Ever wondered what your pension gets up to when you’re not looking?
Meet Oblivia Coalmine 🔥#FrackingHell pic.twitter.com/okqxpaI8Yo
— Make My Money Matter (@MMMoneyMatter) November 28, 2023
I speak with feeling, two years ago I moved my money into a Fossil Fuel Free run by Legal & General.
It was a risk then and it is a risk now, but I am glad I took the plunge when I did.
If you are not in the Legal & General workplace pension that offers this fund, you can access it via Pension Bee.
We have choices and those who choose to stay invested in fossil fuels must be clear about why. It is not the kind of investment that thinking people can sit on the fence about.
Other opinions are available
The blurb
Renowned actress Olivia Colman, lauded for her versatile performances, steps into a new role with a critical message for society in an environmentally-focused advertisement. She transforms into a cunning oil executive, ‘Oblivia Coalmine,’ a character devised to represent the damaging influence of the oil industry on our environment. Dressed in starkly contrasting latex attire, Colman delivers a powerful performance designed to incite critical thought and provoke action against climate change.
‘Oblivia Coalmine’ and the Hidden Ties to Fossil Fuels
In this unique eco-advertisement, Colman’s character, Oblivia Coalmine, serves as a metaphor for the fossil fuel industry’s damaging environmental impact. The narrative of the advert aims to expose the hidden ties between pension funds and the fossil fuel industry. An alarming £88 billion of UK pension money, it claims, is currently invested in oil and gas companies. This revelation is part of a larger initiative by the group Make My Money Matter, urging individuals to demand their pension schemes divest from fossil fuel projects.
Colman’s Stance on the Issue
Olivia Colman lends her voice to the campaign, stating, ‘Fracking hell, Oblivia Coalmine really is a nasty piece of work. But the scariest thing about her is that she represents something very real.’ Her statement underscores the urgency and reality of the issue at hand, using the satirical portrayal of Oblivia Coalmine as a stark reminder of the real-life implications of the fossil fuel industry’s actions.
Implications and Public Sentiment
The advertisement’s release coincides with recent polling data suggesting a shift in public sentiment. It reveals that only 19% of pension savers support their money going towards oil and gas, while a significant 66% prefer it invested in renewable energy sources. This data, coupled with the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, where progress on climate change will be discussed, reinforces the need for urgent and decisive action.
Richard Curtis and the Creative Direction
Directed by Richard Curtis, a filmmaker known for his work in film and various advocacy causes, the advertisement employs a mix of humor and serious undertones to engage viewers. By leveraging Colman’s star power and the creative narrative, the advertisement aims to inspire viewers to think critically about the role of oil companies in environmental degradation and the power they hold to effect change in their pension fund investments.
