The Winner Is…

Hosting and elaborate awards ceremony outside the Royal Bank of Scotland offices, students chose an innovative way to protest against climate change last Wednesday.

Dressed up in evening gowns and tuxedos, the 50 students from campaigning group People and Planet faked an Oscars style ceremony in which they awarded the 2008 Greenwash Award to RBS for funding coal companies and exploration projects with £16 billion over the last two years. Runners-up included E.On, BP and Shell. The winner’s golden statue and giant check were then accepted by UMSU Communications Officer Robbie Gillett, moonlighting as a fake RBS representative, who delivered a proud and moving speech.

Manchester Metropolitan student Abigail Dilliway, 21, said: “I have chosen to take part in this action because I believe that RBS have committed a greenwash atrocity. They have chosen to only celebrate their investment in renewables whilst failing to comprehend their investment in fossil fuels and thus the devastating environmental implications of their actions.”