Divest Manitoba

04/20/2023

Yesterday, UofM President Michael Benarroch made the announcement a bit more official:
"These principles ensure we divest from fossil fuels and any holdings that violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples."

He was speaking about the investment policy adopted by the Board of Governors back on March 28. See our previous post for more information.

Read his full comments here: https://news.umanitoba.ca/presidents-message-for-earth-day-2023/

Saturday is Earth Day and I want to once again take this opportunity to share some important developments the University of Manitoba has taken to decrease its carbon footprint. I also want to say than

04/20/2023

It has been a long and arduous fight, but divestment has come to the University of Manitoba. There has been a lack of student-based organizing and campaigning on campus in recent years, but all was not lost.

When the Responsible Investment Committee (RIC) was formed, at the outlook it seemed as though full divestment from fossil fuels would not be possible - or at least not without a fight..
https://news.umanitoba.ca/um-committee-tackling-responsible-investment-opportunities/

After 3 years of meetings, the Board of Governors adopted the investment policy as recommended by the RIC:
https://news.umanitoba.ca/ums-new-responsible-investment-policy-will-contribute-to-a-more-sustainable-and-equitable-world/

Not explicitly mentioned in the UM Today article is "Commitment 5: Divest from Investments in Fossil Fuel Supply" from the PDF document located at the bottom of the article, available for download. Subsections contained include:
"a) The University will make no new direct investments in fossil fuel supply from the end of 2023 forward
b) The University will divest from all direct investment in fossil fuel supply companies by the end of 2024
c) The University will divest from indirect investment in fossil fuel supply by 2030 at the latest
d) The University will define fossil fuel supply as a company involved in the exploration, extraction, and/or refining of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal)"

To read more, check out the links and peruse the full document.

A new policy to integrate responsible investing principles into UM’s decision-making was approved on Mar. 28 by the Board of Governors (BOG). The policy aligns with the University of Manitoba’s co

04/20/2023

Friends, supporters!
UofM to Divest from Fossil Fuels!

03/01/2023

05/25/2022

Pension Funds Must Divest!!

"Directors, trustees and investment managers at Canada’s largest public pension funds are deeply involved in the fossil fuel sector, according to a new report by Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health.

It found 56 staff members from the largest public sector pension plans hold 76 different corporate director roles at 39 different fossil fuel companies. It also found nine pension fund directors or trustees currently serve as board directors at 12 different fossil fuel companies."

https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/cir-news-news/canadas-fossil-fuel-sector-maintaining-strong-links-with-leading-pension-plans-report/

10/28/2021

New report states that institutional from has been growing rapidly. Will the be next to join this movement?

"There are now 1,485 institutions publicly committed to at least some form of fossil fuel divestment, representing an enormous $39.2 trillion of assets under management. That's as if the two biggest economies in the world, the United States and China, combined, chose to divest from fossil fuels."

"Since the movement's first summary report in 2014, the amount of total assets publicly committed to divestment has grown by over 75,000%."

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/10/26/climate-movement-hails-mind-blowing-40-trillion-fossil-fuel-divestment-pledges

"Divestment has helped rub much of the shine off what was once the planet's dominant industry," said 350.org's Bill McKibben. "If money talks, $40 trillion makes a lot of noise."

09/28/2021

https://www.startribune.com/under-student-pressure-university-of-minnesota-to-phase-out-fossil-fuel-investments/600100509/

The school joins campuses across the country in fight against climate change.

02/28/2018

A great and informative video we want to share again about our campus!

02/28/2018

Elections are coming up at the UofM! While we wait to have Divest kickoff again, check out this informative video about an important issue this election cycle.

03/31/2017

A revolutionary approach to environmental protection!
"For many communities to survive, their option is becoming clearer — they ought to resist the fascist militarization unleashed by corporations to ‘secure’ its business interests."

Even international experts recognize the conservation of biodiversity in the NPA-controlled areas.

01/11/2017

The comrades at Divest UWinnipeg are doing great things. Give their page a like to keep up to date! https://www.facebook.com/divestuwinnipeg/

See how Divest UW is working to create a fossil free campus at University of Winnipeg and join the movement!