Extinction Rebellion Cambridge and Extinction Rebellion Youth Cambridge occupied two University of Cambridge buildings today in a continuation of their "Schlumberger Out" campaign, calling on the University to cut ties with oilfield services giant Schlumberger.
Early this morning, a group of protesters climbed to a balcony on the Department of Engineering, attaching a banner with the message "University of Cambridge: Funded by fossil fuels", and letting off a smoke flare to draw attention to their action. Later in the morning, another group staged a family-friendly occupation in the foyer of the Department of Chemical Engineering, a stone's throw from Schlumberger's research facility on the University's West Cambridge Site. Protesters inside displayed dinosaur banners and held art activities, while others stood outside to highlight the occupation taking place inside the building.
The Departments of Engineering and Chemical Engineering both count Schlumberger among their "industry partners". Research conducted in partnership with Schlumberger at both departments often directly contributes to the development of new oil and gas technology - for example, experiments involving a Schlumberger drilling fluid at the Department of Chemical Engineering, and a Department of Engineering project investigating solutions for vibration damage to drillstrings.
Schlumberger – which has recently rebranded itself "SLB" – is the world's largest oilfield services company; providing technology and infrastructure for oil and gas extraction, including many destructive and carbon-intensive methods. With operations in more than 120 countries, Schlumberger has enabled some of the worst instances of environmental and social harm by the fossil fuel industry. In the Niger Delta, Schlumberger helped Shell to drill the first commercial oil well, and continues to assist companies which are seriously negligent in preventing and reporting oil spills. The deadly oil pollution in the region is cutting short the lives of local people, who have a life expectancy of just 41 years old.
Amelia Halls, 24, a postgraduate student who took part in the banner drop at the Department of Engineering, said: "When ordinary people are having to choose between heating their homes or eating, when fuel and food prices are rising, the University of Cambridge continues accepting money from, and facilitating research into, fossil fuels. As a leading educational institution, the University should be prioritising the health and wellbeing of its students, of humanity, and of the planet. Instead, it is content to line its pockets with money from companies that care more about profits than lives. We will not let this continue."
Ben, who took part in the occupation at the Department of Chemical Engineering, said: "The University of Cambridge's own scientists have produced copious evidence showing that global heating must be kept below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to safeguard the future of life on Earth. Yet the University continues to work hand in glove with companies like Schlumberger, researching new ways to extract every last drop of oil and gas. We're into the second year of our Schumberger Out campaign now and we'll continue stepping up our action for as long as it takes for the University to finally end its destructive relationship with the fossil fuel industry. We say to the University of Cambridge: do the right thing before it's too late. To Schlumberger, we say: it's time to repair the immense harm you have caused to our planet and to the communities devastated by your extractive technologies."