BP has made voluntary contributions to the Columbian military, who human rights groups have accused of killings, disappearances, torture and beatings. Bp is heavily invested in drilling in Columbia and the Columbian military are alleged by locals to have broken strikes of BP workers.
BP lobby hard to become the first company to drill in the arctic national wildlife reserve a pristine and fragile eco system. If their plans go ahead it will decimate the Gwich’in indigenous people ancient way of life. US geological surveys show that oil in the region will only supply the US for six months at current consumption rates.
BP have partnered with the Chinese company petrochina, while well aware of the genocide this company is complicit in with in sudan and the repression in Tibet.
BP are a driving force behind what has been dubbed the biggest environmental crime in history the Canadian tar sands project . If your interested in finding out more about this project read this damning report by the national geographic here.
The students stood in a line next to the stall with the slogan “BP oil at any cost?” on their backs and handed out leaflets to passersby until they were hustled out the great hall by university security.
Many Bp employees and prospective employees remain unaware of their employer’s actions. The actions of students to point out the inequities of BP remain one of the few ways that students can find out information about their perspective employers records.
“Also if you are reading this don’t forget to go 350 @ University of Birmingham - Outside Aston Webb
On the 23rd October we will add the University of Birmingham to the huge list of supporters accross the World to show the importance of reducing our global Carbon levels to 350ppm.
Its dead easy, just come along, stand on a spot as part of a MAHUSIVE 350, and send a huge united message to the National governments accross the world at the need for a full on deal in Copenhagen in December.
AND THEN EAT SOME COMPLETELY FREE CAKE FOR SPARING YOUR TIME.
If you want more details of what its all about, check this out -
www.350.org or check out the video links. It will take you 2 mins max, and it'll probably be more enjoyable than doing that Uni work anyway...
http://www.350.org/video
SEE YOU OUTSIDE THE ASTON WEBB BUILDING - THIS FRIDAY - 23rd OCT - 12.30pm - BRING A FRIEND - THEY'LL LOVE IT!”
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theyr doing a huge 350 in bologna's main piazza/square on saturday, made out of bikes! :)
ReplyDeleteamazing! i love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have ever seen any guild officer ever, recognizing or even being supportive of students engaged in non violent direct action as a means for change. Well done too students involved aswell!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming this is the only report of the action. If only more students supported what you guys are doing. Keep up the good work Birmingham students. Also, massive respect for Edd or any guild officer that supports actions that fight for the adherence of basic human rights. Well done!
ReplyDelete"Many Bp employees and prospective employees remain unaware of their employer’s actions. The actions of students to point out the inequities of BP remain one of the few ways that students can find out information about their perspective employers records."
ReplyDeleteHow exactly was this achieved? I attended the careers fair and spoke at length to BP representatives. I probabaly won't pursue a career with them as I was already aware of their actions. However, this was not due to any student protest. If students want to spread awareness then why don't they target the student body? Protesting to the BP stand-people who are already employed by BP seems rather pointless. It only serves the purpose of deterring many top employers from attending future University of Birmingham career events.
To work, or not work, for a company should be my own decision and I do not appreciate the action's of others determining it for me.
It would be interesting to find out how many of those protesting are science/math/engineering students. They are the students BP are looking to recruit. I'm all for giving people the facts but at the end of the day it is the prospective graduate's decision and protesting students have no right to make that decision for us. Shouldn't the welfare and opinion of the student body be the main concern for a member of the guild exec?
Really hope there is no repeat of last year's anti nuclear campaign at the science and tech fair next week. If there is, I hope it's a lot more informed than last year.
If you look, the sign faces outwards from the stand, not to the BP stall people, and the article states information was given out to the student body at the same time. And I definitely know many science/maths/engineering students who support the action. Obviously the EEO should consider the welfare and opinion of the student body in his work, but he is the ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL officer, so I am happy to see he's supporting a protest against a ethically and environmentally unsound company. I can't understand why somebody would be annoyed at a peaceful protest that simply presents another side of the story to prospective graduates, and provides an opportunity to make an informed decision.
