There are many various types of insurance. Insurance is a policy where you invest a certain amount, that you do not get back, that will pay you in the event of a predetermined event. The specifics vary greatly according to the kind of insurance.

Health insurance is designed to help you with your medical care. You will typically pay in a certain amount every month called premiums and you may have to pay a certain percentage on your doctor~s visits or prescriptions but the insurance is designed to help you with the costs. It will also help you in emergencies such as an accident, a broken bone, or a sudden illness. Insurance is there to help you if you are having a baby or another time where you need regular care.

Car insurance is intended for accidents; either your fault or someone else~s. You pay on your car insurance premium every month (or quarterly or yearly) and if you are in an accident, the insurance can cover damages. There are two basic kinds of car insurance; liability and full-coverage. Liability will only cover what you are liable for. Full-coverage will cover anything that happens to your car, your body or to the other party in an accident.

The main purpose of life insurance is to cover the survivors of the person who dies. Life insurance can be used to pay off debt, cover burial expenses or take care of surviving children. Life insurance can be very important, especially if you are leaving a spouse that doesn’t work, young children, or debts. In the event of your death, the life insurance company would award the amount of the policy to your beneficiaries.

Home insurance, as the name implies is meant to protect your house and property. There is home owner’s insurance and also renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance will cover your belongings that are in the residence and most often cover damages to the house itself if there were a break in or similar claim to the home. This will keep the renter from having to pay the owner out of pocket if damage to the residence occurred from something like a burglary.

The home owner~s insurance will cover for the same things; damage to personal property and also to the residence. Many insurance plans cover natural disasters such as storms or earthquakes. Some plans cover fire and some will not. Usually fire is covered if not set by the owner.

There are many other types of coverage that are important for business owners, including business interruption and disability insurance. The only way to assure proper coverage is to consult with a professional that has your best interests at heart.

Insurance – Necessary For Peace of Mind

There are many various types of insurance. Insurance is a policy where you invest a certain amount, that you do not get back, that will pay you in the event of a predetermined event. The specifics vary greatly according to the kind of insurance.

Health insurance is designed to help you with your medical care. You will typically pay in a certain amount every month called premiums and you may have to pay a certain percentage on your doctor’s visits or prescriptions but the insurance is designed to help you with the costs. It will also help you in emergencies such as an accident, a broken bone, or a sudden illness. Insurance is there to help you if you are having a baby or another time where you need regular care.

Car insurance is intended for accidents; either your fault or someone else’s. You pay on your car insurance premium every month (or quarterly or yearly) and if you are in an accident, the insurance can cover damages. There are two basic kinds of car insurance; liability and full-coverage. Liability will only cover what you are liable for. Full-coverage will cover anything that happens to your car, your body or to the other party in an accident.

The main purpose of life insurance is to cover the survivors of the person who dies. Life insurance can be used to pay off debt, cover burial expenses or take care of surviving children. Life insurance can be very important, especially if you are leaving a spouse that doesn’t work, young children, or debts. In the event of your death, the life insurance company would award the amount of the policy to your beneficiaries.

Home insurance, as the name implies is meant to protect your house and property. There is home owner’s insurance and also renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance will cover your belongings that are in the residence and most often cover damages to the house itself if there were a break in or similar claim to the home. This will keep the renter from having to pay the owner out of pocket if damage to the residence occurred from something like a burglary.

The home owner’s insurance will cover for the same things; damage to personal property and also to the residence. Many insurance plans cover natural disasters such as storms or earthquakes. Some plans cover fire and some will not. Usually fire is covered if not set by the owner.

There are many other types of coverage that are important for business owners, including business interruption and disability insurance. The only way to assure proper coverage is to consult with a professional that has your best interests at heart.

About the Author

Martin Shiverman is the webmaster of FGA Insurance – Insurance Made Easy, a great resource.

by Paul Johnson

Whilst soaking up to sun on the Costa del Sol you’re a world away from the stress and troubles of normal working life. No deadlines, no road rage and no commuter traffic making you late for work.

