For immediate release, Sat 13th May
Follow live: https://twitter.com/divestlondon
CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS BRING GIANT FOSSIL FUEL MONSTER ACROSS 14 LONDON BOROUGHS TO DEMAND FOSSIL FREE PENSION FUNDS
On Saturday 13th May, rallies will be held outside 14 London Town Halls calling on Local Councils to divest their £1.5bn [1] investments in fossil fuel companies.
Tentacled ‘Fossil Fuel Monsters’ will follow three routes through the city, being ‘chased away’ from Town Halls at stops along the way. The routes converge in Camden at 5pm for a rally with local councillors, faith campaigners and a final theatrical ‘chasing away’ of the fossil fuel monster.
A banner calling on councils to ‘Clean Up Our Council: Kick Out Fossil Fuels’ will be held up outside town halls, with a ‘Divestment Bullseye’ showing the amount of fossil fuel investments held by each council pension fund.
The events are part of a wave of actions happening in over 45 countries as part of the Global Divestment Mobilisation, calling on institutions to end their investments in fossil fuel companies responsible for blocking action on climate change.
London Boroughs have been leading the way on fossil fuel divestment, with Waltham Forest and Southwark councils becoming the first pensions funds in the UK to commit to full divestment from fossil fuels.
Local campaigner Rob Platts from Divest Waltham Forest says:
“After our historic achievement in Waltham Forest, it’s fantastic to see so many London boroughs uniting in this campaign to remove public funds from the fossil fuel industry. These investments are completely at odds with the Government’s responsibility to tackling climate change, and ensuring a safe future for the people.”
Danielle Paffard from divestment campaign group 350.org say:
“Climate change is already impacting people’s lives and livelihoods around the world, and London won’t be spared. It makes no sense for London Councils to be investing in the fossil fuel industry that causes climate change, when we need to be building a clean, safe energy system for all. Councils should be investing their pension funds for the benefit of their workers and constituents futures, not undermining them.”
This is the first London-wide coordinated action, aiming to put pressure on the newly formed ‘London Collective Investment Vehicle’ that pools the pension funds of London Councils, ahead of their AGM on 14th June.
The event follows an open letter signed by campaigners from 26 London Boroughs demanding a fossil free pension fund.
The three routes are as follows:
- Western Route: Richmond and Twickenham (11am); Ealing (12pm); Hammersmith and Fulham (1pm); Kensington and Chelsea (2pm); Westminster (4pm); Camden (5pm). [2]
- Eastern Route: Newham (12pm); Hackney (2pm); Islington (3pm); Haringey (4pm); Camden (5pm). [3]
- Southern Route: Bexley (11am); Bromley (1pm); Croydon (2.30pm); Lambeth (4pm); Camden (5pm). [4]
For more information please contact Rob Platts at divestwf@gmail.com / 07528 789 587
Or Danni Paffard: 07979817888, danni@350.org
Fossil Fuel Divestment
The divestment movement saw its beginnings in North America, Europe and Australia and has since become the fastest growing divestment movement in history.
Global commitments to divest have already reached 710 institutions across 76 countries, representing well over US$5.5 trillion in assets under management.
As climate denialists take office and commit to regress on climate action in the face of increased climate impacts worldwide, divestment provides a tangible way for individuals and institutions to show leadership on tackling climate change.
The Global Divestment Mobilisation marks a new turning point for the global fossil fuel divestment movement, which is now spreading in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
In the UK, over 40 events will be taking place as part of the Global Divestment Mobilisation calling on local government, faith, health, cultural institutions, politicians and banks to divest from fossil fuels.
CONTACT:
GLOBAL PHOTO AND VIDEO (to be updated throughout the duration of GDM):
- Photos available here.
- Video footage available here.
###
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- https://gofossilfree.org/uk/pensions/
- Richmond Green // Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, Ealing W5 2BY// Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU // Kensington Council, Hornton Street, W8 7NX // The Old Marylebone Town Hall, Westminster Council House, 97-113 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5PT // Contact Camden, 5 Pancras rd, N1C 4AG
- Stratford Station (by the model train) // Hackney Town Hall, Mare St, London, E8 1EA // Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD // Haringey Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green N22 8LE // Contact Camden, 5 Pancras rd, N1C 4AG
- Bexley Town Hall, 2 Watling St, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT // Bromley Town Hall, Main Entrance/Main Reception, Stockwell Close (opp. Queen’s Gardens) Bromley BR1 1RW // Croydon Town Hall, Katherine Street, CR0 1NX // Lambeth Town Hall, 1 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW // Contact Camden, 5 Pancras rd, N1C 4AG
- You will find additional information including answers to frequently asked questions and media contacts for each of the actions in the GDM media pack.
- Detailed overview of divestment commitments to date can be found here.
- The UK recently celebrated reaching over 100 divestment commitments across a range of sectors.