online photo-essay
exploring the impacts of monoculture eucalyptus plantations on local
people and the environment in Brazil.
Climate Justice
Pollution does not differentiate between borders or location; it is a global problem. Yet, the effects of climate change have greater impacts on countries in the Global South and especially on Indigenous Peoples, small farming-based communities and women around the globe. However, the wealthiest countries in the world, in particular their corporate and political elites, are those most responsible for the climate crises.
Climate justice movements are diverse, but a fundamental principle lies at the heart: the recognition that the threats posed by climate change are a consequence of unequal economic and social power relations.
In this regard, climate justice movements are struggling for territories, forests, water, cultures, food sovereignty, collective rights, gender equalities, free movement for people, self-determination, among many others. Struggles that place “justice” at the center, supporting real, community-led solutions to the climate crises which are found in the practices and knowledge of those who have always protected and fought for defending their environments and livelihoods.
By looking at the economic and political processes of the world system that are causing the climate disruption, climate justice movements mainly seek to stop resource-intensive industrial production, to “leave fossil-fuels in the ground, coal in the hole and the tar sands in the lands”, and to bring to a halt the market mantra of constant accumulation and enclosures which bring huge inequalities and injustices to the peoples of the world.
When looking inside the climate debates, grassroots-based climate justice movements aim to prevent empty discourses based on carbon abstractions and calculations that are detached from reality. So-called “technology fixes” are unproven experiments that allow polluters to continue business as usual and delay any real change. The same applies to the market-based climate “solutions” being promoted by the UN, the World Bank, corporate lobbies, mainstream conservation NGOs, and many governments, which exacerbate local environmental and social conflicts.
Every time we hear about a “climate solution”, we need to ask ourselves the following questions; Who is benefiting and who is being damaged? How can this affect the local environment and communities on the ground? Where does climate justice play a role?
An important element of climate justice is to ensure that the “solutions” do not compound other existing inequalities, for example by encouraging land appropriation (in the case of agrofuels, large dams and forestry policies), or do not use climate change to re-legitimize unfair practices in other policy domains (as in the case of certain security and migration policies).
Danish National Court rules mass arrest to be illegal!Friday, 27 January 2012 | Climate Collective - Copenhagen
The Danish police broke the law when they detained
thousands of climate protesters on December the 12th and four other
dates during the COP15 in Copenhagen. The National Court of Denmark
confirms the ruling of the City Court of Copenhagen and declares all
five mass-arrests during the COP15 illegal .
In addition the court ruled that article of the European human rights
convention was violated on December the 12th as the police degraded and
mistreatted the arestees. Thus compensation of up to 9000 Danish Kroner
should still be awarded to the ones who filed complaints in due... Read More
Stop the activity of mining & slaughtering in Bima, solidarity for civiliansFriday, 06 January 2012 | WALHI/ Friends of The Earth Indonesia
On December 24, 2011, the Indonesian National Police and Military opened fire on civilians, members of Anti-Mining People’s Front (FRAT) during a peaceful protest at the Sape Harbor which started four days ago. Those civilians rejected the presence of a gold mine, PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN). 3 people died and 9 people were critically injured. This marked as the peak of conflict between the government and business corporations against citizens throughout the year of 2011.
Read More
@COP17 in Durban: NO REDD+ TEACH-INThursday, 01 December 2011 | IEN and CTW
Friday, 2 December 14:00 to 17:00 at the Chemistry Building: CC1 (room size 309)
University of KwaZulu-Natal - King George V Avenue, Glenwood, Durban
"Africa says NO to a new form of colonialism!"
The purpose of this Teach-In is to share the truth about Reducing Emissions Deforestation and Forest Degradation with grassroots and community-based groups and facilitators.
Will be organized using participatory workshops using popular eduction dynamics, multimedia and games.
Read More
Pronunciamiento en defensa de la Pachamama y de la vidaThursday, 24 November 2011 | Accion Ecologica
Las comunidades, organizaciones, colectivos y personas, reunidas en el Encuentro de Pensamiento Ecologista los días 17 y 18 de noviembre de 2011, convocamos a una MINKA POR LA VIDA Y DE RESISTENCIA. Una minka fundamentada en la revaloración, recuperación, mantenimiento y transmisión de nuestra sabiduría ancestral, con la comprensión de los diferentes procesos de vida, que nos hermanan con los espíritus del agua, las plantas, los animales, los cerros…
Read More
Día Mundial de la Soberanía Alimentaria para Enfriar la TierraThursday, 24 November 2011 | La Via Campesina
Llamamiento a la acción y a la movilización masiva
Apelamos a todos los movimientos y organizaciones campesinos, trabajadores rurales, sin tierras y a todo el movimiento por la soberanía alimentaria para que se unan a nosotros en un día mundial de acción masiva el 5 de diciembre de 2011, durante la movilización de la sociedad civil de la COP17 en Durban (Sudáfrica).
La humanidad se enfrenta a una crisis alimentaria, económica y ecológica arraigada en el sistema capitalista neoliberal de producción,... Read More
2012 Carbon Trade Watch
