We, the undersigned, applaud the student coordinators of One World Week for their effort and their efficiency, and for bringing colour and excitement to campus.

There are, however, several aspects of this year’s event that need criticism.

Firstly, and most importantly, the original speakers list for the One World Week Forum comprised of nineteen speakers, nineteen of them male. Whilst we appreciate the difficulty that the organisers may have had in finding available female speakers, a festival that purports to celebrate the whole world should not be ignoring half.

We question whether Credit Suisse, a company with an astonishing recent record of money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, and alleged involvement in ignoring economic sanctions against Iran and in South Africa, is really the most suitable sponsor for a week of harmony and peace.

Whilst we applaud the motive behind the project - the celebration of culture from around the world - we are concerned as to why the forum ignores some of the most pressing problems that beset humanity; there is little discussion of poverty, inequality, war or disease, and little representation from outside the U.K. corporate elite.

It is a shame that the world’s largest international student-run event has decided to represent only One World, when there are many others far more deserving of our attention.

ONE WORLD WEEK – CLEANER SPONSORSHIP AND MORE DIVERSITY.