After months of preparation, the Global Divestment Mobilisation launched last Friday with at least 39 events planned across 20 countries just on that Friday alone – and in just 4 days, over a hundred people across Africa demanded institutions to divest their endowments from fossil fuels companies most responsible for causing climate change.
Here is a sneak peek of what happened since #GDMAfrica2017 started:
Egypt
A marathon organised in Egypt raised awareness about climate change.
that’s our move from #Egypt to divest #fossilfuels,#GreenEnergy to invest in #fossilfree future, #GDMAfrica2017 pic.twitter.com/pWbY6MpMAK
— Asmaa Hanafi (@AsmaaHanafi1) May 6, 2017
Ghana
Meanwhile in Ghana, a march took place to demonstrate the resolve of local Ghanaians against the fossil fuel industry which is causing severe climate impacts to their lives and livelihoods.
Nigeria
350Nigeria hosted a seminar to call for an end to Shell’s exploitation of its oil and people.
“Divestment is the only pathway to a cleaner future.” Says Nigerian youth @350Nigeria @350Africa @350 #fossilfree #GDMAfrica2017 pic.twitter.com/C478g9yoOk
— princepapa (@princepapa1) May 6, 2017
Our friends @350Nigeria with a very Clear message : Divestment for a cleaner economic growth #FossilFree @350Africa @350 #GDMArica2017 pic.twitter.com/5Zw8GWFvxM
— princepapa (@princepapa1) May 6, 2017
Days of financing Fossil Fuels in Nigeria are numbered! @350Nigeria are demanding a #fossilfree Nigeria @350 @350Africa #GDMAfrica2017 pic.twitter.com/J4SQX8tI0X
— princepapa (@princepapa1) May 6, 2017
Chad
Civil society organisations organised a workshop focused on impacts of oil industry on agriculture in South Chad.
In South Africa
The fossil fuel divestment movement in South Africa is pushing one clear message: it is time to end the age of fossil fuels — because that’s what it really means to solve the climate crisis.
- The Global Divestment Mobilisation in South Africa kicked off with a light display spelling out divestment messages near filling stations in the Sun Valley area.
- Students and staff at Stellenbosch University seized this opportunity to start conversations about divestment across campus.
- Save Our Wilderness, under the #GDMAfrica2017 banner, mobilised outside Petmin, a mining company proposing coal mine expansion in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
It gets better. Divest from dirty coal now #FossilFree #PhansiPetmin #YestoLifeNotoMining #coal @dmr pic.twitter.com/IDdb7zUjcO
— Save our Wilderness (@saveiMfolozi) May 8, 2017
No to Petmin profits before people #FossilFree #PhansiPetmin #YestoLifeNotoMining #coal pic.twitter.com/gpCuRUYk7v
— Save our Wilderness (@saveiMfolozi) May 8, 2017
This was just the beginning. More events are set to take place in the next 5 days; check out the live coverage website where we’ll be featuring all the remaining divestment actions from across Africa and around the world – and join the conversation on social media using #GDMAfrica2017 #fossilfree.
Together, we can convince our institutions to lead by example and stop profiting from the industry wrecking our chances of a safe, healthy future.
The planet is heating up, so is resistance against climate inaction. With enough of us on board – and working together – we know we can convince institutional investors to divest and create the watershed moment needed for climate action.
This is a battle we must win, and together we will!