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To: Investments Division

Divest West Midlands Pension Fund From Fossil Fuels

We want West Midlands Pension Fund to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil fuel companies, and divest from direct ownership and any commingled funds that include fossil fuel, public equities, and corporate bonds within 5 years.
(For example, their current holdings in Exxon Mobil, BP, BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Peabody Energy).

Why is this important?

Climate change is already causing massive destruction around the world. For the sake of all of our futures, we need to move away from fossil fuels and begin the transition to a clean and just energy economy, now.

Many of the fossil fuel companies that West Midlands Pension Fund invests in have a poor environmental record, including ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, spilled 11 million gallons of oil off the coast of Alaska and plans to drill in the Russian Arctic with Rosneft. BP, another West Midlands Pension Fund investment, was responsible for the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico.

Fossil fuel companies are also highly overvalued due to the assumption that all of their reserves will be burnt. But as policy catches up to climate realities, this overvaluation means there’s a multi-trillion dollar “carbon bubble” that’s poised to burst. This will greatly effect the value of our pensions if West Midlands continues to invest in fossil fuels.

We know that 80% of current fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground to prevent runaway climate change. We must act now!

West Midlands

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Campaign Facebook Page Campaign Website Fossil Free UK - Local Government

Updates

2015-11-11 05:12:44 -0500

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 9th December at 6.30pm. Meeting @ The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth , Birmingham, B5 5TH. We are going to plan our next steps. You are most welcome to attend.
There are three showings of Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes Everything’ coming up locally:
• Stourbridge- this Saturday 14th November – Hosted by ‘Stourbridge Transition’ details can be found on their website; http://transitionstourbridge.co.uk/2015/10/29/film-this-changes-everything-saturday-14th-november/
• Birmingham-Thursday 10th December - BFoE are promoting this Just Film Co-op's screening of This Changes Everything. It's taking place at the Birmingham Midland Institute ( http://www.bmi.org.uk/ ) between 18:30-21:00. Tickets are £5.
• Bilston - Details T.B.C I will forward these once available

2015-10-20 18:49:36 -0400

We are meeting as Divest WMPF next week.I hope you are able to attend on such short notice.
The meeting will be on Thursday 29th October pm @
The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth, Birmingham,
B5 5TH.
Time to be confirmed.
A meeting to arrange a local event on 28th November arising from the 'Power Through Paris' Workshop is also happening there either before or after us.You are welcome to attend this if you are interested in helping organising the event

2015-10-14 18:04:45 -0400

Thankyou to Birmingham FOE for this brilliant action on reclaim the power.A funeral for fossil fuels- in support or our Divest WMPF campaign see link for write up; http://www.birminghamfoe.org.uk/news-events/news/campaigners-hold-funeral-for-fossil-fuel-investments/
https://www.facebook.com/DivestWMPF/photos/pcb.546487155498434/546486262165190/?type=3&theater

2015-10-06 12:16:13 -0400

You may be interested in this;We will think about how our divestment campaign can build momentum.
Sign up for;
Power Through Paris Workshop
Event signup link:
http://act.350.org/…/power-through-paris-workshops_at…/11162
Sunday, October 11, 1:30 PM
Bilston Town Hall
The Town Hall, Church Street, Bilston,, Wolverhampton, WV14 0AT, United Kingdom

Event Description
The workshop will help us build energy, learn how movements build momentum, and lay out 350’s plans of “Power Through Paris”—including how we’re planning now to escalate after the Paris climate talks, regardless of their outcome.
It will also be a chance for local groups concerned with climate change to network and build together.

2015-10-03 16:03:00 -0400

Hi we recieved a reply from WMPF- nothing new, we have got a fight on our hands to persuade them! Will post next meeting once date set.

2015-09-25 10:14:19 -0400

To see the letter we delivered go to www.facebook.com/DivestWMPF .
It is in three parts -you'll have to scroll the timeline but part1 is pinned to the top!
Enjoy
Kay

2015-09-25 09:51:06 -0400

Letters delivered -we await their response!
See photo ; https://www.facebook.com/DivestWMPF/photos/a.528458980634585.1073741827.528455247301625/540894269391056/?type=3
Campaign officially launched as part of
Go Fossil Free
see; http://gofossilfree.org/uk/pensions/

2015-09-25 02:55:22 -0400

100 signatures reached

2015-09-22 04:48:42 -0400

Action: This Friday 25th September, Wolverhampton Council House, 12 midday-12.30~
Letter delivery to WMPF calling on them to divest - official launch of campaign. Coinciding with a national data release from 350.org.
Be great to see you there

2015-09-16 18:55:24 -0400

We are on Twitter too now @Divest WMPF -follow to keep in touch

2015-09-16 18:53:07 -0400

Action: Friday 25th September, Wolverhampton Council House, around 12 midday ( time to be confirmed).
Letter delivery to WMPF calling on them to divest - official launch of campaign. Coinciding with a national data release from 350.org.
Be great to see you there.

2015-09-04 17:07:48 -0400

Meeting Tuesday 8th September,5.30pm @ The Sunflower Lounge , 76 SMALLBROOK QUEENSWAY ,BIRMINGHAM , B5 4EG.
Contact me if you can attend or if you have any ideas/ questions to be raised.

2015-09-01 07:00:32 -0400

50 signatures reached

2015-08-26 16:50:42 -0400

Hi I've set up a facebook page now to promote the campaign; Divest WMPF. Looking for people who want to be more actively involved/ have ideas to share. Going to relaunch campaign to coincide with public launch of 350.org online tool to enable people to check how much money their pension funds have invested in Fossil Fuels. Delivering open letter to the chair of the WMPF investments commitee asking them to come on board with the move to divest the £190 million + currrently invested in coal oil and gas.

2015-04-17 09:27:05 -0400

25 signatures reached