Protesters spray graffiti in university
PROTESTERS have sprayed graffiti onto the pillars at Cardiff University’s historic main building.
They used chalk paint on six pillars inside the Grade II* building with the graffiti later removed by staff.
It was the latest stage of a protest by the university’s People and Planet group against what campaigners say is the university’s “continued lack of commitment to fossil fuel divestment”.
They say Cardiff University currently holds £10m of investments in four companies involved in fossil fuel extraction, which represents 4.5% of their total investment portfolio.
It has been recommended the university stops investing in companies that generate more than 10% of their revenues from coal and tar sands.
However none of the companies that the university invests in fall into this category.
The protest group has been campaigning for more than three years for the university to divest by collecting in excess of 1,200 student and 100 faculty signatures, organising creative actions and passing a motion at the Students’ Union AGM.
President of Cardiff People and Planet Friederike Lurken said: “Cardiff University has to decide what their stance on fossil fuel investment is.
“Either they remain in denial about the ethical consequences of their investments and maintain their portfolio as it is or they acknowledge the destructive effects of the fossil fuel industry and withdraw their What their stance on fossil fuel investment is.”
Campaigner and PhD student Jack Pickering said: “In taking this decision the university has decided to abandon hopes of a dialogue as it ignores the urgent need for full divestment, which myself and others have spent significant amounts of time communicating to the university and Students’ Union leadership.
“As a postgraduate member of Cardiff University and citizen concerned about the role of public institutions in legitimising the oil and gas industry I am disappointed by this decision and fully support the non-violent direct actions taken by the campaign group.”
The campaigners say other universities have agreed to commit to full divestment from all fossil fuels.
A university spokesman said: “Whilst we fully appreciate there are stronglyheld views and we respect the right to lawful and peaceful protest, where such actions cross the line then we reserve the right to investigate under our student disciplinary procedure.
“We are currently reviewing the university’s ethical investment policy and the current draft includes for the first time a clear statement that the university will divest from companies that make more than 10% of their revenues from coal and/or tar sands.
“The draft policy may be further revised to reflect current concerns when it is considered by University Council at its meeting later this month.”