Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador has disclosed that at least $7 Million of the Memorial University Pension Plan is directly invested in weapons manufacturers and companies complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Additional indirect investments yet to be disclosed will increase that total. 

We find this unacceptable in light of the following: 

• On May 20, 2024 The International Criminal Court released a statement on the application of arrest warrants for Israeli authorities citing the ongoing crimes against humanity and war crimes of extermination, persecution, and starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. 

• On June 12 the United Nations Human Rights Office released a report confirming the above. 

• On June 20th, United Nations experts released a statement warning arms companies involved in the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, as well as the financial institutions invested in them could face repercussions for complicity in Israel’s atrocity crimes. At least 2 entities which MUN is invested in were directly named in this statement. This means MUN’s investments represent not just an ethical but also a financial risk in the event these entities are called to account. 

We do not wish to be complicit in the ongoing violence in Palestine or anywhere and we do not wish to take on the ethical or financial risks associated with these investments. 

We, the undersigned pension beneficiaries, call for the following immediate action:

1. An emergency meeting of the University Pensions Committee to discuss these urgent matters. 

2. The Pension Committee considers the above noted reports as well as input from other relevant authorities. 

3. The Committee draft a motion for divestment of Memorial Pension Plan from all weapons manufacturers and other entities complicit in grave violations of human rights including those identified in Memorials recent disclosure.