FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT 101 What is divestment? getting rid of stocks, bonds or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous the opposite of investment a strategy for social change Divestment from South African Apartheid 1960s Faith communities begin pushing for divestment from companies invested in South Africa 1977: Hampshire University becomes the 1st university to divest from apartheid 1984: 53 universities had divested 1986: The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act: imposed sanctions against South Africa and stated 5 preconditions for lifting the sanctions, including establishing a timetable for the elimination of apartheid laws and the release of political prisoner Nelson Mandela 1988: 155 universities had divested 1989: 26 states, 22 counties, and over 90 cities had taken some form of binding economic action against companies doing business in South Africa Fossil Fuel Divestment Goal: to attack the social license of the Fossil Fuel Industry 350.org (USA) and CYCC (Canada) are coordinating efforts and helping mobilize campuses across Canada and the USA The Fossil Free divestment movement has 2 concrete demands: 1. Immediate freeze on new fossil fuel investments (the top 200 publicly traded energy companies on the market, plus pipeline companies) 2. Full fossil fuel divestment within five years The Economics of Divestment Endowment Pension Fund Carbon investments are risky ie. The Carbon Bubble Board of Governors Examples from other campaigns Divest Dalhousie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at5cIhNSKNA#t= 41 Divest Trent Divest uVic https://www.youtub e.com/watch?v=iMlI YVGNVB8&feature =youtu.be Fossil Free Guelph Divest McGill The uOttawa Campaign Brainstorm! What are some ideas of tactics and creative actions for a campaign? Think about: What is the action and what is needed to make it happen? What is the objective and desired effect of the action? Who is the target audience? For example: Ways to raise student awareness Ways to get more petition signatures Ways to get media attention Ways to approach the Board of Governors Website: fossilfreeuottawa.org Facebook: Fossil Free uOttawa sans fossiles