However, if you decide to hire a car there’s more than just your driving license and car insurance to think about, you could be putting yourself in more danger than you would at home. In Spain there are twelve times as many fatal accidents as the UK for the number of vehicles on the road. And the figures aren’t much different in other holiday destinations such as Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Italy.

With these shocking statistics – you need to make sure you hire a safe and reliable car. Following a survey by ‘Holiday Which?’, two out of every five hire cars inspected in the Costa del Sol were unsafe. Problems include:

• Under-inflated tyres – can seriously affect road handling
• Bald tyres – can be lethal at any time
• Cut or bulge on tyre – increases the risk of a blow-out
• Faulty airbag – which fail to operate in an emergency
• No parcel shelves – a danger when luggage is in the back of car

As a result of these dangers it’s vital that before signing the car hire contract you check a number of things. duck2water Car Insurance (www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk), who specialise in car insurance for drivers with over 4 years no claim history, offer ten useful tips:

1. Car insurance
Make sure you have adequate car insurance – does it include unlimited mileage? Does it have sufficient CDW (collision damage waiver)? What is the excess? Is the car covered whilst driving off-road (e.g. to get to a remote beach or picnic spot)?

2. Emergency number
Ensure you have a contact number for the hire company in case the car breaks down or is involved in an accident.

3. Tyres
Are the tyres flat? Do they have bald patches? Are there cuts or bulges in the side walls?

4. Brakes
Drive the car around the car park and check the brakes work properly.

5. Airbag
Is the airbag warning light flashing?

6. Lights
Ask the representative to stand outside the car to confirm all lights work including the reverse lights and indicators.

7. Bodywork
Point out to the car hire representative if there are any dents, scratches or other damage – to be sure you are not charged for it when you return the car.

8. Seatbelts
Tug sharply on all belts to check they lock properly.

9. Controls
Familiarise yourself with the controls and ask the representative if you are unsure.

10. Windscreen wipers and washers
Make sure all are in good working order.

Rebecca Pearson, Customer Services Manager at duck2water Car Insurance said:

‘Car hire companies should valet and carry out a maintenance check on all vehicles they hire out. Sadly some car hire companies don’t even bother emptying the ashtrays before handing over the keys to a new customer. Holidaymakers need to be cautious of all car hire companies; whether they are a local firm or multinational company.’

‘If you have any concerns about the condition of a hire car, ask for another one. You’re the customer, it’s you paying the bill and you and your family that are at risk if anything goes wrong. Above all make sure you have adequate car insurance to cover you if you have an accident.’

About the Author

Contact:
Rebecca Pearson
Customer Services Manager
duck2water Car Insurance
rebecca@duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk
www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk

duck2water Car Insurance was established in 2004. As an online only insurance provider we are able to offer premiums up to 60% cheaper than other companies. Plus all our policies include free legal expenses insurance worth up to £50.

by Clyde Dennis

This is one of those things that to a lot of people will sound too good to be true, but if you do your homework and follow my advice you really can get a brand new car for free. Or get paid to drive the car you currently own.

Yes you read it right.

There is no catch and there are no hidden costs.

Very large sponsor companies such as eBay, Yahoo, Coca Cola and many more really will let you drive their new cars free, or pay you to drive your own car just for decorating the car with their advertising message.

You only pay for gas and insurance in these types of advertising sponsorship arrangements.

It’s a pretty simple concept really. One we had to know was coming sooner or later.

It’s here now, and in a big way.

This is advertising placed on moving vehicles such as cars or trucks. Apparently some advertisers have realized this is a way to promote their product or service at a substantially lower cost than billboard, television or radio advertising.

Advertisers with these free cars are willing to allow qualified program participants to drive them as a trade off for helping them advertise.

As with any service you have to be careful which one of the free car services you choose to use. There are quite a few sites offering information online about how to get yourself into a free car.

