Student Protester Scales Building and Drops Banner on Day Eight of Student Protests

(HOBART, TAS)– A student has scaled the centenary building at The University of Tasmania and has dropped a banner. The banner partially obscures the university logo on the building, the message reads: ‘Stop Funding Coal University of Tasmania’.

The climber has ignored security guards’ requests to come down from the roof of the building which is approximately 20 metres high, the Tasmania Police have arrived at the scene. Students have been staging an occupation in the vice chancellor’s building since Wednesday 14 October. The university has so far refused to divest from fossil fuels.

The students are protesting UTAS investments in fossil fuels as part of a nationwide divestment campaign. The students are occupying the Vice Chancellor’s foyer and have established a semi-permanent support camp outside the building, stocking up on supplies and are planning to wait out the university.

“UTAS is globally renown for its leadership on climate research, it was just awarded a $26m grant for Antarctic research–but there won’t be any ice left to study if it and other institutions keep investing in fossil fuels,” said Fossil Free UTAS spokesperson Jack Redpath.

“UTAS is important national link for many Australian universities that conduct climate change research in Antarctica, Tasmania is the gateway to the Antarctic and UTAS are the gate-keepers.”

“It looks bad for a world leading climate research institution to have fossil fuel investments on its books, UTAS reputation is on the line.”

“Climate Change is affecting people now, we’re already seeing people being affected by rising sea levels in the low lying Pacific Islands like Kiribati and Tuvalu; here in Australia, the fire season is starting earlier.”

“UTAS knows the need for action is urgent and governments are not doing enough, it needs to divest to send a clear message to the Australian government and others around the world.”

“We are frustrated that after two years of patient and peaceful campaigning the university refuses to divest its $300m investment portfolio from fossil fuels.”

“This is the first and most simple action we intend to undertake, we are planning more creative and disruptive actions in the event that UTAS rules out divesting from fossil fuels.”

The students are part of diverse and rapidly growing global divestment movement, investors managing more than $2.6 trillion have pledged some form of divestment.

“Famous celebrities such as Leonardo Di Caprio, institutions like the World Council of Churches, the British Medical Association, California Academy of Science, the City of Newcastle, the Australian National University and Norway’s huge sovereign wealth fund have all committed to divest from fossil fuels.”

“We have received messages of support from all over the world, from our fellow divestment campaigners and from people concerned about climate change.”

“From Ottawa, to London, to Washington, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, we’ve had figures like Bill Mckibben, Naomi Klein, and George Monbiot have given us their utmost support.”

“In higher education, 40 universities have made divestment commitments including Stanford University, and the universities of Oxford, California, San Francisco, Edinburgh and Sydney.”

Thirty-seven Australian institutions have fully or partially divested from fossil fuels, including six super funds, nine local councils–including the City of Newcastle, home to the world’s largest coal port– twelve foundations and associations, nine churches and The Australian National University.

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