Update on Divest Harvard, October 7, 2013

A discussion of Harvard’s attempt to shut down discussion of fossil fuel divestment at the University, and student and alumni efforts to generate that discussion, with Akhil Mathew, alumni liaison at Divest Harvard; Beth Newhall, freelance editor and Harvard alumna, and Harvard alumna and founder and co-director of Mothers Out Front; recorded from Cambridge and Boston on October 7, 2013.

 

Drew Gilpin Faust’s views on divestment are ripped to shreds by pro-divestment critics

After being petitioned on September 16^th by Harvard students and alumni to convene a public forum to discuss divestment of the University’s fossil fuel holdings, Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust issued a statement declaring, in effect, “no divestment today, no divestment tomorrow, no divestment forever.”  You can read what she had to say here:

(http://www.harvard.edu/president/fossil-fuels).

            It didn’t take long for critics to start pick apart her arguments.  Here’s what Tim DeChristopher had to say in the Nation:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/176498/drew-faust-may-i-introduce-tim-dechristopher

            Then Climate Progress published “Harvard’s Four Reasons For Not Divesting From Fossil Fuels, And Why They’re All Wrong at:

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/10/04/2737031/harvard-four-reasons-divest/

            The movement to divest Harvard from entanglement in the fossil fuel/carbon bubble debacle-to-come is the culmination and flowering of the same ideals and commitments that President Faust declares to be at the center of Harvard’s mission as an institution of higher learning and research, something which also carries with itself a certain degree of heightened moral responsibility, which the University could exercise by divesting itself of its fossil fuel holdings sooner rather than later.

            All these issues are expected to be raised on the next episode of Etopia News, now scheduled for broadcast online at 12:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time on Monday, October 7^th.

            Guests scheduled to appear on the show include Kelsey Wirth, Steven Aldrich, Beth Newhall, and, possibly, Divest Harvard alumni wing liaison Akhil Mathew.

Pocket Review of “This Town” by Mark Leibovich

I enjoyed reading This Town by Mark Leibovich very much.  He amusingly paints a picture of a Washington, D.C., called “this town” by its denizens, inhabited by a coterie of self-seeking ego-maniacs interested in their own branding and completely disinterested in, and disdainful of, the plight of the people of the United States

In This Town, everyone important knows everyone else, and mostly they look out for each other, while hypocritically claiming to be serving the public good.  Colin Powell comes out looking OK, though, and so does Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee.

It’s entertaining and informative, and I highly recommend it.

Harvard Alumni for Divestment rally in the Yard/crowdsourcing divestment

            According to Divest Harvard via its Facebook page, “over 100” people attended the Harvard Alumni for Divestment rally this afternoon (Monday, September 16, 2013). 

            So far the only footage from today’s Harvard Alumni for Divestment rally in front of Massachusetts Hall in Harvard Yard is still footage, available online, here: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.441914865926125.1073741832.279651215485825&type=1

            Calls have arisen for public access to audio and video coverage of the day’s events, and for a text transcript of the presentations, a package of media that could be produced with funding from Kickstarter, if someone would just organize that connection.

            In fact, a continuing fund for the digital documentation of the divestment movement should garner even more support than one just committed to the production of content dealing solely with today’s Harvard Alumni for Divestment rally.

            Crowdsourced investment in divestment could underwrite a fund dedicated to the production of high-quality, multi-media materials dealing with divestment.

            A Divestment Investment Fund fueling a diverse and powerful movement for divestment.

Harvard reiterates its presumption against divestment

In an e-mail message sent to Etopia News today by the Harvard Public Affairs & Communications office, the University has reiterated its “strong presumption” against divestment of its fossil fuel holdings.

This as the University community prepared for a demonstration at 5:30 pm EDT this afternoon outside Massachusetts Hall in Harvard Yard by Harvard Alumni for Divestment calling upon the University to sell off its stocks and other negotiable financial instruments implicated in the oil, coal, and gas industries.

In an e-mail from Kevin Galvin, Harvard’s Director of Public Affairs and Communications, the University’s position is explicitly spelled out, as well as the justification for its stand:

“The University has traditionally maintained a strong presumption against divesting stock for reasons unrelated to investment purposes. Harvard is first and foremost an academic institution, and the endowment's primary purpose is to support the research and educational activities through which institutions of higher education make their distinctive contributions to society.”

Questions about the details of the University’s planned meeting with representatives of the alumni haven’t been forthcoming yet, but further efforts may avail.

Harvard Alumni for Divestment 9-16-13 Rally Preview