The Alberta tar sands is an oil operation in Canada which is the most destructive industrial project on the planet and violates human and indigenous rights every day. Unknowingly institutions and individuals can be supporting and funding the tar sands activities. For instance, most banks fund tar sands projects, apart from the Co-Operative Bank, which is a good incentive to switch. From 2007-2009, to companies that have an ownership stake in existing tar sands projects and projects under development or own, operate or are developing pipelines primarily being used to transport tar sands products, HSBC gave over 600 million in loans and over 8 billion in corporate debt underwriting. The University banks with HSBC, one of the major funders of the tar sands, we have approached them on the idea of switching banks and they were very prompt in response until they found out why we wanted to speak to someone and then ignored further emails from us, and told us that 'The University does not currently have any plans to change its bankers'. We think this at least deserves an explanation, sign the petition to make our voices heard with the University authorities!

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