From Watts Up With That?

Essay by Eric Worrall

University of Winchester is moving a “controversial” £24,000 statue of Greta Thunberg from outside the University building to “the less-visited courtyard of the building”.

Greta Thunberg statue moved from outside university building

20th July
By Christopher Atkinson @TweetsFromLimbo

A CONTROVERSIAL statue of Greta Thunberg is being moved from outside the University of Winchester’s West Downs Centre.

The Chronicle has heard that the statue, titled Make a Difference, has been a target for anti-social behaviour with it becoming slightly unstable.

It is being shifted from the busy concourse in Romsey Road to be re-installed in the less-visited courtyard of the building.

Read more: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23668315.greta-thunberg-statue-moved-outside-university-building/

The statue was controversial from the start, the Student Union was furious when the statue was commissioned and installed in 2021.

Greta Thunberg statue at Winchester university sparks anger

Published 30 March 2021

A £24,000 statue of Greta Thunberg installed at a university has sparked anger among students who have branded it a “vanity project”.

The University of Winchester believes it is the world’s first life-sized sculpture of the “inspirational” Swedish environmental activist.

But the students’ union said the funds could have been better spent. 

But the students’ union said the funds could have been better spent. 

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-56565683

No doubt the statue was made from metal ores dug by hand, transported by by eco-friendly sailing ships and horse drawn carriages, and refined using solar energy and hydrogen.

Winchester might not immediately spring to mind as a deprived area, but there are some serious pockets of poverty and crime. I once spent a few hours on a business meeting with someone on night patrol of a building site just down the road in Basingstoke. He could barely sit down – he and his scary guard dog literally had to get up and chase out intruders every 2-3 minutes.

So I completely understand the student union’s fury at the University spending money on a statue of someone who rejects schools, money which could have been spent helping students from poor families, regardless of the University’s in my opinion less than credible claim that the money wasn’t diverted from other uses.