Since each of the services does charge a one time set up fee of around $40.00, I recommend you select one of the services that offers a no questions asked, 100% money-back guarantee for up to atleast 90 days. That way you can actually try their services for 3 months [90 days] and if you’re not happy with the results, they will refund your money. No questions asked.

Generally to qualify for one of these programs you must be 18 years or older, have a valid drivers license, and completely fill out an application.

There are also some restrictions based on which country you reside in, but if you live in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France or Spain you will have no problems qualifying.

Selection depend on considerations such as driving records, driving habits, location, etc. Most companies require a minimum driving and a clean driving record. That means no violations within the past 12 months.

After joining a program, and applying to several of their resources, you can expect to be placed on several waiting lists. Your position in the waiting line is determined by your location, and your average daily mileage. For example, if you live in Los Angeles and drive 50 miles every day, or sit on a busy freeway for several hours per day, you will be much more likely to receive a car quicker than a person who lives in a small town and only drives 10 miles per day on rural roads.

If you can commit to driving 800-1,000 miles per month and you live in or near a city of over 100,000 people, you have an excellent chance of getting a free car quickly. And, if you would rather put an advertisement on your own car, the more miles you can drive, the more you will get paid.

For more information on this great opportunity to drive a free car go to http://www.easyhow-to.com/Get-A-Free-Car.html

About the Author

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. “Mr. How-To”, is Editor at EASYHow-To Publications and has been contributing articles that help people make their lives better since 1999. At his web site, The “How To” Library, you’ll find a collection of the latest How To Articles, Tips and Tools to help you get things done.
For more information visit The How To Library @ EASYHow-To.com

by Paul Johnson

So, your car insurance is up for renewal…but the premium has gone up again! Shouldn’t it be going down! If you’re fed up paying too much for your car insurance duck2water (www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk) have put together the top ten ways you can reduce your premium without reducing the level of cover:

1. Buy online
Buying online can save you time and money. Companies who spend millions of pounds on advertising or run large call centres have to cover these costs somewhere, and they do so by adding these costs onto the price of your insurance premium. Although online insurers do have overheads, they are much less than high street and telephone insurers, which means they can offer car insurance at up to 60% cheaper than other companies.

2. Drive a cheap and less powerful car
Car insurance companies calculate their premiums on the basis of the car engine size, the probability that it will get stolen and the cost of repairing it. Although smaller cars such as Ford Fiesta’s and Renault 5’s are more prone to being stolen than larger saloon cars, they are cheaper to repair or replace and are therefore cheaper to insure.

3. Build up a ‘no claims history’
Car insurance companies give discounts for safe drivers with a good no claims record. By building up your no claims history you can benefit from a reduction (up to 60%) off your premium, and this discount can be transferred from company to company.

4. Increase your car security
More security means lower risk for your insurance company and you can benefit from cheaper rates by locking your car in a garage a night, or installing an insurance company approved immobiliser or tracker.

5. Increase your voluntary excess
By deciding to pay a higher excess it also means you’re less likely to make a small claim on your insurance and are therefore considered a lower risk.

6. Obtain more driving qualifications
The Pass Plus qualification costs between £100-150 and involves taking lessons in different driving conditions such as at night and on the motorway. By becoming a more skilled and experienced driver most insurance companies reward their customers by reducing their premium. As a result, the qualification usually pays for itself within the first year of qualifying. Another option is the advanced driving test, but this can take much more time to pass than the Pass Plus.

7. Use your car less
Clearly, the more you use your car the higher the probability is that you’ll be involved in an accident. As a result people who travel hundreds of miles every week are likely to have a higher car insurance premium.

8. Don’t get on the wrong side of the law
Insurance companies don’t like motoring convictions as they mean a driver is seen as a higher risk. Certain motoring convictions are considered worse than others, for example drink driving offences mean that your premium will be double the usual rate.

9. Reduce the number of people under your policy
The more people on your insurance the more you’ll have to pay. So, if possible try to have as few drivers on your policy as feasible.

10. Live in the countryside
As a general rule, the further you live away from a city the cheaper your car insurance is likely to be. By living in the city your car is more likely to be stolen or be involved in car accident. You can save up to 50% on your car insurance by moving from the city to a rural location.

