We congratulate Dr Hartwig Fischer on his new role as director of the British Museum ( Profile, 1 April), and would like to take this early opportunity to raise an ethical issue of great concern to us all. As the impacts of climate change are being felt more forcefully around the world, it is vital that prominent public institutions like the British Museum play their part in minimising the environmental impacts of their activities.
BP’s sponsorship contract with the museum is coming to an end this year. While governments in
Paris
committed to transition away from fossil fuels, BP remains a barrier to progress. It is working to extract new sources of carbon-intensive oil from the tar sands, the Arctic and under the oceans, when we need to keep at least two thirds of known fossil fuels in the ground. BP’s business plan is incompatible with a stable climate, and the company is using its influence to lobby against effective climate policies.
Meanwhile, its operations are affecting lives and livelihoods across the world. The company was recently hit with the biggest criminal fine in US history for its gross negligence in causing the Deepwater Horizon spill.
To receive sponsorship from BP is to condone these business practices. Retaining such an unethical sponsor would seriously damage the British Museum’s reputation, and place it firmly on the wrong side of history. Indeed, Tate and BP have just parted company after 26 years, following intensifying protests and criticism. We urge Dr Fischer to follow Tate’s lead in not renewing this contract, and to seek funding from sources more in line with the museum’s values and what is needed to ensure a stable future.
Professor Anne GloverVice-principal external affairs, University of Aberdeen, former chief scientific adviser to the European Commission
Margaret AtwoodWriter
Mark RuffaloActor
Mark RylanceActor
Dr Jane Goodall DBEFounder the Jane Goodall Institute, and UN messenger of peace
Sir Tom KibbleEmeritus professor of physics, Imperial College London
Naomi KleinAuthor, activist and film-maker
Jeremy LeggettAuthor, solar entrepreneur and advocate
Richard HortonEditor-in-chief, The Lancet
Simon LewisProfessor of global change science at UCL
Emma ThompsonActor
Naomi OreskesProfessor of the history of science, Harvard
Mark GoldringChief executive, Oxfam GB
Dr Nick WinterbothamDirector, BTC & Museums and Resilient Leadership; chair, RNLI Heritage Board
Mark SerwotkaGeneral secretary, PCS union
Dame Vivienne WestwoodDesigner
Bianca JaggerFounder and president of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
Dr Chris BrierlyLecturer in climate modelling, UCL
Dr Philip WebberChair, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Richard SandellProfessor of museum studies, University of Leicester
Caryl ChurchillPlaywright
John McDonnell MPShadow chancellor
Judith KnightDirector, Artsadmin
Anthony RobertsDirector, Colchester Arts Centre
Sir Jonathon PorrittEnvironmentalist and writer
Dr Stephen WebsterDirector, Imperial College Science Communication Unit
Professor Hugh MontgomeryProfessor of Intensive Care Medicine; head of Centre for Human Health and Performance, UCL; Director of Research, Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health
Dr Stuart ParkinsonExecutive director, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Gail DaviesProfessor in human geography, Exeter
Caroline Lucas MP
Jenny JonesLondon Assembly member
Andrew StirlingProfessor of science and technology policy, University of Sussex
Julian SainsburyChair of the JJ Charitable Trust
Bill McKibbenAuthor, educator, environmentalist, and co-founder of 350.org
Julie Ward MEPMember of the European parliament’s culture and education committee
Miriam MargolyesActor
Pasco-Q KevlinDirector, Norwich Arts Centre
David WebbProfessor emeritus, Leeds Beckett University
Richard MurphyProfessor of practice in international political economy, City University
Robin InceComedian, broadcaster and writer
Anthony RobertsDirector, Colchester Arts Centre
Dr David McCoyDirector of Medact and director of global health teaching, Queen Mary’s University London
Gavin GrindonCurator of “Disobedient Objects” at the V&A and director of the Centre for Curatorial Studies, University of Essex
Alice SharpCurator and director, Invisible Dust
Sarah Butler-SlossChair of Ashden Trust
Senator Larissa WatersSenator for
Queensland
, Australian Greens deputy leaderSibylle PetersDirector, Theatre of Research/Fundus Theatre,
Hamburg
Ben TwistDirector, Creative Carbon ScotlandCJ MitchellDirector, Live Art Development AgencyPeter NewellProfessor of international relations, University of SussexAndrew SimmsAuthor and co-director, New Weather InstituteAntony PartosComposerJon AgarProfessor of science and technology studies, UCLJonathan OppenheimProfessor of quantum theory and Royal Society university research fellow, UCLLois KeidanDirector, Live Art Development AgencyLucy NealAuthor, Playing for Time, and happiness associate, Happy Museum ProjectClara PaillardPresident of PCS Culture SectorDavid BoyleCo-director, New Weather Institute and authorDr Alice BellScience writer and campaignerDr Andy FugardLecturer in educational psychology, UCLDr Chloe PreeceLecturer in marketing, Royal Holloway, University of London, School of ManagementDr Chris GarrardComposer and musicologistDr Jeremy SkipperExperimental psychologist, UCLDr Kate McMillanTeaching fellow in culture, media and creative industries, King’s College LondonDr Nigel WestlakeComposer and conductorEdward MortimerFormer UN director of communicationsGill LloydDirector, ArtsadminIndira NaidooAustralian TV broadcaster, author and environmentalistJane GreenfieldDirector, Home Live ArtJanna GrahamCuratorJen KavanaghCuratorJohn SauvenExecutive director, Greenpeace
UK
Mark SainsburyChairman, Mark Leonard TrustMichael Kieran HarveyPianistMieke BalCultural theorist and video artist,
Amsterdam
Rod DixonArtistic director, Red Ladder Theatre CoThea OrmerodPresident, Australian Religious Response to Climate ChangeTim HolloMusician, executive director of Green Music AustraliaTJ DemosCenter for Creative Ecologies, UC Santa CruzJess WorthArt Not Oil coalitionJohn ColleeNovelist and screenwriterWael HmaidanDirector, Climate Action Network InternationalDr Felicity MellorScience Communication Unit, Imperial College LondonCressida BrownArtistic director, Offstage TheatreBeth RiceProgressive Science InstituteBrett CottleCEO, Apra AmcosBridget McKenzieDirector, Flow AssociatesDr Paula SerafiniDoctor of social and cultural analysis, King’s College LondonDrew PearceProgressive Science InstituteBenjamin FrantaResearch fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School of GovernmentGeoffrey SupranPhD candidate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer
Source: Equities.com News
(April 3, 2016 - 3:31 AM EDT)
News by QuoteMedia
www.quotemedia.com
