?"An e-petition can relate to any issue on which the Council has powers or duties or on which it has shared delivery responsibilities through the Local Area Arrangement or other partnership arrangements."?
The Council has a direct responsibility for and interest in the WMPF and in the Pension Committee responsible for oversight and administration of the fund which it chairs. This petition is raised appropriately to ask the Council to meet obligations in international law. Investments held by the West Midlands Pension fund are currently committed to armament manufacturers which supply Israel. Israel is using these armaments against civilians in the current iteration of the ongoing occupation and subjugation of Palestinians in what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled is "plausibly a g*******" These investments are contrary to humanitarian and ethical behavior and do not meet the standards set for responsible investment.
APPENDIX
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
Letter from United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 to Cllr Jaspal 21 November 2021
https://balfourproject.org/bp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/LetterLynk22112021-1.pdf
Extract from Pension Expert 6 December 2021
“PSC director Ben Jamal said: ‘The ask of local
government pension schemes is that they do not invest money in
companies identified, including by the UN, as being complicit in
violations of international law.
Rachel Brothwood, director of pensions at WMPF, told Pensions
Expert in October 2020: “The West Midlands Pension Fund
adopts a risk-based approach to responsible investment based on the
principle of engagement for positive change where this can
influence and protect the value of the fund’s
investments.”
[https://www.pensions-expert.com/Law-Regulation/LGPS-urged-to-divest-from-Israeli-settlement-economy?ct=true
Extract from Pension Committee minutes 15 December 2021
“In response to a question raised by Cllr B Singh regarding correspondence received relating to investments held in occupied territories and the potential differences between this correspondence versus the stance presented by the UN.”
Extract from Pension Committee minutes 30 march 2022
“In response to a question raised by Cllr Simm, regarding output from discussions with companies operating in Occupied Palestine Territories, Rachel Brothwood, Director of Pensions highlighted known developments; including the cessation of some business operations in the region and evidence of increased awareness of Human Rights impacts and calls for impact assessment. The Director confirmed that dialogue was still ongoing through LAPFF and that the Committee would continue to be kept informed of progress.”
Email correspondence 28/2/2024 - reply from Cllr Jaspal.
From: ************@btinternet.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 10:03:59 am
To: Councillor Milkinder Jaspal
CouncillorMilkinder.Jaspal@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Cc: Responsible Investment
ResponsibleInvestment@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Subject: STOP INVESTING IN G*******
Re: STOP INVESTING IN G*******
I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the number of
investments in the fund with companies who are in breach of the
United Nations Guiding principles on Business and Human Rights who
conduct business activities that advance Human Rights violations in
the settlement economy and complicit with the occupation.
Of major concern is the number of companies in the fund involved in
selling weapons and equipment to Israel’s military. Raytheon
produces bunker buster bombs; BAE systems produces parts for the
F-35 fighter jets dropping bombs on Gaza leading to thousands of
deaths of innocent civilians and children.
As a West Midlands resident/council tax payer I strongly object to
the West Midlands Pension Fund investing in these companies. I ask
the fund to act as a socially responsible investor concerned for
Human Rights and to uphold International law.
If these companies are unable to give assurances that they will
comply with international law, I expect the fund to act responsibly
by divesting from such holdings and to reinvest my money in a
suitable lawful alternative.
I look forward to your response.
------ Original Message ------
From: CouncillorMilkinder.Jaspal@wolverhampton.gov.uk
To: **********@btinternet.com Cc:
ResponsibleInvestment@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Sent: Wednesday, February 28th 2024, 12:09
Subject: Re: STOP INVESTING IN G*******
Thank you for the email.
The fund does act as a socially responsible investor concerned for
Human Rights and to uphold International law.
However, i will understand if you want move your pension to another
provider who have zero investment having real concerns.
Please advise I will start ball rolling to transfer your pension ASAP.
Letter to West Midlands Pension Fund from Simon Cardy 28 February
2024
Dear West Midlands Pension Fund,
I understand investments are held by the West Midlands Pension Fund
(WMPF) in the following arms manufacturing companies who sell
weapons systems, equipment and parts to Israel:
BAE Systems, Boeing, Chemring, General Dynamics, Honeywell,
Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Meggitt, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Smiths
Group, Textron, Thales, Ultra Electronics.
Please could you provide me with the following information:
1. In view of Amnesty International’s call for Isreal to be
investigated for war crimes following 7 October and the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) recent ruling that Israel and
parties should take all steps to prevent genocide taking place in
Gaza, has the West Midlands Pension Fund, or the Local Authority
Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) on its behalf, expressed any concern, by
way of engagement, with or to any of the above companies to
immediately stop selling and supplying arms to Israel?
2. If so which companies have been approached and what has been
their response?
Yours faithfully,
Simon Cardy
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/investment_in_arms_companies_sel
Started by: Sally Cook
This ePetition runs from 08/07/2024 to 11/12/2024.
37 people have signed this ePetition.