Séamas O'Reilly: Criticisms of environmentalist arts movements are unconvincing at best

"It seems clear to me that these authors each made a small stand at their own cost in the face of financial conglomerates seeking to wreath immoral wealth with the fig leaf of cultural philanthropy."

Séamas O'Reilly. Picture: Orfhlaith Whelan

This week, the commentariat has expounded at length on the campaign against Baillie Gifford, an Edinburgh-based investment management firm, and sponsor of many UK book festivals.

This was spurred by Fossil Free Books, a group which seeks the divestment of literary events from money related to fossil fuels and the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.