The National Union of Students lends its solidarity to students currently occupying Vice
Chancellor Peter Rathgen’s building at the University of Tasmania, since 14 October. They
are demanding the university divest from fossil fuels before international climate negotiations
in Paris start on 30 November 2015.
Fossil Free UTAS spokesperson Jack Redpath told the Mercury that the group is calling on
the university to divest from its $30 million worth of investments in the environmentally
destructive fossil fuel industry, after a recent survey found that 94% of students agreed that
the university should divest.
They are part of a movement of students around the country demanding that universities pull
away from investment and research in fossil fuels and move towards renewable energy
instead.
The students have so far recieved messages of support from 350.org founder and author Bill
McKibben, and former leader of the Greens, Bob Brown.
The occupation is just one of many protest actions happening in the lead up to the Paris talks,
with a global day of action against climate change planned for the weekend of November 28-
29, which the National Union of Students is urging all university students to attend.
Rose Steele National President National Union of Students
