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Let's be friendsOxford Uni P&P get Green Party Leader to demand their Uni Goes Green... then it does
Just the threat of a massive Valentine's Day action with Caroline Lucas MEP and a heart of 1000 cards was enough to get the Uni to agree to the group's demands
Caroline Lucas MEP denounces Oxford Uni’s atrocious green credentials
Image © Peter Moonlight
Oxford Uni P&P look deservedly smug in front of the VC’s office
Image © Peter Moonlight
A heart of 1000 cards parades through the streets of Oxford
Image © Peter Moonlight
The P&P group at Oxford Uni got 1000 Valentine’s cards signed during Go Green Week and even managed to persuade Caroline Lucas MEP, Leader of the Green Party, to speak out against the Uni’s poor green credentials on Valentine’s Day (Saturday 14 February).
The Uni were so worried by the build-up to the action, they announced last thing on Friday (13 Feb) that they were going to employ a Head of Sustainability and create a comprehensive waste management system, meeting two of the group’s three Go Green campaign demands.
Sophie Lewis, who co-ordinated the campaign and is a Regional Rep, said:
We decided to use Go Green Week to really push our campaign forward as Oxford Uni came 50th in the Green League last year, dropping down a massive 23 places. A frantic week of getting cards signed created a stir amongst the Uni’s ranks and they obviously got very worried. It goes to show that sometimes it’s the threat of an action that’s most important.
The huge heart of cards was assembled on the steps of the Clarendon Building in the centre of Oxford. After speeches from the P&P group and Caroline Lucas, the heart was marched to the sound of a beating drum to the University Offices, where it was used to barricade the main entrance to the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Go Green Week
This amazing action from the Oxford Uni P&P group came at the end of Go Green Week 2009. Loads of groups in schools, colleges and unis across the country have been doing some fantastic fundraising, events and actions, pushing the whole education sector towards sustainability. Some groups are holding their Go Green Weeks over the next few weeks.
- Check out what was planned and what’s still to come for Go Green Week.
