OUSU Social Justice Committee
organised a walk around Oxford
on Wednesday afternoon to raise awareness about investment issues. Organisers
estimated that between 50 and 100 people joined the walk at various points.One of the organisers, Richard
Ollerhead, commented “There was a really good turnout… we got a really good
response from people in colleges, many genuinely shocked about where their
college had its money.”Campaigners have already amassed
a petition of 800 names calling for Oxford
to adopt a Socially Responsible Investment policy. A recent survey by the
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed that Oxford has 1,357,123 shares in the arms
trade. St John’s College
was ranked as the second highest investor in the arms trade of all Oxbridge
colleges, one of seven Oxford
colleges in the top ten. In a survey carried out at St John’s, 75% of College members were found
to be opposed to arms trade investment. Balliol College
came fifth in the survey, and is amongst several JCRs to have already passed
motions demanding ethical investment. Anna Wolmuth, Balliol’s Mike
Woodin Rep responsible for ethical investment said “last term the Governing
Body voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a Socially Responsible
Investment policy, to be drawn up in consultation with the JCR, MCR and SCR.” The march coincides with the
announcement on Tuesday that Oxford
has entered into a patnership with QinetiQ, who specialise in defence and
security. A University statement argues that “The University is concerned to
uphold the highest ethical standards when considering all new research
collaborations, and the agreement with QinetiQ is no exception.” It adds that “Previous
collaborations between QinetiQ and Oxford
have included developing better diagnostics for dyslexia and translating the
ability of a Namibian beetle to collect water droplets on its back into a
marketable system for harvesting water in the desert.”Emma Norris, OUSU President, said the partnership: “It’s
just another example of the University’s deeply disappointing behaviour when it
comes to ethical investment. QinetiQ is heavily involved in defence
technology… Where will this end? Oxford
University should not be
financially endorsing companies and people who make money from warfare and
exploitation.”ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005
Ethical investment protests continue
