Just to add something to this debate.....

I do like to know something about the ethics of the companies I invest in, as I like to know about how they make the food I eat or what they do to produce anything else I buy. Some of this is personal, but some of it is because I think if a company is particularly bad it can catch up with them and cost the shareholders a lot of money, not always, but that's everyone's individual decision to know what the risks are with their investment. And to me, knowing the risks is the most important part of investing, so I'd want to know, ethical or otherwise.

And I think since Vale was mentioned it's good to add pros and cons to that argument, ethical or otherwise. Perhaps it comes under the PYAD value investing criteria of 'smell'.

And no, I wouldn't class myself as an ethical investor, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested when it might affect my shares or they cross a line I would personally find unacceptable.

Judy