Review
Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose and Capitalism By Carolyn Burns Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose and Capitalism by Joel Solomon, with Tyee Bridge (New Society Publishers, 2018. 288pp., $19.99 US)
“P
ut your money where your heart is. Give yourself permission to invest in what you care about.” That creed is what makes investor Joel Solomon’s The Clean Money Revolution such a transformative read. Personal finance is often described as an agitating and taboo subject, yet Solomon attacks it in a highly personable and compelling manner. His simple questioning of “How much is enough?” and “Where does your money spend the night?” illustrates his heightened awareness of modern capitalism’s disconnect from ethical considerations. “We can no longer pretend that we’re morally detached from the stocks and bonds we invest in, if the companies in which we own shares are doing damage. It is our responsibility to know, and to act accordingly.” It’s a message worth repeating. It should come as no surprise that Solomon’s book centers on one request — that readers repurpose their capital to regenerate the world and achieve social equity. Solomon begins his memoir/insider’s guide/manifesto by describing how he embraced the challenges and opportunities of participating in the clean money revolution, defined as any money “aligned with a purpose beyond self-interest.” His weapon of choice against the world’s ills is cash and, more specifically, investment into products, services and people. Solomon has witnessed the The Marketplace May June 2019
contrast, the strategic application of clean money seeks to provide an alternative future whereby both people and the planet are reinforcing each other and winning together. Two massive global forces are fuelling the clean money movement. The first element is the conscious consumption, also known as “green” or a lifestyles of health and sustainability trend that advocates for consumers to purchase products and services aiming to create a better future for everyone. The second factor is the massive wealth transfer from Boomers to Generation X and Millennials. Yet Solomon stresses that the dire power of destate of the world requires an allploying capital with the intention encompassing clean money revolution of producing positive system-level as a sort of global movement that welchanges. “For over thirty years I’ve comes “every willing hand, heart and been helping businesses and invesmind.” No one can be left behind. tors shift their money and awareness This inclusivity is best exemplifrom a strictly utilitarian or default fied by Solomon’s belief that those approach focused on ‘highest return who go searching for chances to rate’ toward a mission-based, regeninvest their money cleanly will find erative approach,” he says. them. He uses the book as His is a long track a platform to chronicle the record in the Canadian evolution in clean money impact investing field, one approaches, stretching that illustrates how clean from the pioneering efforts money is not a passing of the Calvert Foundatrend. Rather, it’s a lifelong tion’s socially responsible commitment to doing good investing activities to Ben while doing well; a morand Jerry’s unwavering ally charged sentiment that commitment to social and leaves readers with much environmental causes. Joel Solomon to aspire to. A sampling of networks Solomon is quick to explain that and resources (Business for Social the winner-takes-all model of tradiResponsibility; Net Impact; Investors tional capitalism is both outdated and Circle; Business Alliance for Local unsustainable. Humanity has overLiving Economies) also illustrates the reached the carrying capacity of nabreadth and vibrancy of clean money ture; likewise, philanthropy has failed opportunities, though the pace of to deliver enough resources to those progress will only be accelerated by in need to help fight off injustice. By more champions entering the move20
