- As green issues become more prominent to Western electorates, you’d expect the notoriously liberal universities to be at the forefront of eco-friendly campaigns
Following last month’s report on MyUniSwap.com, Hullfire has found another way for students to boost their green credentials. People and Planet is a student network working from Britain to end national and international poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. The Hull branch of the society is currently focusing on the environment,and are running the ‘Go Green Campaign’. The aim of this particular project is to improve the University’s environmental performance, with the obvious consequence of the students becoming ’greener’ along with the University. The University of Hull is currently the worst environmental performer of all Yorkshire’s higher education establishments, which is a concern given the sheer size of our student population. People and Planet run a ‘Go Green League’, which lists each of its branches’ universities into a table, with points being awarded for environmental effectiveness. Hull lies in the third-class category of this league, one class away from a fail. Last year the society managed to gain 1,000 student signatures on a petition delivered to the Vice Chancellor, which asked for an environmental manager position to be created, as well as an environmental audit and policy to be put in place. The
petition also asked for support from the VC and senior management team. Since last year the University has introduced an environmental policy and its carbon emissions are lower than they have been. Unfortunately, however, the petition did not vastly improve recycling services, nor did it help Hull’s league performance. The society is keen to continue fighting to be heard, however, and can often be seen campaigning around campus. In February they run Go Green Week to try and alert more students to the existence and aims of People and Planet. ‘Shared Planet’ is the group’s large annual keynotespeaker conference which brings together representatives from across the country, to try and create solutions for the their initiatives. It is important for the organisation to be recognised by the University’s academic departments, as this may increase the pressure on senior management to support the cause. Students are encouraged to help themselves by organising recycling bins and boxes at their accommodation, but the society’s main aim for the year is to improve recycling facilities in and around the campus itself. This involves initiatives such as having recycling bins partnering every normal bin, introducing energy saving light bulbs and raising student awareness as to how simple and effective recycling is. Currently the organisation is boycotting RBS, Primark and Topshop in response to their support of non-renewable energy companies. They are not suggesting that everyone stop buying skinny ties and cardigans immediately, but instead to encourage people to know exactly who they are buying from and what consequence their purchase could have on others. The Hull People and Planet team concentrates on the environment, although by joining the group there are also opportunities to work against poverty and try to defend human rights. Frequently you can dip into conversations in Sanctuary about the ‘state of the world’, and how destructive our leaders are. People and Planet gives students the chance to act, and attempt to understand the real reasons behind human suffering. If you are interested in joining or simply want to understand more about the society’s initiatives, they can be found in the Student Activities Centre, and will be out in force in February during Go Green Week.
Steven Glansberg
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