Oxford, Saturday 7th March, 11.45am-1pm: Oxford Climate Choir, part of the wider Climate Choir Movement, will be singing a rousing rendition of “We’re Gonna Switch Our Bank” outside several City Centre bank branches. The performance aims to encourage bank customers and passers-by switch to banks with more ethical and environmentally friendly policies.
Founded in 2022, the growing Climate Choir Movement is comprised of 900 singers in different choirs across the UK – Ballycastle, Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Derbyshire, Exeter, Forest of Dean, Guildford, Hay-on-Wye, London, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Wyre Forest – and in Kenya and Zimbabwe. It uses musical performance to highlight the climate crisis.
The action on Saturday is a collaboration with the banking campaign ‘SWITCHED’ – a youth-led climate campaign that encourages people to switch their bank accounts from banks that fund climate-harming industries to those that prioritise sustainability and ethical practices.
SWITCH, supported by other local climate groups, comes in response to growing concerns about the role of financial institutions in supporting industries that contribute to climate change. SWITCHED’s mission is to empower people to make a difference by moving their money away from banks with harmful environmental practices to those supporting climate-positive investments.
The song being performed is a catchy and upbeat anthem inspired by the Netflix hit film KPop Demon Hunters. Jo Gill, Musical Director of Oxford Climate Choir, explained –
“It is a grim reality that many of our banks continue to invest in fossil fuels, while the planet overheats. We’re singing this song to highlight how everyone can make a difference by switching to a more responsible bank or building society.”
Gemma Fox-Worthington, founder of SWITCHED, added –
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the Climate Choir Movement on this powerful initiative. By switching banks, we can take a direct stand against institutions that fund harmful industries and demand more responsible financial practices.”
For more information contact:
OXFORD CLIMATE CHOIR: Jo Gill, 07969 246003 / oxford@climatechoirmovement.org
SWITCHED: teamswitchedcampaign@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA #ClimateChoirs #switched @climatechoirs @switched_campaign
www.climatechoirmovement.org
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