Climate activists from End Fossil: Occupy came to the hall of Utrecht University’s Minnaert building on Monday morning. They will hold workshops there and demand that universities cut all ties with the fossil industry.
The international Scientist Rebellion movement is taking action in more than 25 countries under the slogan ‘The Science is Clear’. This will also take place in Delft, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Wageningen and Velp in the coming days, says a press release.
Workshops will be held, without disrupting lectures is the promise. Furthermore, Scientist Rebellion has launched a petition on mandatory climate education for all students. OccupyEUR wants to occupy a building at Erasmus University on Tuesday.
Music
The week of protest began last Sunday in Amsterdam, when over a hundred academics and musicians demonstrated together for a fairer climate policy. The ‘Science and Music Climate March’ ran from Dam Square past the Trippenhuis of science society KNAW and ended at the NEMO Science Museum.
Protesting scientists and classical musicians go well together, believes oboist Anna Marieke Zijlstra, a member of XR-musicians. “Both groups are not known for their activism. By taking to the streets together, we want to emphasise how serious the climate situation is.”
In the past six months, buildings at Erasmus University, TU Eindhoven and the University of Amsterdam have already been occupied. VU Amsterdam announced in April that it no longer wants to cooperate with fossil fuel companies that do not comply with the Climate Agreement. According to action group Scientist Rebellion, the VU is the second university in the world to have decided to do so.
