Group’s Cathedral banners hung to protest “Fossil Fools”

A group of Pitt students honored global Fossil Fools’ Day by hanging two banners from the… A group of Pitt students honored global Fossil Fools’ Day by hanging two banners from the fourth floor of the Cathedral of Learning yesterday. The banners were made from king-size bedsheets and read “Clean Energy Now,” and “Fossil Fools’ Day ’08.”

Kim Teplitzky, of Sierra Student Coalition, said the banner hanging was part of an “international day of action targeting the fossil fuels industry and ‘Fossil Fools’ all over the world including politicians, corporate executives and other people who are deepening our dependence on fossil fuels.”

Carly Locke, a Pitt junior who helped hang the banners around 2 p.m. yesterday, said that maintenance staff on the fourth floor saw her and her accomplices go out onto the roof with the banners but did not interfere.

High winds blew the banners over the ledge and back onto the roof several times.

After about 40 minutes and several attempts to secure the banners, the demonstrators gave up and disbanded.

The Pittsburgh chapter of Fossil Fools’ Day is planning a “critical mass” bike ride with riders from all over the city April 25 at 4 p.m. at the Carnegie Library in Oakland.

Staff Photographer Ben Filio contributed to this report.