Over the weekend I realized that the week of global climate action has started. Frantically I looked up 350.org for local Seattle events, and was surprised to see no mass rally planned for the weekend. Perhaps it was the Seahawks game midday Sunday that dissuaded organizers? I don’t know. But I was glad to learn that Seattle offered a unique action opportunity on Monday Nov. 30.
The Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities and nowadays the most well-known one, is headquartered right here in the Gates’ hometown. The Foundation has done a lot of good deeds, but its policy of separating the “strictly financial” aspect of investing its funds, from its humanitarian work, has long attracted the fire of activists and organizations. After all, what’s the value of, e.g., delivering aid to a tribe devastated by deforestation, when your funds might be heavily invested in a company engaged in deforestation?
In particular, there has been a campaign spearheaded by 350.org and The Guardian newspaper, calling upon the Gates Foundation and the British health charity Wellcome Trust, to divest their funds from fossil fuel companies. Earlier this year Bill Gates rejected divestment, claiming it would have “little impact” (Ya…. Right….), even as he announced a $2B investment in renewable energy.
Seattleites being no strangers to environmental and climate action, it was only a matter of time before Gates’ intransigence would be met with local pressure. Since September there have been regular vigils in front of the foundation HQ. Former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, among the organizers, quipped about the Foundation’s policy:
You can’t drive by hitting the brake and accelerator at the same time.
And Monday, a press conference was called at First United Methodist Church near Seattle Center, ~1km from the Gates HQ, followed by hand-delivery of the divestment petition.
I work not too far from there, and it was scheduled for lunch time — so I just walked over. The conference was well-organized, headlined by McGinn and veteran City Council member Nick Licata (celebrity City Council Member Kshama Sawant was supposed to come as well, but sent a staffer instead).
Other prominent speakers were
Jill Mangaliman, Executive Director of Got Green? — a local group combining environmentalism and social justice.
Dr Bruce Amundson, President of WA Physicians for Social Responsibility.
The host, Reverend Jenny Phillips, Founder of Fossil Free United Methodist Church.
There were several other speakers, and then the press asked questions, with McGinn and Mangaliman providing most of the answers. During the press conference, I learned that despite Gates’ bluster, the Foundation has quietly gotten rid of 2/3 of its fossil investments this past fiscal year. But we still need the symbolism of formal divestment. I beg to differ from Mr. Gates, these steps do cause a huge economic echo, even a snowball effect.
The three leaders listed above were also the ones who actually led the walk, entered into the Foundation HQ and delivered the petition, while we waited just outside the Foundation’s property.
When they returned, they thanked us for accompanying them.
Furthest right, Dr. Amundson, and next to him Ms. Mangaliman and Reverend Phillips.I liked this action, because it wasn’t just a rally venting into an echo chamber in the city square. Rallies can also be ok, but with global warming there’s so many tangible steps we can take. I was fortunate to be able to participate in this activity.
I was also encouraged by the diversity of speakers and organizers. The press conference was very confidently M.C.-ed by Sarra Tekola, young firebrand organizer and environmental researcher. Speakers ranged from a similarly young female labor leader, to a classic middle-aged male finance expert, who explained in Texas drawl why the Gates’ divestment would make perfect financial sense for the Foundation. Participants and speakers were of all ages and ethnicities, despite the rather restrictive time and place.
Yes. We. Can.