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Ron Read's avatar

Brava Amanda. I would add only a short family anecdote. My daughter and I use the same financial advisor- the only difference is that she made him create her a portfolio with only ethical investments (she vetted each and every one). He wasn't sure he could do it, but did it anyway. Year after year, her ethical portfolio did significantly better than our conventional one. The advisor is now looking at offering this to all his clients as a value-added option. It can be done.

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Debbie Bateman's avatar

I really appreciate your article. As you note, there is a tendency these days to either/or thinking and choosing sides. This is a complex issue and each author with a Giller eligible book must wrestle with their own ethical decision. I struggled but have decided to withdraw my book. Yes, events and prizes that support writers need sponsors. Yes, many of those sponsors may be in the position to offer funds because they have profited from enterprises that directly harm people. Is it fair for artists to be forced into correcting other people's unethical behaviour? Absolutely not. I see all of this. But in the end, my decision was motivated by stupid blind hope. I choose to believe in a better world, one in which innocent children and families are not killed. This may be one of the few times in my life when my voice can have some influence on making that happen. It’s a gamble at best, but worth it to me. That Scotiabank cut their investment in Elbit Systems by half due to author protests over the last year gives me hope that if pressured further they might do even more... or the prize might choose other funding sources. I also dare to hope that arts events can continue to thrive without taking sponsorship from companies who invest in weapons used for war. It’s an imperfect and messy world. That we are currently driven by capitalism and greed does not mean that we have to continue. Artists are rebels. We push back. This is my hope. It is an impossible decision for any artist and I respect us all.

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