Last week, noontime passersby outside of the Nest were greeted by over two dozen activists splayed out across East Mall and University Boulevard.
The die-in — where protestors lie on the ground pretending to be dead — was organized and carried out by members of Extinction Rebellion UBC (XR UBC) as a part of their “week of action” from November 12 to 15.
“Every year, it is estimated that 300,000 people die as a result of the climate crisis. If any of these facts disturb you, join us. Die with us,” said one protester through an on-stage microphone.
The week also included boothing, free food, speeches about the severity of the climate crisis, educational skits and more.
XR UBC is a part of the grassroots Extinction Rebellion (XR) movement that represents over 650 groups in 45 countries. The movement has called on world governments to acknowledge climate change, act to curb it and implement citizen’s assemblies to “investigate, discuss and make recommendations on how to respond to the climate emergency.”
XR UBC’s week of action is focused on one demand: that the UBC Board of Governors (BoG) commit to fully divesting its endowment fund from fossil fuels in their December 5 general meeting.
UBC’s endowment, totalling $1.75 billion in 2019, is approximately 80 per cent derived from charitable donations and 20 per cent from land-lease revenue. Alongside the University of Toronto and McGill University, UBC’s endowment is consistently among the three largest in Canada. All three maintain investments in fossil fuels.
“This is the biggest issue that humankind has ever faced. It’s an existential threat to all,” said Laura Sullivan, a fourth-year electrical engineering major and XR UBC coordinator.
“We claim to be one of the greatest scientific institutions in the world, with leading innovations and leading science research. If that’s true, then why aren’t we listening to the science? The science is presented right in front of us, extremely clearly,” she said.
XR UBC’s demand for divestment comes in the wake of over 130 universities worldwide resolving to divest from fossil fuels, including, most recently, Concordia University in Montreal.
On the opening day of the XR UBC’s “week of action,” UBCC350 — another climate activist group on campus that has advocated for divestment since 2013 — also held a teach-in.
XR UBC differs from UBCC350 and other environmental clubs in its belief that nonviolent disruption is the best way to bring about change. For example, in the beginning of the term it held die-ins outside of Santa Ono's office every Friday to remind him about divestment.
XR UBC’s pro-divestment actions also included a skit representing their best-case scenario at the BoG Endowment Responsible Investment Committee on November 22.
In the skit, actors playing UBC governors like VP Finance and Operations Peter Smailes, Board chair Michael Korenberg and student representative Max Holmes discuss and propose a motion to divest, and then vote in favour of doing so.
In a written statement to The Ubyssey, UBC VP Finance and Operations Peter Smailes said administration has taken note of XR’s protests.
“[I]t is inspiring to see so many of our students take part in shaping their future by using the power of their collective voice to raise awareness of climate change and the need for immediate action,” he wrote.
He also said that the Sustainable Futures Pool “has been internationally recognized for its commitment to sustainability” and assured that the December 5 meeting will involve discussion of the University of California’s recent divestment. He did not add any further details.
Representatives of the UBC Investment Management Trust (UBC IMANT) declined to comment, saying Smailes’s statement speaks for them.
While she’s somewhat encouraged by Smaile’s statement, Sullivan believes the need for divestment is as urgent as ever.
“I’m glad that they’re talking about it,” said Sullivan.
“But we’ve been talking about climate change for 50 years. In a few years, we will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, at which time Richmond is projected to be below sea level. Where will those people go? What will happen to UBC when that happens?”
The Board of Governors Responsible Endowment Investment Committee meeting will be held on Friday, November 22 on the third floor of the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. The general meeting will take place on December 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both are open to the public.