Oxford's activists out in force
Protests and demonstrations have ocurred across the University, provoked by issues as wide-ranging as the G8 and Nestle.
Following student lobbying and talks between OUSU Environment Committee, college bursars and Oxford City Council, students in over 20 colleges will now have the facilities to recycle paper, glass and metal cans on-site and in college houses and flats. Whilst over 20 colleges, such as Teddy Hall and University, have already welcomed the new scheme, any college in Oxford will now be able to request the recycling bins.
Albert Cho, Co-Chair of OUSU environment committee, told The OxStu: "Oxford's Colleges are taking a big and historic step forward. After 800 years of churning out waste, they are finally beginning to take responsibility for their environmental footprint."
On Saturday of 5th week a demonstration was staged on Cornmarket Street with environmental campaigners clad in 'Envirocop' costumes in an effort to alert students to the scheme and to encourage them to make use of it.
Elsewhere, activists, including Oxford students, gathered to demonstrate against the G8 countries. Wearing masks depicting the G8 leaders, the protesters greeted those arriving at McDonalds with a barrage of samba music.
Further to this, on Saturday night, members of Oxford's People and Planet organisation gathered outside the Oxford Union, asking those attending the ball to sign their petition, which called for ethical sponsorship of Union events.
The petition, which attracted over 250 signatures, was provoked by the Ball's sponsorship from Nestle, a company with question marks hanging over its unethical policies. Earlier in the term, Edward Tomlinson, Union President, defended the Nestle decision on the grounds that: "Already in Oxford...Magdalen and St Peter's...use Nestle sponsorship".
26th Feb 2004