Divest McGill has recently gotten a lot of attention with its Fossil Free Week, which included a camp-out on campus. According to their website, “Divest McGill is a campaign calling on McGill University to address the urgency of climate change by divesting its endowment from the fossil fuel industry and to reinvest into more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible alternatives.” Divest McGill is run by a multitude of environmentally conscious McGill students and their movement is extremely admirable – making them all our campus celebrities this week.
A Her Campus McGill correspondent interviewed two of Divest’s members about their movement and what they want other McGill students to know about what they stand for.
Kelly Moore for Her Campus McGill (HC McGill): Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Andrew Stein (AS): I’m a U3 Environment Major and Montreal native.
Alex Batistatos (AB): I’m a U4 Honors International Development and Philosophy Major.*
HC McGill: What is your role within Divest McGill?
AS: I’ve only been a part of DM since July, but in this time I have helped to organize our enormously successful Fossil Free Week. I’m currently working on Faculty and Departmental Outreach.
AB: I’m somewhat on the sidelines but I’ve gotten more involved in the past months, and soon I’ll be leading a team to create an alternative investment portfolio for the Board of Governors.
HC McGill: What are your feelings towards the McGill Administration and Board of Governors?
AS: While I understand that the administrative hurdles and bureaucratic processes take time to overcome, the urgency of the situation calls for immediate and decisive action. Continued delay is also a political stance.
AB: It’s sad that it’s taking so long to do something that’s so obvious, but it’s cool that the Board is talking about Divestment, as they’re supposed to give a decision on it by October.
HC McGill: How did Fossil Free week go?
AB: It was a huge success, and it was a lot of fun. I camped out and brushed my teeth in the library. It was a great, friendly environment and we had great speakers. Camping out drew attention to Divest McGill, and a lot of students knew about it. We got 1000 or so signatures on our petition.
HC McGill: What’s next for Divest McGill?
AS: We hope to mobilize the support that we gained during Fossil Free Week to further expand our base and move the process forward. The administration needs to be shown that this campaign is important to the McGill community and that we will not be dismayed by inaction on their part.
HC McGill: What would you like other McGill students to know about Divest McGill?
AS: There are two main points that I would like all McGill students to know about Divest McGill. First, [they should know about] the existence and extent of unethical investments that McGill currently holds (~$70 million). Second, [there is] substantial positive change that the global divestment movement has, and will continue to have, on our precious world.
AB: Our request is simple: we want McGill to find other investments for the 70 million invested in fossil fuels. It’s nothing radical, and we want people to feel personally about this issue. If we internalize and engage in activism, that’s how we’ll face the biggest issue of our generation.
HC McGill: What do you plan on doing after graduation?
AS: I would like to pursue graduate studies in the field of climate justice, institutions, and systemic change.
AB: I want to do something environment-related, there are a lot of options.
HC McGill: How can a McGill student get involved with Divest McGill?
AS: We hold ‘Divest 101’ crash courses, one-on-one introductions to the campaign, weekly meetings, and outreach events. Our website and Facebook page are great places to start.
* Quotes from Alex Batistatos have been paraphrased.
Images obtained from:
Zaliqa Rosli
https://www.facebook.com/DivestMcGill/photos/a.981735238536453.107374184…
https://www.facebook.com/DivestMcGill/photos/a.981735238536453.107374184…