About the Author

Craig Handy
Customer Services Manager
craig@duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk

Note to editors
duck2water Car Insurance (www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk) was established in 2004 as an online only car insurance company. By only selling insurance online we have much lower costs than other insurance companies and these savings are passed onto our customers in the form of lower premiums – up to 60% cheaper!

by Jason Hulott

Getting the best deal on your car insurance does not mean that you have to forgo the security of being covered by a well-known insurer. There are many ways of tailoring the policy and considerations you need to make to provide the cover you need at a lower cost.

1 Excess
All policies have an ‘excess’ – that is the amount you will have to fork out if you make a claim on your car insurance. It can range from £50 upwards. However, choose to pay an additional excess on top of the compulsory excess and you’ll pay a lower premium.

2 Residence
If your car is garaged overnight or on your driveway, you’ll pay a lower premium than if it was left in the street.

And those who live in the country will pay less than someone living in an inner-city.

3 Grouping
While you may be able to pick up a second hand Porsche at a bargain price, you’ll more than make up it for the cost of insurance. Check out the group – the lower the group number, the lower the premium.

4 Drivers
Limit the number of drivers on your vehicle and you’ll get a better deal on your insurance.

5 Age, sex and occupation
These can all have an effect on your premiums, as can part-time jobs.

6 Modifications and security
A modified car will attract higher premiums.

Check the security levels on your car: immobilisers, a steering lock, and a detachable stereo could help reduce your premiums.

7 Shop Around
Don’t automatically accept your current insurers’ quote at renewal time – shop around. Use our directory of car insurance providers to find the best deal for you.

About the Author

Motor Car Loans an automotive resource guide for those looking to buy, insure , sell or in fact do all most anything with a car. Sign up to our free car insurance course, send an email to motorcarloans@getresponse.com

by Daniel Prins

“I Didn’t Realize I Had So Few Friends”

Minneapolis, MN, August, 2002 – When Daniel Prins’ wife was injured in a car crash he thought all he had to do was notify his insurance company to get matters resolved. After all, another driver who was charged with DWI hit his wife Johanna and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

After weeks of frustration, Prins, Marketing Consultant, built an Internet Assistance Program “The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America.” The site provides free information for car crash victims on how to protect themselves against serious financial exposure (http://www.carcrashvictims.citymax.com).

“I Didn’t Realize I Had So Few Friends”

While insurance company claims personnel are usually courteous, Prins had no idea that his wife’s case was immediately “compartmentalized”. He had to deal with a cast of about a dozen (medical bills from the hospital, his own and other driver’s main insurance contact, the police, claims adjusters, property damage, etc.). In the process, he found out that most of these individuals have their own agenda. Said Prins:” I believe the only people truly on our side were the Emergency Crew and Police at the scene of the accident.”

Accident Frequency Is Astonishing

About 42,000 people are killed on our nation’s highways each year. The fact is vehicle crashes are an even greater threat to life and health in the U.S. than crime! In 2000, there was one murder every 34 minutes, while one person died from a traffic crash every 13 minutes. There was one violent crime every 22 seconds, but one crash-related injury every 10 seconds. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people ages 6-33, and their economic cost is estimated to be $230.6 billion per year.

Victim-unfriendly Environment

The lack of clear rules and rights overwhelms car crash victims, often traumatized and shell-shocked. This is especially true in states with No-Fault provisions and damage limits. Even more disconcerting is that it is difficult to obtain good information. The Internet’s search engines, for example, provide few clues for victims and are skewed to offering suggestions and advice for accident perpetrators and those seeking DWI defense.

The Road To The Attorney’s Office

“I don’t consider myself an ambulance chaser,” said Prins, “but it only took a short while for me to realize I was out of my league. Just imagine, I had to negotiate with my own insurance carrier about the pay-off value of my car while the accident was caused by a DWI driver with another insurance carrier.” Prins credits his attorney with expediting the damage recovery process, and his web site now chronicles a step-by-step selection process.

