The Co-operative bank in Arundel Street, ortsmouth, is setting up a polling station for customers to give their views on topical issues such as human rights, international development, ecology and social enterprise.
The questionnaire will determi
ne whether account holders support the bank's proposal to extend its exclusion of finance beyond the extraction and production of fossil fuels, to those engaged in the distribution of fuels with an even higher global warming impact, such as tar sands and certain biofuels.
In response to concerns about the deployment of indiscriminate weapons, the Bank is proposing to extend its policy on human rights to include the manufacture or transfer of cluster bombs and depleted uranium munitions.
Customers will be asked if they agree that the bank, which already avoids companies involved in animal experimentation for cosmetic or household products, should extend its policy to cover organisations involved in the exploitation of great apes, for experimentation or general commercial use.
David Anderson, the bank's chief executive, said: 'Our policy has been at the cutting edge and we wish to remain a progressive voice.'
The full article contains 205 words and appears in The News newspaper.
