(from bobbywego)

Hi Folks,

We are pleased to let you know that TODAY, 12/23, we launch the Multi-School Fossil Fuel Divestment Fund: http://divestfund.org!

We now have 13 schools participating and the DivestFund.org website is live. You can donate here: http://www.divestfund.org/donate! We also have a twitter handle (@DivestFund) and are using the hashtag #DivestFund.

Here’s our press release:

Universities Across the Country Launch a Multi-School Fossil Free Divestment
Fund

Main Contact: Sarah Vukelich, Williams, sarah.m.vukelich@gmail.com, 619-609-3458

Secondary: Becky Romatoski, MIT, rrromatoski@gmail.com, 651-587-7172;
Bobby Wengronowitz, BC, bobbywego@gmail.com, 630-464-5875

Website: http://divestfund.org

Cambridge, MA — Alumni, parents, and students from universities across the country have launched a bold new Multi-School Fossil Free Divestment Fund. The Fund facilitates tax-deductible donations for those who would like to give to an educational institution but are hesitant because the institution invests in the environmentally, financially, and morally hazardous fossil fuel industry. The Fund will hold and invest donations until a school’s endowment:

1. Immediately freezes any new investment in fossil fuel companies and
2. Divests within five years from current holdings of fossil fuel companies.

For participating schools unable to stand up to fossil fuel companies by the end of 2017, their funds will go to participating schools that have divested. Morgan Curtis, a Dartmouth student, explains the timeline: “Back in 2011, the IEA [International Energy Agency], hardly a radical organization, found that 2017 was the cutoff for building any new fossil fuel infrastructure if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. We haven’t even hit 1° C yet, and it’s already been disastrous and lethal, especially for those least responsible.”

The Fund allows parents, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and others to leverage their donations to help universities do the right thing. As Brandeis alumnus Naveh Halperin explains, “I want to give to Brandeis because I had an amazing experience there, but I can’t donate knowing they’re investing in morally unjust industries that undercut their mission to strive for social justice.” Since donations will go to other universities if a given university has not divested, the Fund creates a friendly competition to push for action at a level commensurate with the urgency and magnitude of the deepening climate crisis. “Money donated acts as a financial carrot, but if universities continue to support the rogue fossil fuel industry, those donations turn into a stick” says Chris Nidel, an MIT alumnus.

While financial contributions are important, the number of donors is equally powerful. College rankings are important for many institutions. Five percent of those rankings are derived from alumni giving, meaning even small donations matter. Boston College student David Corbie says he is “working on getting others to use their ‘senior gift’ as a way to encourage our school to stand up for climate justice.”

Fossil fuel divestment campaigns have been underway for years. Their aim is to stigmatize the fossil fuel industry and loosen the iron grip they have on our political and economic system. Hundreds of institutions–from schools and churches to public pensions and philanthropic foundations–participate in divestment. Many have already divested . The Fund, carefully designed over 18 months, adds one more arrow to the quiver in the fight for climate justice.

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Press release, videos, and photos on our website here: https://floodboston.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/full-skit-of-street-theater.

For immediate release

Contact: James Billman, FloodBoston. floodboston(AT)gmail.com 617-669-8045

Anti-fracking protesters take State Street Corp. HQ Lobby, performing climate theater piece calling on State Street to end its support of Spectra Energy pipeline through West Roxbury.

On December 18th, citizens from across Massachusetts entered the State Street building to demonstrate against natural gas and the Spectra Energy pipeline. Inside the lobby, they deployed banners, costumes, and elaborate props and performed a theatrical piece highlighting State Street Corporation’s involvement in Spectra Energy, a natural gas company that aims to expand fracked gas pipelines through New England communities.

This action is part of the “Week of Respect and Resistance,” a nationwide campaign against Spectra Energy’s proposed expansion of the “Algonquin” gas pipeline (“Algonquin” Incremental Market Expansion, or AIM).

The AIM pipeline, which contributes to climate change, would run through Massachusetts cities and towns.

David Ludlow of West Roxbury says his neighborhood in Boston is directly threatened by this pipeline that will run near an quarry with an active blasting site. “We’ve been working with gas experts who have investigated numerous gas explosions throughout the country. West Roxbury is densely populated and the AIM pipeline puts our community at grave risk,” says Ludlow.

Protesters rallied inside State Street Corporation because it is the second largest institutional investor in Spectra Energy. One of the organizers of the protest, Shannon Leary, said, “We’re here to expose State Street’s investment in Spectra Energy as a driver of runaway climate change. Fracked gas is a false solution and we’re here to send a message: If your project or company threatens our community, we won’t let it happen.”

The AIM Expansion locks New England into a future of fossil fuel dependence, and directly impacts the safety of Boston communities. Organizers called on State Street Corporation to divest their holdings in Spectra Energy, and all other extreme energy projects. Boston-based Spectra Energy is one of the largest natural gas processing, storage, and distribution companies in the United States. State Street Corporation, is one of the largest investors in Spectra Energy, as well as the proposed Kinder Morgan gas pipeline in Massachusetts. After leaving State Street, protesters performed music and theater inside South Station.

What: Climate theater piece with banners and musical accompaniment.

When: Thursday 18 Dec 4pm

Where: State Street Lobby, One Lincoln Street

Who: Students, citizens and community members from across the state of Massachusetts, Fighting Against Natural Gas (FANG), and FloodBoston.