A passionate group of students at the University of Bath took a stand against the presence of fossil fuel and arms companies at their Autumn Careers Fair, challenging the university’s partnerships with industries linked to climate change and warfare.
Starting on Monday, October 13, 26 members of the People & Planet Bath student group held up posters and handed out leaflets to raise awareness among their peers about the environmental and ethical controversies surrounding companies such as ExxonMobil, L3Harris, and GE Aerospace.
Their peaceful demonstration was soon met with opposition from event security, who first asked the students to stop distributing materials and later prevented them from remaining inside the careers fair, citing concerns that their presence was “intimidating” for recruiters.
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Undeterred, the activists relocated to the foyer of the building, continuing to engage with students and collecting signatures for a petition urging the university to sever ties with fossil fuel and arms firms. Organiser Sarah Hafner expressed the group’s frustration: “ExxonMobil bankrolls climate denial while the planet burns, yet our university continues to welcome them. We will not allow fossil fuel giants to greenwash their image on campus.”
Throughout the week-long fair, which concluded on October 17, the students reported close monitoring by security personnel, including Hafner being watched while holding a sign demanding an ethical careers policy. Some students were even asked to leave the event.
Despite restrictions, the protest gained significant support, with over 300 petition signatures collected and many students expressing interest in joining the campaign. This action aligns with the broader national Fossil Free Careers initiative spearheaded by People & Planet, which has succeeded in convincing 12 UK universities to exclude fossil fuel companies from recruitment events. Additionally, 23 student unions representing more than 568,000 students have pledged to boycott recruiters from oil, gas, and mining sectors.
Backed by the National Union of Students and endorsed by the University and College Union at its national congress, the movement calls on universities to foster careers opportunities that do not come at the expense of the planet or peace.
Supporters are encouraged to sign the petition and follow updates on Instagram at @peopleandplanetbath.