Nottingham University Student held a Die-In outside the Portland Building On Tuesday afternoon 20 [March]at 1.00pm to protest at un-ethical investments and the university's connection with the arms trade.

It seems outrageous that the University is willing to invest in arms but not their staff. It is equally unpalatable that, whilst the University profits from the sale of arms, students must pay large sums of money to get an education.

Being brave, and suffering the howling northerly gale, with snow flurries! they bloodied each other to raise awareness on the issue. Some distributed information about the University's investments in the arms trade and armed forces recuitment.

Then before dispersing, many went to visit the Careers Office, to express concern at some of the companies that recruit from there, and the attitude of the careers fair.

Nottingham Student Environment & Social Justice:
 http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~environ/cleaninvestment.htm

Nottingham Student Peace Movement
 http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~nspm/

NSPM, a group primarily for activists committed to world peace and social justice at the University of Nottingham.

Nottingham Student Clean Investment Page:
 http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~nspm/index.php?page=clean_investment

Ethical investment was the primary objective of the action, but there are 4 long term aims:
1. University clean investment
2. Students Union clean investment
3. Stopping societies inviting arms companies to give them career talks and getting sponsorship for the arms trade
4. Stopping the university careers department promoting unethical careers, and have an ethical careers fayre.

The university invests mostly in an investment fund with Newton Investment Fund. At the last check the Univeristy of Nottingham also had £222,750 of shares directly in BAE Systems.

BRIEF STATEMENT:
"We think that it is completely unacceptable that the University of Nottingham invests money obtained from student fees in companies such as BAE Systems. BAE Systems is currently subject to six investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. They are accused of bribery in many countries. They have sold Hawk jets to Indonesia; Indonesian forces have killed about 200,000 people in East Timor. Universities are traditionally moral pillars in society and it is vital that the University of Nottingham adopts an ethical investment policy. Students are outraged and will not stop pressuring the university until it commits to disinvesting in the arms trade and investing ethically. Ethical investment funds have performed as well as (and in some cases better than) traditional funds, so the arguement that this would mean less return no longer holds true."

QUOTE:
"I am disgusted that my fees are indirectly being used to fund the arms trade. There is an alternative. It is possible for the university, and all companies and individuals, to invest ethically without sacrificing return on their investment." - Andy Birkby (student)


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previous Nottingham University Peace Matters:

Amnesty protest over Guantanamo Bay in Nottingham report with audio
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364789.html

Amnesty Protest in Nottingham City Centre - Close Guantanamo Bay [Please]
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364827.html

Protests as arms dealers attend Careers Fair
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/325974.html

Lt.General Arif Hassan, of the Pakistan Army, Nottingham University
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/11/327548.html

Prime Minister visits Nottingham University
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331554.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331575.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331596.html

'Overcoming Media Bias' Nottingham Student Peace Peace Conference
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/02/334602.html

Student Peace Conference :: University of Nottingham
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/334976.html

Die-In at Nottingham University to protest at un-ethical investments
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340171.html

Sounds on the Downs,Nottingham University
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348061.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348082.html


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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@gn.apc.org
Web:  http://tash.gn.apc.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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