At their monthly council meeting last Tuesday, the University decided to divest from fossil fuels, as well as preventing any direct investment in the alcohol, tobacco, or munitions industries in the future.
Although it was the only ethical choice they could have possibly made, it was a win for everyone (apart from global warming deniers but they don’t count). However, we must not forget that it is 2016, and this decision comes 120 years after Svante Arrhenius began attributing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to global temperatures through the greenhouse effect.
The lack of action in this area until last week epitomises the myopic, profit-driven nature of the institution we, as students, form an ever more marginalised part of. Despite paying increasing higher fees to an institution who reluctantly acknowledges our views, it seems that in order to communicate frankly and have our voices heard, we either have to share their outdated values or be spoken to, rather than a dialogue being had with them.
It’s hypocritical at best that the university conceitedly and boastfully states on their website that they “recognise the importance of social responsibility” yet were open to investment in industries that directly kill people, displace entire populaces, and (in terms of global warming) will ultimately destroy the planet if nothing is done about it. Congratulations on this groundbreakingly progressive decision.
Even if the university doesn’t actually invest in these industries, as some have suggested, the fact the council hadn’t explicitly banned investments in them is clearly not a sufficient impediment to unethical investment for anyone with a hint of common sense.
Late is better than never though, and the decision must be celebrated for what it is: a breakthrough. The university could have been proactive and led the charge against investments of this kind, but they didn’t, and now they’re joining the club rather than initiating it.
Posting about important issues on social media is great, keep doing it, but look up from your computer screens, discuss these issues with fellow students, go and hound the OUSA Executive to lobby harder on these critical issues and let’s make our voices heard. Are we being youthfully idealistic by demanding divestment, opposing redundancies when the University is sitting on millions and millions, or challenging the ever increasing fees we have to pay? No! If these decisions will be made with or without our valuable contributions, we have to make them listen. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, to stand up for what you believe in and tell anyone and everyone that what we have to say will not be drowned out by the thick mahogany doors separating the Lords from the serfs.
Joe Higham
News Editor