VOA慢速英语 2007 0323a

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

More and more people are considering the social and environmental results of their investments.  Socially responsible investing has become a fast-growing part of the investment industry.  Over two trillion dollars are invested using socially responsible methods. This is about nine percent of all money invested under professional management.

One way to invest is through mutual¹ funds. A mutual fund gathers money from many investors² to buy different securities.  Mutual fund supervisors³ can use socially responsible methods to choose which investments they will buy.  The funds' supervisors may buy only stocks of companies that meet the requirements set out by the fund.  This process is called screening. 

For example, a fund could invest only in companies that take measures to protect the environment.  The most commonly screened stocks are related to companies that make cigarettes.

The Social Investment Forum⁴ in its two thousand five report said separate accounts use socially responsible screening the most.  These are accounts that are privately⁵ managed for individuals or organizations. 

Shareholder⁶ advocacy is another form of socially responsible investing.  One example is the movement to stop investing in companies that did business in South Africa during the period of racial separation in that country.  Shareholders⁷ sometimes sell stocks of companies that do not share their social values.

Community investing is the most direct form of social investing.  This means providing credit or investing in businesses in a local community.

Today, about half of American families own stock in some form.  And more people are considering the effect their investments have.  This has caused some companies to consider social issues as well as business plans.  

A recent public opinion study by Harris Interactive⁸ and the Wall Street Journal asked people what they thought were the best and worst American companies.  The people named the software maker⁹ Microsoft as the best company.

One of the main reasons is the company's chairman, Bill Gates.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given billions of dollars to organizations around the world to support health care and education.

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report.  Transcripts¹⁰ and archives are at voaspecialenglish.com.  I'm Mario Ritter. 

1 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

6 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

7 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

8 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

9 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

10 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句