Student activists have targeted one of Cambridge University’s most iconic buildings and spray-painted its walls in a protest over fossil fuels.
Multi-coloured symbols and messages were scrawled on the stone-walls Cambridge University’s Senate House on Tuesday.
Protestors used chalk spray to paint “Cambridge divest from fossil fuels” across the building where University Council meetings take place.
Around 30 campaigners from the Cambridge Zero Carbon Society conducted the protest, painting flowers and hearts, onto the building in bright hues.
A security guard quickly rushed to the scene and photographed the group of activists painting – moments later they left.
A spokesperson for the Zero Carbon Society said: “We’re happy to wash this chalk off ourselves when the University stops investing in this destructive industry.”
The demonstration happened around 2pm yesterday where a group of university officials were also seen standing next to the art and photographing the walls.
The University’s central governing body is set to make a historic decision on whether it is going to work on pulling out its investments in fossil fuels.
These pro-divestment campaigners have continued a year long protest and are now approaching their final week.
They are hoping the university will divest its funding from the fossil fuel company shareholdings.
A rally outside Senate House is also set to take place on the 21st May when the final decision is likely to be made.
Officials will make a decision based on a report which has been produced by the University of Cambridge Divestment Working Group.
The group was made for advice on whether the University should divest – their report has already been presented to Council members last month.
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https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/environment/revealed-the-tangled-web-between-fossil-industry-and-government/14/05/