Demonstrators staged a protest against waste management firm Veolia at Science Oxford Live! on Saturday.
Members of the Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Oxford University's PalSoc group and Oxford's Women in Black picked the St Clements Street venue. The campaigners were angry that Veolia was sponsoring the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at Science Oxford Live!
The French multi-national has been criticized for its involvement in the Jerusalem Light Rail, which stretches into occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements considered illegal by the international community. The tramway was declared illegal by the UN Human Rights Council in 2010.
Demonstrator Jane Alexander said: “We think the photographs are wonderful, but they should not be associated with the oppression of the Palestinians through the Veolia connection.”
An Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign spokesperson said the group has asked Science Oxford Live! staff to display a poster detailing the firm's involvement in the Middle East, which had been refused
Becky Worth, from PalSoc, said: “Veolia support and profit from violations of international law. It’s important to get the word out about issues like this, because otherwise everyone assumes that a company is ok when in fact they’re incredibly unethical and we shouldn’t have anything to do with them.”
But Dr Ian Griffin, chief executive of Science Oxford Live! said: “We think this is a fantastic exhibition, it is the third year that we have had it here in Oxford and I think that it is really important, especially for young people, to be able to come and see it.
"We rent the exhibition from the Natural History Museum and any sponsorship arrangements are outside of our control. We receive no benefits from any sponsorship of the exhibition. While we respect the rights of the demonstrators to voice their opinions, we are not qualified to comment on Veolia’s position.”
Veolia were contacted by the Oxfordshire Guardian regarding this story, but could not supply a comment.
