https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-heated-oxford-education-11580680180
Students protested, wanting Oxford University to immediately divest its holdings in oil companies, due to global warming.
The students want the college to sell the more than $10 million of its endowment now invested in Shell and BP, and they want it now.
....
Bursar Andrew Parker made them a counteroffer. “I am not able to arrange any divestment at short notice,” he wrote. “But I can arrange for the gas central heating in college to be switched off with immediate effect. Please let me know if you support this proposal.”
Students accused him of being flippant:
“it’s January and it would be borderline dangerous to shut off the central heating.” Another suggested Mr. Parker was being provocative.
...the bursar responded with wisdom: “You are right that I am being provocative but I am provoking some clear thinking, I hope. It is all too easy to request others to do things that carry no personal cost to yourself. The question is whether you and others are prepared to make personal sacrifices to achieve the goals of environmental improvement (which I support as a goal).”
What a spot-on reply from the bursar (whatever that is).
