The University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) offers Cheniere Energy (an LNG company) as an internship placement for social work students.

Oil and gas companies are hurdling our planet into climate catastrophe and almost always set up shop in low-income communities of color and force them out of their homes or force them to bear the devastating health consequences to their communities. Oil and gas companies also continuously disregard indigenous land treaties by building facilities on indigenous land, despite the fact that they did not receive consent from the indigenous people who live there. Indigenous people make up less than 5% of the world population, but protect over 80% of the earth's biodiversity (National Geographic, 2018). 

Stopping the expansion of oil and gas is the only solution to move toward more sustainable solutions and prevent further climate catrosophe and the extinction of life on earth.

If the GCSW claims to achieve social justice at every level, we must also advocate for climate justice and ensure that our practices and policies reflect that. This means the GCSW must remove Cheniere Energy from the list of internship agencies available for students to complete their practicum education. In addition to Cheniere Energy not aligning with social work values, the company was fined with a $2.2 million fine over a dangerous gas leak from its Sabine Pass LNG facility in 2018 (Sierra Club, 2021). The cause of the leak was attributed to incorrect operations. The company was aware that the tank design was inadequate and allowed it to operate anyway. Allowing social work students to complete their internships with a company that has complete disregard for community safety is unacceptable. We must do better.

Please join me in asking the Practicum (Field) Office to remove Cheniere Energy as an option for internship placements as soon as possible by signing this petition and sending an email to the practicum office at fielded@Central.UH.EDU

If you choose to send an email to the practicum office, please maintain a respectful and composed tone.

Thank you!

References

National Geographic. (2018, November 16). Indigenous Peoples defend earth’s biodiversity—but they’re in danger. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/can-indigenous-land-stewardship-protect-biodiversity

Sierra Club. (2021, August 12). ICYMI: Cheniere hit with fine over Sabine pass LNG leak. https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2021/08/icymi-cheniere-hit-fine-over-sabine-pass-lng-leak