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

[Jon Leighton]

Reminder: This sort of thing should go to cc-socialmedia, not
cc-webedit.

What to people think about putting it up? Personally I'm not keen as
it's basically a press release not a blog post...

Jon

On Wed, 2010-10-27 at 20:45 +0100, website at climatecamp.org.uk wrote:
> ---------------------------- 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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