Strategy: how we’re gonna stop RBS-NatWest funding climate chaos
RBS-NatWest have been given a deadline, and their time is running out. RBS-NatWest have less than a year to take climate responsibility for their investments and clean up their dirty finances. If they do not move on this significantly a boycott will be called next academic year. For this to be effective, we need to build the profile of the campaign, and the number of people pledged to boycott.
RBS-NatWest can no longer ignore the fact that it is owned by UK citizens. Since the Government’s ‘re-capitalisation’ (read bail out), the taxpayer owns 57.5% of the bank’s shares. However, the Government has failed to make any moves to stop RBS-NatWest investing in fossil fuels. We are disputing a situation in which taxpayers’ money is spent on climatically destructive fossil fuel projects via RBS-NatWest’s investments. We own RBS-NatWest and therefore demand that our non-climate changing criteria for investments are implemented.
So, two targets present themselves for the Ditch Dirty Development campaign: RBS-NatWest and the UK Government. See below for a handy timeline of the major events and actions in the Ditch Dirty Development calendar.
Target no 1: RBS-NatWest
To put proper pressure on RBS-NatWest to take action, mass support is needed. Without it, the threat of a boycott will not be effective. Therefore, this year is a mass-support building year. RBS themselves boast that 50% of first year undergraduates in the UK have a NatWest bank account. Tapping into this customer base would amount to a serious dent in RBS-NatWest’s reputation and profits.
So how can we build this mass support? Read on to find out…
Take Action!
Target no 2: UK Government
People & Planet are planning Parliamentary Questions and an Early Day Motion (like a parliamentary petition). Lobbying your MP and encouraging other students to do so too will be essential to making this happen. We need a mass of MPs signing up to an EDM, asking questions in Parliament and making RBS-NatWest funding climate chaos into an issue which the Government cannot ignore.
Watch this space for more information on the EDM and lobbying your MP.
With the government (thanks to a lot of taxpayers’ money) now the majority shareholder of RBS-NatWest, new opportunities and new arguments have been opened up to us. Account holders are no longer the only group whose money is being spent on climate changing projects - and who therefore have a direct route of engagement with the bank. As UK citizens, we all own the bank. Our taxes are being spent on fossil fuel projects. We have the right to demand control and influence to stop this. The government are failing to exercise the climate responsibility which is now in their hands.
Part of the strategy is to kick-start debate in Parliament to pressure the Government to take responsibility and place environmental regulation on the bank the country now owns. People & Planet groups need to make government ownership of RBS-NatWest into an issue that MPs cannot ignore if they are at all serious about reaching the UKs climate targets. Holding stalls, doing branch actions, and passing Student Union motions can also demonstrate that this is an issue your MP must act on. Getting local press coverage of your actions (MPs monitor local press to keep in touch with the constituency) is therefore also a vital means to communicating with your MP. See the Build the Boycott pages for more on using the media.
Take Action!
You can always get advice on planning your campaign events and actions from the P&P office. Contact Bronwen or Hannah for specific Ditch Dirty Development campaign advice, or get in touch with your group’s intern: 01865 245678
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Date |
Event |
|---|---|
9-13/02/09 |
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14-23/02/09 |
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14-15/03/09 |
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01/04/09 |
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04/09 |
RBS AGM |
Stay up-to-date
The crux point for the Ditch Dirty Development campaign (and for RBS-NatWest!) is the April Annual General Meeting (AGM). The outcome of RBS-NatWest’s investment policy decisions at the AGM will determine whether or not we call a boycott. As majority shareholder, the government can shape the agenda and determine the outcome of decisions. Work that you do to pressure the government will help convince them to vote the right way at the RBS AGM, or submit a motion on the environmental and climatic impact of RBS’ energy investments.
The action card hand-in at the end of February will be our opportunity to publicly submit a motion to the RBS AGM demanding an end to dirty fossil fuel investments. Make sure to send us your action cards by 9 February.
The Fossil Fools national day of action on 1 April, is the perfect opportunity to ask members of the public to join the boycott threat and ‘vote’ on this motion - votes which we can demand are taken at the AGM. Fossil Fools Day is an opportunity to clearly re-iterate the deadline which RBS faces, and promote the AGM action. Media coverage will be vital to achieving all of this - brand damage; boycott building; and pressuring government and RBS to make the right decision at their AGM.