Lund University should become completely fossil free. This according to around 60 students who tried to enter the university building last Friday, in order to carry out an environmental campaign, but they were stopped by security guards.
Early this summer, Lund University decided to move towards a fossil free stock portfolio and have since June worked actively with the transition. But the University still holds stocks in funds which expose in oil, coal or gas production.
Because of this, a group of students gathered outside the university building on Friday morning in order to protest against the University’s investing policy.
Wanted to get in
The demonstrators’ initial plan was to enter the university building and then pour out of the gate. This in order to stage a flooding. But two security guards stopped the demonstrators’ plan, and instead the 60 students’ stood on the stairs and chanted.
Cherry Tsoi is active in the organization Fossil Free Lund University, who arranged the demonstration. She thinks that Lund University works too slowly.
“Many institutions in Sweden have already become fossil free. The Church of Sweden, for example, is completely fossil free thanks to the work of the Archbishop Antje Jackelén. So why can’t a leading university be that as well?”, she wonders.
In order to become fully fossil free Cherry Tsoi thinks the University should add fossil fuels to the investment restrictions. Today, the University’s money may not go to things such as weapon and tobacco.
“Has to do with human rights”
She also points out that the climate issue is no longer about the environment alone, and that it therefore is extra important for the University to work actively with the issue.
“It’s about human rights, social justice, equality… every aspect of life is affected”, she says.
According to Cherry Tsoi it is important that everybody tries to do something where you are located. Since they are students, they try to affect the University. But she thinks everybody should try to do something.
“If there is even the smallest chance to make an impact we have a moral duty to do it. I still think we can succeed”, says Cherry Tsoi.
“Proceeding too slowly”
Nolwenn Periguale, who is also participating in the demonstration, is cautiously hopeful about the future.
“The change proceeds too slow. And perhaps you can’t make a change such as this immediately. But being here, and showing the management that we care, feels like a step along the way” she says.
One of the goals set by world leaders is about limiting the global warming to 1,5degrees Celsius.
Investments are contributing to global warming
In order to achieve that goal, Cherry Tsoi, who is active within the organization Fossil Free and who has arranged this demonstration, thinks that we need to stop extracting fossil fuels altogether.
“Science states that we can only have 350 parts carbon dioxide per one million in the atmosphere. We are already at 400. In order to turn this development we need to completely stop extracting fossil fuels. The investments we are protesting against are contributing to the opposite” she says.
Article: Jakob Ehde
Translation: Elise Pettersson