ReplyDeleteThanks sally,
ReplyDelete@Anonymous- Well in many ways I agree with you. It is the graduate’s decision at the end of the day.
Surely you must accept that the advertising BP or another companies at the fair put out to encourage graduates to work for them could be similarly challenged as you challenge the “protesters”.
There is no motion or guild council guideline as to whether an officer should or should not support this type of action. If you feel strongly about me writing in support of actions like this, I would advise you write a motion for next guild council. If you feel very strongly about this kind of support I can suspend reporting on this activity here until clarification from November GC.
Are you aware the anti nuclear protests last year that the campaign was largely staff lead? Out of interest what exactly did you consider uninformed? These are academics we are talking about I’m sure they carefully examined their statements.
"Oil at any cost?" - No, just one that is considered acceptable to both producer and consumer. This is how the free market works guys.
ReplyDeleteBut "oil goliath" - that's an original one. And I was starting to tire of the "big oil" rhetoric thats often spouted. Economies of scale mean the petrochemical industry is only viable within very large companies with significant capital and specialised workforce. This distinction of being a "goliath" or "big" or whatever is superfluous when you consider there can be no such thing as "small oil". It can only really be used to prop up this tiresome 'big nasty oil' scarecrow stereotype.
My point, in a rather roundabout manner, is that I'm quite disgusted and disappointed by actions such as this. Whatever positive "ethical" spin you wish to give it, it amounts to little more than the harassment and intimidation of potential employees. I sincerely hope that childish behaviour such as this doesn't deter BP from attending future careers days, for the sake of students more appreciative of their presence.
Surely students should be given both sides of the story. BP are in fact very unethical in so many ways that it is disappointing not to see more students taking similar action. Instead, some students dismiss it as ‘childish behaviour’. This completely throws me – is it not as simple as opposing those companies whom stamp on anything and anyone to make a profit?
ReplyDeleteIt is irresponsible for the guild and/ or university to promote such companies and if they do, they could at least offer students more information on the company’s ethical and environmental impact. Then students who still chose to work for them (however strange this would be knowing how unethical they are) would be able to do so knowingly.
I think it is a shame for students to have to protest at their own careers fayre. When will the university take some responsibility for once?
I hate to have to put it so bluntly, but when it comes to looking for future careers, a big factor for me has to be salary. Careers in the petrochemical industry, as in all mineral extraction are bloody lucrative (not to mention good for our economy). With up to £25K or graduate debt to look forward to, I'd jump at the chance to work for these people. In the current climate one can't be too picky. While it would be nice to be able to stick two fingers up to a potential employer, some of us do not have this luxury.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, @Anonymous 16:38 "When will the university take some responsibility for once?" It is not the responsibility of the University and/or Guild to do these things. Let us, the students, take full responsibilty for our actions and decisions for a change.
So what you are basically saying is that your own economical situation surpasses ethical and environmental concerns.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask how unethical a company would have to be for the 25k payoff to be worth it? How many more people's lives have to be ruined for some students to actually think less about themselves?
As for it being the universities responsibility. Whoever permits these companies into careers events should at least provide students with the whole nature of that company. Not to do so would be irresponsible and not in the best interest of students. The fact that students make there own decision isn't questionable, of course they do - but after all their ‘choice’ is depicted by the university from the very beginning.
For the record, I am a third year student, in lots of debt and do realise the stress and importance of finding employment after university.
@Anonymous 02 November 2009 09:24
ReplyDelete"So what you are basically saying is that your own economical situation surpasses ethical and environmental concerns."
In a nutshell, yes.
"Can I ask how unethical a company would have to be for the 25k payoff to be worth it? How many more people's lives have to be ruined for some students to actually think less about themselves?"
To be honest, I can't see an upper limit. And £25k may not even be the biggest prize. With the minerals industry booming again out in W. Australia, we're looking at starting salaries of up to £50k. Suit yerself, but this working class kid wouldn't turn his nose up at that. No chance. Anyhow, I'm getting a little OT.
http://www.redbrickonline.co.uk/news/students-protest-against-bp-at-careers-fair/
ReplyDelete