Support a windfall tax for social and environmental justice

Added on 11/08/2008

NUS President Wes Streeting, and other leaders from across the progressive community, civil society and from all corners of the UK, have joined forces to urge bill payers in the UK to get behind a campaign for a windfall tax on the energy and oil companies. A statement, co-ordinated by Compass, appeared in the guardian to promote this campaign.

Wes Streeting, NUS President said:“Rising energy and fuel prices are affecting everyone but it's the poorest and those on fixed incomes who are paying the heaviest price. Students will be particularly affected by this as the new academic year begins. The warm summer weather will not mask the anxiety and anger at dramatically rising bills for the essentials of life - light and heat.”

Progressive celebrities, academics, writers, journalists, campaigners, trade unionists and politicians are backing a sensible one-off windfall tax because they believe it's the right thing to do in order to deliver social and environmental justice for all. Despite billions made in profits, the energy industry spends just £50 million a year combating fuel poverty and has only agreed to raise this to £150 million a year by 2010. But every 10 per cent increase in energy prices mean an extra 400,000 people go into fuel poverty.

Signatories include Lord Hattersley, Lord Richard Rogers, Tony Woodley (Unite), Billy Hayes (CWU), Dave Prentis (UNISON), Mark Serwotka (PCS), Neal Lawson, (Compass), Friends of the Earth, Kate Green (CPAG), Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Tony Juniper, and more than 30 Labour MPs.

Take action now

We urge you and your students to add your voice to this growing campaign and to support a windfall tax for social and environmental justice by signing up online.

Passionate about climate change?

Added on 14/07/2008

NUS is looking for a handful of officers who have a interest in environmental policy and practice to participate in a exciting round table discussion with Baroness Morgan on Wednesday 23 July. This is an opportunity to give direction to the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills on how it can support students to take action to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. NEC members Susan Nash and Elizabeth Somerville will lead the round table discussion but would like to invite student officers with a particular responsibility/mandate to attend and enrich the discussion.

We are looking for officers whose role it is to campaign or implement ethical and environmental changes in their union, however we will consider applications from those who demonstrate a strong knowledge and leadership in broader campaigns on climate change issues.

Given the short turnaround time needed please send no more than 200 words about the role of students in helping to lead the way on meeting the challenge of climate change to jean.mclean@nus.org.uk. Attendees would need to be available from 3:00pm-8:00pm, and DIUS will cover all expenses. Applications will close on Wednesday 16 July and we will inform the successful applicants on Friday 18 July.

George Bush is coming to London

Added on 06/06/2008

George Bush is coming to London and, to coincide with that, a demonstration is taking place in London on 15 June. NUS wants to make the Stop the War demonstration on 15 June a rallying point for all those opposed to the ongoing wars that have marked Bush’s time in the White House.

Join NUS and the Stop the War Coalition as we demonstrate for an end to Bush's war policies. Bring your students’ union banners, student societies and friends.

Date 15 June

Location London

Further details to be confirmed

Downloads

Black and white leaflet

Colour leaflet

The way forward for Society and Citizenship

Added on 28/05/2008

We’ve had some great successes over the past year but what does the future hold for NUS' Society and Citizenship campaign? We’ve put together a document outlining the future aims of NUS in the coming year. You can view it here.

Could your students be greener?

Added on 02/05/2008

In April 2007 NUS Services, the commercial arm of NUS, was awarded Carbon Trust funding to run an energy efficiency project in students’ unions. Called the Carbon Academy, the project seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of the students’ union movement by 4 per cent per year - equivalent to 4,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Greening your students’ union
To find out more about how the project could help you green your students’ union please visit the dedicated project pages at www.nussl.co.uk.

Making your students greener
To find out more about how you can take action to reduce your own carbon footprint please visit the following sites.
Energy Saving Trust
Every Action Counts
The government's environment and living page
People and Planet