Divestment Day Aims to Strengthen Global Reach of Fossil-Free Movement

"So far an estimated 200 institutions worldwide, with combined investment assets of more than $50 billion, have committed to divest."

"The fast-growing fossil fuel divestment movement is marshalling forces for this week's Global Divestment Day—an event organizers hope will strengthen the crusade's reach around the world and prove that it's 'a force to be reckoned with.'

Fossil Free, which has sister groups in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand,  said divestment day will feature a day-long series of actions on Feb. 13 in the U.S. (which will be Feb. 14 in some regions). So far, the schedule includes 326 events spread across six continents and 48 countries, including flash-mobs, street theater, elaborate props, sit-ins, vigils, dancing, a huge parade of bicycles, social media blitzes and more.

'There are going to be folks in a multitude of countries demanding action on the climate in the form of divestment,' said Jay Carmona, a California-based community divestment campaign manager with 350.org, a nonprofit group that sponsors the Fossil Free divestment campaign as well as other climate-related initiatives."

Elizabeth Douglass reports for InsideClimate News February 9, 2015.