The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America

The site Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America
at http://www.carcrashvictims.citymax.com provides FREE information and planning tools for accident victims. “If nothing else,” says Prins, “visiting our site will save accident victims hours on the phone. We suggest the do’s and don’ts.” It includes a section with Frequently Asked Questions, Check Lists, Helpful Links, etc. The site is funded by attorney listings and specialty products sales and services.

Powerful Allies

The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America links to powerful Federal programs at Brakes On Fatalities (http://www.brakesonfatalities.org/) and Buckle Up, America (http://www.buckleupamerica.org). “If we can help prevent one accident by having people visit these sites and the information they convey, we have made a meaningful contribution”, says Prins.

For more Information:
The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America
5273 Nolan Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55343

Tel: (952) 938-4955 Fax (952) 938-8947
eMail : y2kevents@aol.com
See: http://www.carcrashvictims.citymax.com

About the Author

Daniel Prins is a Merkting & Internet Consultant who resides in Minneapolis, MN. He specializes in the development of niche-based industry portals.

by Jordan Walt

Or is he only interested in one company?

There’s a relatively unknown market in the insurance industry that consumers need to know about. This is a market where a single agent can offer you multiple choices from multiple companies. This is the independent insurance agency market.

When you have an independent agent (IA) who you know and trust, you shouldn’t have to find a new agent again. As an IA you have the ability to “shop” a customer with numerous insurance companies, finding them the best rate and coverage, so they don’t have to. Imagine what happens the next time the renewal comes on your insurance and the premium is suddenly $500 higher than it was before. With an IA, all you need to do is call. They have the ability to try and find a similar policy with another company; you haven’t changed agents, given personal information to strangers, or gone through the monotonous task of shopping your insurance. Instead, you left it to an expert.

Depending on the size of the agency you are dealing with, they may represent over 20 different companies. This means you no longer have to go online and fill in the boxes, deal with 1-800 numbers, or “call-around” to different agents, each with one company to choose from.

Why have so few people heard of this market? While these companies do represent multimillion-dollar organizations, and some of the largest organizations in the world (i.e. AIG and Zurich), the majority of these agencies are smaller companies, not having the resources to launch advertising campaigns to the mainstream market via television, radio, and other forms of media advertising.

Independent agencies have actually been around longer than the captive market (i.e. Farmers, Allstate, etc), and typically have been known to write the majority of commercial insurance. Captives have taken a larger percentage of the personal lines (home, auto, etc.) market, even though an IA can generally offer them comparable, if not better, coverage. This is due to the captive companies having millions of dollars to put into advertising to draw in the consumer. On the other hand, many people never know what an independent agency even is. This gives the captive market an obvious advantage, but as people become more educated on this topic, more will look to the independent segment to meet their insurance needs.

An IA can obviously bring a lot to the table for any consumer, the real question is: Why are consumers not bringing more of them to the table?

By Jordan Walt, Independent Agent for AIC Insurance Agency: www.aicinsco.com

by Anna Henningsgaard

There has been recent debate in the medical community about defining and prescribing medication for such “disorders” as social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. American society is plagued by self-induced stress. Should this be something we pop pills for? Retrospectively, society accepts the unhealthiness of prior forms of medicated stress relief. It is generally accepted that smoking, for example, causes more problems than it relieves. Why does America swallow anti-anxiety medication so freely, without worrying about harmful side effects? These are powerful drugs that target chemicals in the brain. Medication should be the last resort in any anti-anxiety therapy. First, people who suffer anxiety should be proactive and try to resolve their concerns.

One example of a disorder that is suddenly widely prescribed is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD was first recognized as a serious problem among veterans returning from war. These men suffered cold sweats, panic attacks, nightmares, and compulsive behavior as a result of near death experiences and the mental anguish of war. Some doctors are now claiming that this same level of shock is regularly induced in car accidents, they cite numbers as high as 9% of car accident victims suffer “significant post-traumatic stress symptoms”.

