities will be here.
- Join a Community Activist team by registering online here or join a local Climate Action Group.
Share with your social networks
If you use Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites you can send the big banks a public message from home. Update your Facebook status to something like "The smart money's on clean energy – banks must stop funding another generation of polluting coal power." or tweet your message on Twitter to the bank directly, for example "@anzmoneymanager: Stop investing my money in polluting coal and instead fund a clean energy future. #dirtybanks".
ANZ
- Twitter: @anzmoneymanager or @smartypig
Commonwealth Bank
- Twitter: @netbank
National Australia Bank
- Twitter: @nab
Westpac
- Twitter: @Westpac
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/westpac.bank
Blogs
While you're surfing the web, why not check out these specialist finance industry blogs – the ones the bankers read – and leave a comment or suggest they cover this issue.
- http://www.finextra.com
- http://www.bankingday.com
- http://www.thebankchannel.com
- http://www.banking4tomorrow.com
Credit Unions, Cooperative Banks & Alternatives
Credit unions and cooperative banks offer competitive services to the big banks but most don't invest in polluting coal. Our research showed that both Bendigo Bank and mecu credit union had no money in coal. Unfortunately, they also don't have money invested in renewable energy.
Credit unions are not-for-profit and every customer is an owner so the incentive is to make your money work for you and your community, not profit from dirty investments. The Australian Credit Union and Building Society Group (www.comesbacktoyou.com.au) represents more than 80 organisations and 4.5 million members.
There are, of course, other alternatives, including challenging the very notion of the current financial system through schemes like Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS).
Choose ethical investment
Look at ethical investment options for your savings to make sure that your hard earned money becomes a force for good. There are a growing number of ethical investment funds for your savings.
Put your savings to work
Like all working Australians, you've got savings in a superannuation fund. Unfortunately, chances are that your hard-earned savings have been used to invest in risky, unsustainable, coal-fired power stations.
Super funds have a legal obligation to consider inquiries from members, so write to yours and ask them to stop investing in coal and start investing in renewables.
Spread the word
Speak up for our climate! It sounds obvious but start a conversation about our climate banking campaign with your friends, family, sports groups, church or social club.
No new coal in NSW
While we're pressuring the banks to stop funding new coal, we can also apply political pressure. The NSW government is planning to approve two massive new coal power stations. Contact the NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally, and tell her you support a ban on new coal power.
Email premier@nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9228 5239.
Take Action
Tell your bank to clean up its act!
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