TODAY students staged a massive banner drop at the Annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge, as a protest against the universities’ investments in fossil fuel companies.
Cambridge University is currently under intense scrutiny from students and staff after leaked documents revealed it is set to reject fossil fuel divestment once again.
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: 9 March 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUE NUMBER: 1811
Anglia Ruskin signs pledge for fossil-free future
Fossil Fuel Declaration is partnership between the NUS and People & Planet
Anglia Ruskin University is delighted to have signed up to the Fossil Fuel Declaration, a partnership between the National Union of Students and People & Planet.
Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement (DANCE) London continue their monthly meditation vigil outside Barclays in Piccadilly Circus London.
We walk in meditation from Golden Square nearby and then take our place outside the bank with banners calling on Barclays to “Listen to the Earth!’ . To hear and respond to the clear messages our planet is sending that we must urgently curtail our use of fossil fuels. We also hand out leaflets asking people to move their money.
In the 21st century, materialism is heavily ingrained into our society. Clothing trends change on a seasonal basis and electronic gadgets are constantly being updated and improved, with new models of some of our best-known brands regularly being released. Ever improving technology and aesthetics, along with wide spread advertising across all media platforms, have contributed massively to society’s insatiable demand for the latest trends. However, do we really understand where our gadgets, clothes and electronics come from?
Last month university staff up and down the country announced they’re going on strike over pension reforms. Universities UK are trying to take away our lecturers’ right to a defined income when they retire. Our teachers and staff stand to lose up to 40% of their retirement income.
On Tuesday 13th February, as part of a series of ongoing activities this Go Green Week, People & Planet and NUS co-hosted a webinar platforming the voices of climate justice organisers in Vietnam.
Here are 5 things we learnt:
Vietnam is one of the most impacted countries by climate change
Monday 5th February - University of Edinburgh announced it will move its entire investment portfolio out of the fossil fuel industry over the next three years. The University currently holds £6.3million in fossil fuels companies: Total, Atlas Copco and BG Group.
The University of Sussex has now moved it’s investment fund out of fossil fuels, after four years of Fossil Free Sussex, the student run campaign, lobbying the university to divest.
Sussex University has moved it’s money into Liontrust Sustainable Futures Managed Fund – which excludes any organisation involved in Fossil Fuels.
Fossil fuel divestment is the removal of investment assets including stocks, bonds, and investment funds from companies involved in extracting fossil fuels, in an attempt to reduce climate change by tackling its ultimate causes.
2017 was an incredible year for the global fossil free movement! In 2018, together we’re going to take it to the next level.
How about some New Years Revolutions* for transforming the face of global finance by taking the fossil free fight to the banking industry this year?