A few years ago, I was in a rather serious car accident, and I experienced symptoms like these medical journals described. I would often upset myself by dwelling on the accident. I displayed obsessive behavior in that I avoided left turns wherever possible, even on deserted streets. I could not manage this out on country roads, but in the city grid I was careful to take three right turns instead of making just one left. Riding in a car that slams on its breaks still causes me to spin around and look behind for the car that always seems to be on the verge of collision. Was this Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? As annoying as these symptoms were, I find it would take a rather presumptuous hypochondriac to insist that these small neuroses could rival the intense stress of a veteran returning from the horrors of war. Perhaps I was stressed and absorbed by my experience, but I certainly never needed medication.

What I did need to do was to be proactive. I worked with the insurance companies to work out the claims. I spoke with my lawyer and found someone who wanted to buy and rebuild my totaled car so I did not have to consign it to a junkyard. I took responsibility for the situation and did not let it take control of me. It did hurt to think about my car for months, but I don’t obsess about it anymore. If you feel overwhelmed by a car accident experience and all of your real medical needs are met, you do not need a doctor. Talk to a lawyer about your situation and be proactive about filing papers and taking action. I felt overwhelmed after my car accident, but talking to an experienced car accident attorney helped me to answer my questions, address my doubts, and quell my anxiety. No pills required.

If you have more questions, contact a car accident lawyer or read more car accident articles at our website http://www.hugesettlements.com. If you use this article, please include these links.

by Wayne Patterson

Have you noticed more autos on the side of the road with an officer issuing the driver a speeding ticket? Have you seen more trucks surrounded by DOT transport police? I sure have. There are several reasons for this increased activity.

One is that after 9/11 many departments have increased patrols. The additional police presence is to assure the public that efforts are being taken to prevent terrorist attacks like the recent sniper killings. The other reason is that cities and states are faced with budget deficits in these tough economic times. Since traffic tickets are a politically correct form of taxation, many jurisdictions are
increasing fines as a means of balancing the books.

A traffic officer will cost his department the average of $75,000 per year while he can be expected to issue between $150,000 to $200,000 in speeding ticket citations. There are few businesses that can equal that rate of return. Some towns like New Rome, Ohio and Waldo, Florida take in over 70% of their entire town budget through speeding tickets.

What does this mean to you, the safe driver who has not received a traffic citation in years? It means that you are now more likely than ever to see those dreaded blue lights flashing in your rear view. If that does happen you need to know that the true cost of a speeding ticket has changed drastically in the last few years.

Consider Mary, a successful sales representative who enjoys the perk of a company car. She travels extensively and has received four speeding tickets in the last three years. She considers herself a safe driver and in each instance was traveling with the flow of traffic on the interstate. She has 9 out of the 12 points on her driver’s license. Imagine her surprise when her company’s insurance carrier refused to allow Mary to drive a company car. The company obtained supplemental insurance but Mary had to pay the extra $1600.

Then there is Jeffrey, a CDL truck driver from Ohio who is an independent operator and owns his own truck. He drives 150,000 miles per year and has five tickets on his record, none a serious violation. He is unable to obtain insurance that he can afford. He is in the process of losing his truck to the finance company and does not know how he will support his family.

Families with teenagers may face an economic disaster if the teen driver receives a citation. One traffic ticket for rolling through a stop sign could cost as much as $3000 in increased premiums over the three years it remains on their record. The insurance industry considers young adults as teenagers until the age of 23.

The purpose of relating Mary and Jeffrey’s stories is not for you to feel sorry for them. It is to impress upon you the severe consequences that may result from a traffic ticket. It is important to obey all traffic laws, not just for your physical protection but also for the health of your pocketbook. I have found that many people are more concerned about their pocketbook than their personal safety.

