A Semester Closer to Divestment
While University
of Illinois students
reacclimate to frigid campus conditions and the daily grind of homework and
classes, UIUC Beyond Coal has hit the ground running as a new semester dawns.
Building on momentum from the previous semester’s successes, we hope to bring
our University closer than ever before to divesting from the harmful practices
of the coal industry.
UIUC Beyond Coal made significant strides over the course of
last semester thanks to the outstanding efforts of its students activists. Campaign
Co-President Peter Whitney kicked off the semester by addressing the University
of Illinois Board of Trustees on the issue of coal divestment. With growing
student support and clear evidence of coal’s environmental effects, the BoT’s
inaction has become questionable. Campaign actions have garnered the attention
of the local and even national media outlets. Our efforts have been featured in
the Daily Illini multiple times, an Associate Press article, and the Huffington
Post. In October, 39 students trekked to Pittsburgh ,
PA to further their environmental
activism skills and knowledge for Powershift 2013. While we may not have won
over the support of the University yet, we have certainly shown that our
efforts will only continue to grow.
Yet the battle to divest from coal is still far from over.
UIUC Beyond Coal will strive to make this semester even more successful than
the last. Already this semester, Co-President Drew O’Bryan has spoken to the
Board of Trustees in Chicago
during their first bimonthly meeting of the semester. Drew highlighted the
BoT’s power to divest from coal as well as their continuous failure to discuss
the issue. He also reiterated the resolution which we are fighting for the
University to pass:
- Forego any future direct investments in the “Filthy 15” coal companies effective immediately.
- Establish a committee on socially responsible investment (SRI) within the Board of Trustees to monitor progress and address any future SRI issues, as is proposed in the Illinois Climate Action Plan.
- Divest all direct and indirect holdings from the “Filthy 15” coal mining and utilities companies by the year 2017
- Construct a plan for reinvestment of a percentage of divested funds into renewable energy utilities and/or research.
Though campaign members have spoken to the BoT multiple
times already, we plan speak at every BoT meeting for the remainder of the
semester. This semester will see continued pressure on the BoT through
establishing relationships and coalitions with administrative committees and other
stakeholders throughout University
of Illinois campuses,
with hopes of pushing the aforementioned resolution through the tri-campus
Senate.
UIUC Beyond Coal’s next major event of the semester,
“Starting the Conversation on Divestment,” will take place on Tuesday, February
11th at 6:30 PM in Greg Hall Room 213. We will be hosting four
speakers to provide their respective expert knowledge on the history and economics
of divestment, science of coal, and frontline efforts to stop coal extraction.
In addition to these endeavors, the campaign will be hosting many events
throughout the semester, culminating in a rally at the end of the school year.
Keep an eye out for UIUC Beyond Coal in the coming months,
it won’t be hard to find us.
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