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Sign the petition and call for a University Ethical Investment Policy

Take the survey to tell the Uni your views

Join the email list

Take more action!

Join the University campaign facebook group

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Latest News...

04/02/10

Amnesty's Shell Hell day highlights university investment in human rights abuses in Nigeria.

18/11/09

SRI Day of Action sees flashmob protest make the front cover of TCS & coverage in Varsity

20/07/09

University publishes new Statement of Investment Responsibility - some improvement, but not nearly as much as is needed!

14/04/09

In response to student pressure the University agrees to re-draft its position on Ethical Investment

16/02/09

Hundreds of students demonstrate for a University Socially Responsible Investment Policy

20/01/09

Experts discuss SRI in a panel discussion at the Cambridge Union

26/10/08

CUSU Council votes to call the University to implement an Ethical Investment Policy

Cut Crime Out of Our Investments

The University Ethical Investment Campaign

It would not be tolerated if Cambridge University publicly endorsed companies which violate International human rights law or damage the University's educational mission. It should not be tolerated that the University can financially support these companies through its investments. The University needs an investment policy that reflects its commitment to human rights, education, and sustainability.

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"Put Our Money Where Your Mouth Is"

In response to student pressure over the past year the University agreed to rewrite their policy on Socially Responsible Investment. This was a great victory for student campaigning! Unfortunately, the new Statement of Investment Responsibility (found here) fails to commit to a binding ethical investment policy. The positives are that there is now statutory student attendance at the Exec Committee's investment review meetings, and there is now a clear channel for complaints (through the University Registrary, Jonathan Nicholls). However, whilst the statement highlights the University's "core values" of "freedom of thought and expression and freedom from discrimination, as well as concern for environmental sustainability", it fails to mandate these values to be put into action.
We are saying to the University: "Put Our Money Where Your Mouth is" and implement an investment policy which shows the core values are more than just fine words.

Take action!

CUSU Ethical Investment are running a huge campaign to get the University to implement an Ethical Investment policy.

  • Poster - put our money where your mouth isGo here to find out more about the campaign.
  • Join the email list.
  • Read news articles about the campaign
  • Sign a petition calling for a University Ethical Investment policy.
  • Fill in a postcard to Jonathan Nicholls, and encourage friends to do so too (contact the ethical investment officer for postcards)
  • Fill in a survey to tell the University your views on ethical investment.
  • Join the campaign facebook group.
  • Put up a poster
  • Get in touch to find out how you can get more involved - contact ethicalinvestment@cusu (.cam.ac.uk)

CUSU's current policy on SRI is available here

Download the full-length campaign policy proposal and background paper here.

College Campaigns

All the colleges have separate investments and investment policies and most colleges do not have an ethical investment policy. Go to the College Campaigns page for more information. We can help you with:

  • Up to date information about your colleges investments and investment policy from December 2008 here
  • Our guide to ethical investment campaigning
  • Giving you advise on how to campaign and the issues surrounding ethical investment
  • Coming to meet with college authorities with you
  • We'll help you campaign on (almost!) any ethical investment issue you want

Other CUSU supported campaigns

The Arms Trade

Cambridge Students Against The Arms Trade have been campaigning since 2005 to persuade colleges to adopt ethical investment policies which exclude arms companies. Campaign activities have included a debate at the Cambridge Union, a banner-drop, stalls, petition-gathering and a mass demonstration on February 10th 2007 which involved over 250 students. Campaign successes include Pembroke's decision to sell its shares in arms companies. If you wish to find out more about CAAT's campaign or get involved, please visit their website.

Sudan Divestment

Sudan Divestment UK have launched campaigns for colleges to disinvest from specific companies which have dealings with the Sudanese government but no tangible benefits to the Sudanese population at large, and are therefore complicit in the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Campaign successes so far include agreement from New Hall and St.Catz to divest from Sudan. To find out more, visit the website.

Contact us

Sarah Borwick, Soniya Ganvir, Dave Jefferies and Elly Robson are the CUSU Ethical Investment officers. Contact them at ethicalinvestment@cusu.cam.ac.uk