Guardians of the Public Square: Protecting Civic Engagement

Transcript

YOUNG ACTIVISTS: Don’t fail us.

[A medley of voices of people featured in the video speak under images of people from all over the world]

INTERVIEWEES: The world we want is a peaceful, just, and inclusive society where we put human rights at the center of the climate transition, where the environment is protected, and where we work together in the spirit of solidarity and unity.

Susana Muhammad hits a gavel at the United Nations nature summit: Adopted!

And that is what LEAD, the Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders, is trying to achieve.

OLIVIER NDOOLE, Founder and Executive Secretary, Congolese Alert for the Environment and Human Rights(in French): The LEAD initiative is our hope for tomorrow’s future. For us environmental defenders, it is the hallmark of global solidarity.

JOSÉ MANUEL SALAZAR-XIRINACHS, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America: Now is the moment of truth for climate action and sustainability.

Young person at protest in Scotland: Young people are watching.

JOSÉ MANUEL SALAZAR-XIRINACHS: It is clear that to protect the environment, we have to protect those people that defend the environment.

Sonia Guajajara representing Indigenous groups at the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai: Demarcation! Now!

MARTÍN ABREGÚ, Vice President, International Programs, Ford Foundation: Policymakers and governmental officials, frontline defenders, and colleagues from philanthropy. Let’s join our efforts and resources to create a space for the recognition, protection, and participation of defenders.

Students in New York City: Who’s future? Our future.

JUAN DAVID AMAYA, Chief Executive Officer, Life of Pachama (in Spanish): All over the world environmental rights defenders—Indigenous People, young people, and children—are leading movements, claiming our rights, and taking action to reduce global temperatures.

Indigenous people gather together in the Amazon.

DINAMAM TUXÁ, Executive Coordinator, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil(in Portuguese): Throughout history, Indigenous Peoples have shown the world that it is possible to preserve and survive peacefully with the environment.

ALFRED BROWNELL, Founding President, Global Climate Legal Defense: It is time to rethink development and investment. Indigenous People are investors and development experts—and very successful ones at it too.

JOAN CARLING, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International: We protect against destruction and unjust exploitation. And by doing so, we are being criminalized. We are being attacked. We are sacrificing our lives to protect the environment for future generations.

Juan David Amaya (in Spanish): The objectives of LEAD are to address the challenges faced by defenders, to amplify the voices of those who defend their territory, and position the demands of movements in different decision-making scenarios.

Activists standing together in a circle: What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!

HERLIN ODICIO, President, Native Federation of Kakataibo Communities, Peru(in Spanish): Indigenous Peoples are not being included in many regional, national, and international decision-making processes.

MARTÍNA BREGÚ: We cannot achieve dignity, justice, and equality without securing a space for people to organize freely and act in solidarity to address critical challenges facing their communities and the world.

OLIVIER NDOOLE (in French): The message is simple: grassroots defenders,Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, have a big role to play in influencing not only policy, but also in preserving our planet.

VOLKER TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders: They are standing up for the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. So I urge you to take action to protect civic space and help us to build a more sustainable and more equal future.

JOAN CARLING: We need your voice so defenders like us are no longer killed or silenced for fighting for our planet. And we need stakeholders to recognize the role we play in climate emergency solutions.

ALFRED BROWNELL: Please act now, before it is too late.

Activists marching for climate justice all over the world: People! Power! People! Power! People over profit! Sea levels are rising and so are we! Our planet! Not for sale. Our Water! Not for sale! Our pride! Not for sale!

CREDITS

Lead: Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders

World Resource Institute
Angoc
Resilient40: A youth voice for a climate resilient Africa
Alliance for Land, Indigenous and Environmental Defenders
Global Witness
Disability People’s Forum
CIVICUS
Organization for Community Engagement
NAMATI
ACEDH
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Articulação Nacional das Mulheres Indígenas Guerreiras da Ancestralidade (ANMIGA)
Global Citizen
Ford Foundation

Director and Executive Producer: Jessica Reynolds
Producer and Editor: Renee Forbes
Production Services: KC Video Productions

Archival Footage:
Getty
Global Citizen
Global Witness
Goldman Environmental Prize
If Not Us Then Who?
TED Amazon

Accessibility Statement

Transcript

JOAN CARLING [an indigenous activist with salt and pepper hair wearing a traditional woven cloth from her tribe in Cordillera, Philippines, Executive Director, Indigenous Peoples Rights International]:

The world we want is one where there is peace based on justice, there is realization of rights, there is a protection of environment,and that we strive to work together in the spirit of solidarity and unity. It is essential to include Indigenous peoples, especially environment defenders, in combating climate change because we as Indigenous peoples maintain a harmonious and interdependent relations with nature.

So with that, we protect nature, the environment, against destruction and unjust exploitation. And by doing so, we are being criminalized, we are being attacked, or branded as terrorists or anti-development. It’s important for decision makers to understand that environment defenders are doing our work to protect the environment so that we can have effective solutions to climate change. We deserve to be respected and protected for the work that we do because we can contribute to change and improve the world for everyone.

End of transcript.

Accessibility Statement