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ISSUE 829 NOVEMBER 27 2006
CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
C H N E Q U M> Y D D .C O .G A IR R H 6 QUENCH > NOV 27 200 6 V O L 4 .4
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ARE YOU LISTENING? Helen Thompson News Editor THE VICE Chancellor will be confronted with a petition signed by thousands of students demanding a greener University this week. In a fortnight of campaigning, Cardiff’s People and Planet group have been drawing attention to the University’s poor environmental record and asking Cardiff to be the first Welsh university to sign up to a
Go Green strategy immediately. The group intend to present 2,000 signatures to Vice Chancellor Dr David Grant, who is believed to own several large, gas-guzzling cars, in order to persuade him to instigate more eco-friendly measures. People and Planet (P&P) is a nationwide network of student groups that campaign on issues related to world poverty, human rights and the environment. Of 60 universities reviewed by the organisation in 2005, only two had
fewer environmental provisions than Cardiff. The impact of universities on the environment is huge, with the UK higher education sector emitting three million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. To reduce this impact, the Go Green campaign began in 2004. Since then, 30 universities have signed up to the Go Green strategy, leaving Cardiff lagging behind. Cardiff University P&P are asking for four key points to be addressed. They require: the support of the Vice
Chancellor; the introduction of a fulltime environmental manager; an environmental audit to review the University’s performance; and clear targets set out in a publicly available environmental policy. These are the factors common to universities that have a high environmental performance, such as Oxford Brookes and Sheffield. If their requests are ignored, P&P intend to hold demonstrations and put pressure on the University through the media and .local council.
PHOTO: JAMES PEROU
Students challenge Vice Chancellor to make major environmental changes
John Cowie, president of Cardiff P&P, said: “There is no reason for the Vice Chancellor to refuse to go green. It will save the University money by cutting energy and resource costs.” Sarah Emmerson, a Language and Communications student and member of People and Planet, said: “This is not just an environmental issue, it is a moral one. Climate change will affect us all, especially those in the third world.” Emma Hughes, a Journalism PHD Continued on Page 4