Climate activists holding “Die-In’s” at UBC to protest use of fossil fuels
Posted November 12, 2019 8:28 pm.
Last Updated November 12, 2019 8:29 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – An environmental advocacy group known for their dramatic protests is at UBC this week, calling on the University to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.
Maayan Kreitzman is part of the climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion.
She says the week of direct action will include non-violent protests with the hope of sending a message to the University.
“UBC still has what we think is about 130-million dollars of its 2.2 billion dollar endowment invested in fossil fuels, which is directly harming the future of UBC’s students, and the future of all life on earth,” Kreitzman says. “We are in a climate and ecological emergency. UBC is claiming to be a leader in sustainability and the environment. It’s not, it’s still investing in a dark future. So UBC students and Extinction Rebellion are saying enough is enough.”
To do that, she says there will be ‘Die-In’s’, protests that include activists lying on the ground and pretending to be dead.
“The Die-In is dramatic. It’s a theatric, symbolic moment in solidarity with people who are already suffering today,” she says. “This is not a joke. There are already people dying around the world because of ecological disasters. We also have a skit and some information readout about UBC’s position on fossil fuels investment.”
The group wants UBC to commit to a plan by 2020. They are hoping the issue will be top of mind when the UBC Board of Governors meets next month.
