Days after climate activist Greta Thunberg canceled her participation in the Edinburgh book festival this year, news is that over 50 authors including Booker-winner Zadie Smith, Ali Smith, among others have written to the festival to drop sponsors who heavily invest in fossil fuels.
The Edinburgh book festival, which begins today (August 12), is has firm Baillie Gifford as their lead sponsor for several years. According to The Ferret, the Baillie Gifford invested £5bn in companies that make profits from fossil fuels.
Based on this report, a few days back Greta Thunberg has pulled out from her appearance at the festival, as she accused the literary festival's lead sponsor Baillie Gifford of "greenwashing".
And now, several authors and the event chairs have written to the festival. The open letter states that such companies make "huge profits from global disaster, and hide behind esteemed cultural institutions, like the Edinburgh book festival, as sanction for its continued operations”. They have asked the festival to refrain from having Baillie Gifford as its sponsor for 2024, the latter doesn't stop from heavily investing in fossil fuels. And if this isn't done, then the authors will boycott the festival next year.
Responding to the open letter, Nick Barley, Festival Director- Edinburgh book festival, said, "We promise to think about your letter carefully. The last thing we want is to let anyone give the impression we are on opposite sides.” He also proposed the idea of having a discussion about this at the festival, as per reports.
Meanwhile, Baillie Gifford firm hasn't commented about this development.
Founded in 1908, Baillie Gifford firm sponsors several literary events in the UK including the Hay festival. They also sponsor the Baillie Gifford prize, which is a prominent literary prize for non-fiction writing in the UK.