What should you do if you receive a citation? Never just pay a speeding ticket. Check with the clerk of court to see if you are eligible for traffic school, even if it is an out-of-state citation. Many states now accept online traffic school. Check to see if this is available in your state at http://www.trafficschoolonline.com/?lcode=4013

If traffic school is not available then you or your attorney need to appear in court to contest the speeding ticket. Hiring an attorney may be your cheapest option when you consider the additional cost of you insurance. Check with your insurance agent to find out the consequences of the original charge being entered on your driving record. The American Bar Association says: “The best way for the majority of Americans to be able to assure themselves of legal assistance when they need it… is through a prepaid legal plan.” For nationwide legal services contact http://www.prepaidlegal.com/info/carolynpatterson

Drive safe and stay out of the “No Zone.” Remember if you got it a truck brought it.

The author is not an attorney and this is not legal advice.

About the Author

Wayne Patterson is former police office, trucking company owner, and webmaster of http://www.speedingticketcentral.com

by Richard Green

At a time when the entire world’s attention is focused on the problems of world debt, with the Live 8 concerts, the G8 summit in Scotland, the Make Poverty History Campaign (MPH) and the various anti-poverty marches, it seems that everyone wants the world’s governments to behave more ethically towards the manner in which international finance is conducted. This is obviously a laudable attitude to take, and has gained immense momentum with such a groundswell of public opinion that even the UK Chancellor, Gordon Brown, has stated he is planning to participate in the Make Poverty History demonstration in Edinburgh during the G8 summit.

Mr Brown has urged world leaders to follow up their decision on debt cancellation for the poorest countries with a doubling of aid and fairer trade rules.

The Chancellor said, “This is a day for the people not for politicians. It is the people’s voice that must be heard.”
Whilst the support from such a prominent member of the British cabinet with his accompanying statements that the world was “angry” and “outraged” over the poverty in Africa, which has continued despite repeated past pledges from the richer nations, has been welcomed by many who believe that the various organised events could have an influence on the leaders who attended the summit, others see his words as hypocrisy.

Human rights lawyer, Aamar Anwar, said “Mr Brown, along with Tony Blair and George Bush, are the people who are responsible for poverty and starvation around the world…The G8 is proposing spending £30bn on the alleviation of poverty. It sounds like a lot but it is absolute peanuts when it is compared to the £280bn that was made available for the war in Iraq.”

The trouble is that although there has been much talking and finger pointing at the rich and powerful Governments of the world, with claims that the way they are running international finances does not stand up to moral scrutiny, how many people can genuinely look at their own finances and state that they themselves are doing everything they can to help, and that they are ethically above reproach? Does their bank or building society lend their savings to companies who are involved in activities that can range from weapons manufacturing, gambling, pornography, tobacco, scientific animal testing to child labour, or do they instead direct their investment towards activities which have a positive social and/or ecological impact?

Most people do not think about where their money is being invested, when they pay into a mortgage, pension or savings account, they just think about the return they will get on their money. This does appear to be changing however.

Following consultation with its members, the Co-operative Insurance Society, which has more than £20 billion of funds under management, has become the first insurer to launch an ethical engagement policy and said it would lobby businesses at every opportunity to improve their ethical performances. The Co-op already tries to ensure ethical compliance by making new business customers fill out an Ethical Policies questionnaire, which is assessed by the bank before agreeing to provide business services.

Financial comparison sites such as Moneynet are now releasing guides providing information on ethical investment covering all aspects of personal finance from bank accounts, investments and pensions to choices of domestic energy providers.

Other organisations such as the Ethical Investment Research Service have been set up to provide information into companies’ ethical behaviour for independent investors, fund managers and charities alike.

The world is gradually waking up to the idea that responsibility needs to be taken for our actions, whether those actions are at the global, national or individual level. Lobbying of politicians and the interest that has been engendered by the Live 8, and MPH campaigns can help to make a change, but these need to be continued beyond the present media furore if we are to make a real change. An ethically responsible nation is only possible if we also make changes on our own doorstep. Until we really get our personal finance into perspective, the MPH becomes just another fashion label.

About the Author

Richard works in Edinburgh for http://www.bigmouthmedia.com, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla, and drinking too much coffee.