[Cc-webedit] [Fwd: for the blog: Manchester students vote to boycott RBS]

Wed Oct 27 19:45:27 UTC 2010

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: for the blog: Manchester students vote to boycott RBS
From:    "Robbie Gillett" <robbiegillett at googlemail.com>
Date:    Fri, October 22, 2010 4:06 pm
To:      website at climatecamp.org.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey website.

Here's a blog for the Climate Camp website - are you cool to post it?

If you need  better quality pics - maybe go to the indymedia posts below
directly.  I'm working from a dongle and suspect my internet connection may
be downloading lower quality images.

The roof top occupation is a favourite of mine.

cheers,

Robbie

*Manchester students vote to boycott RBS*

 The University of Manchester Students Union has passed a motion to boycott
the Royal Bank of Scotland.  The motion, passed last Wednesday 20th October,
included a resolution to “cease all relationships with the Royal Bank of
Scotland” for being in breach of the Union's ethical policy. The policy
states that the Union shall, “not operate in such a way, or invest in any
other company or organisation, that is environmentally damaging, especially
exacerbating climate change.”

 RBS currently leases branch space from the Oxford Road premises of the
Students Union. The boycott will require the company to vacate those
premises. RBS will also be barred from any marketing or recruiting
opportunities at all Students Union events.

 The boycott has been called in response to RBS' heavy investment in fossil
fuel projects such as *tar sands* (
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/rbs-accused-over-funding-for-tar-sands-blood-oil-1914354.html)
and
*new coal fired power stations*. (
http://www.platformlondon.org/carbonweb/showitem.asp?article=338&parent=9 )

Last year, RBS provided £117 million worth of loans and equity to Cairn
Energy who have recently began *drilling off the coast of Greenland*. (
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/breaking-weve-stopped-cairns-arctic-drilling-20100831)
This drilling is particularly controversial because the area has not
been
exploited for oil before and has only been made possible as climate change
has caused icebergs in this region to melt. [1]

 Amanda Walters, Campaigns Officer at University of Manchester Students
Union said,

“RBS is in breach of our ethical and sustainable code. We can no longer have
a financial relationship with RBS because they are one of the biggest
investors in fossil fuels which worsen peoples lives due to climate change.

 Walters continued, “RBS is 84% owned by the UK tax payer. It's outrageous
that this public money is being used to destroy our future. Edinburgh
University has recently switched to banking with RBS. We encourage them, and
all other Students Unions to boycott the Royal Bank of Scotland.”

 The boycott move follows a series of high profile campaign actions by
Manchester activists both locally and nationally. In 2008, campaigners from
People & Planet disrupted *RBS recruitment stalls*  (
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/411541.html ) and hosted a mock
*'Greenwash
Award'* (
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2008/12/415572.html )  show
outside their regional headquarters in Manchester. In February 2009,
activists *occupied the roof of the RBS branch* (
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421901.html ) at the University of
Manchester Students Union. In August 2010, around 900 people targeted
the *Royal
Bank of Scotland headquarters* (
http://climatecamp.org.uk/actions/edinburgh-2010/photography) during the
Climate Camp protests in Edinburgh.

 Toby Brett, from Manchester *People & Planet* (http://peopleandplanet.org/ )
said, “RBS' investments lead to people getting evicted from their homes both
in the UK and globally. Students have come together to say that we shall not
stand for such actions, which are clearly not in our interests, and so we're
evicted them in return.”

 An RBS spokesman said, “"As a major international bank we provide support
for businesses working across many industries and reflect the make up of
society and the economy. Just as society as a whole has to make a transition
to renewable energy sources so will banks like RBS. In fact in recent years
RBS has been one of the most active banks in the world in providing funding
for renewable energy projects so we are at the forefront of helping finance
the transition."

The '*Staying Ethical'* (
http://www.umsu.manchester.ac.uk/downloads/gm_motions/gm_motionB_20.10.10.pdf)
motion passed also renewed the Student Union's boycott of
*Coca-Cola* ( http://killercoke.org/ ) and *Nestle products*. (
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/ )
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