Students Engaging Tomorrow traveled to San Francisco to attend the Divestment Convergence at San Francisco State University. This convergence was the second (ever) national conference bringing together groups striving for divestment from fossil fuels at their universities. The campaign is fairly new and there are only two handfuls of schools that have successfully divested. This convergence was a successful way to create strong connections between schools in order to make each campaign stronger.
Not only did the convergence focus on why we should divest and how we can do that successfully, but it also focused on ways to view and address climate change as a whole. Here are three large takeaways from the convergence:
1. Essentially, divestment from fossil fuels does not only affect students here at OSU, it affects everyone who lives on this planet. Divestment is not only an environmental justice issue but also a social justice issue. The speakers at the convergence urged us to realize that climate change is an all-encompassing issue that affects everyone from people in developed countries to undeveloped countries.
2. There was an urge to see divestment as a puzzle piece in this large picture that forms sustainability. We need to do everything we can to achieve sustainability and divestment is not the only piece needed.
3. We need to make strong connections and gain a greater respect for others in order to achieve these goals.
I am a firm believer in sustainability, but this convergence really gave me a stronger vision of what sustainability might realistically look like in the future pertaining to divestment and other issues. The convergence inspired a sense of urgency and thoughtful action in order to further our pursuit of sustainable living.
– Lexa McAllister
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