World Social Forum 2021: Climate, Ecology, and the Environment ----- Free · Online Event

 

DETAILS:

Event by Siemenpuu, WSF Virtual 2021 and 3 others

Online: us02web.zoom.us

Friday, January 29, 2021

Price: Free · Duration: 5 hr

Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

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SUMMARY:

UTC 13 - 14:45

Major Panel: CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND SPECIES EXTINCTION. RESIST! CONSTRUCT! CELEBRATE!

UTC 15 - 16:45

FOUR (4) PARALLEL SESSIONS

UTC 17 – 18 ASSEMBLY FOR SOCIAL, PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS

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ASSEMBLY FOR SOCIAL, PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS

The purpose of the Ecology, Climate, and the Environment thematic space within the World Social Forum aims to exchange experiences from different parts of the world to see how the environmental struggles can be part of a system change. It begins with an intercontinental dialogue in which the two current issues of climate emergency and species extinction are discussed together. This is followed by four parallel sessions, which end with a subsequent self-organized assembly where the results of the various sessions during the day and a pre-started declaration process lead to proposals for a joint action plan for continued cooperation between popular movements to change the system and stop environmental destruction.

Register here: https://forms.gle/q4tmUSVebqbmznuN8

Please register beforehand, so we can send you key information before and after the event.

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FULL PROGRAMME:

UTC 13 - 14.45

MAJOR PANEL:

CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND SPECIES EXTINCTION. RESIST! CONSTRUCT! CELEBRATE!

Intercontinental dialogue from a systems change perspective

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86746954026

Translation into English, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish

Co-chairs:

* Arci Pasanen, Sweden, Transition Network

* Franco Agusto, Argentina, Global Tapestry of Alternatives

Speakers:

* Ariel Saleh, Australia, Ecofeminist and Global Tapestry of Alternatives

* Lau Khi Chi, China, Global University for Sustainability

* Soumya Dutta, India, South Asian People's Action on Climate Crisis, SAPACC

* Patrick Bond, South Africa, Activist and Professor

* Nnimmo Bassey, Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, President of Friends of the Earth International 2008 - 2012.

* Blanca Chanchosa, Ecuador, the indigenous organization CONAIE

How should society act in a time of acute danger to the world environment? We live in a time where wildlife is dwindling. They are concentrated in smaller areas by industrialized agriculture and forestry expansion. This reduces biodiversity with the risk of recurring pandemics. This is happening at the same time as global warming of the climate, which has led to an emergency. It could have been prevented with the right action when the issue came up on the international agenda thirty years ago. Instead, we got conventions both on climate and biodiversity, which were decided during the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio in 1992, which postponed the problems to the future. How can popular movements that want to do something about the climate emergency and species extinction work together locally and internationally to turn the tide?

This major panel on Ecology, Climate and Environment is organized by the self-constituted thematic Working Group of the WSF 2021 Facilitating Group. Contact: wsf-2021-ecology@riseup.net

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UTC 15 -16:45

FOUR PARALLEL SESSIONS:

Parallel session 1:

SYSTEM CHANGE NOT CLIMATE CHANGE!

Translation: will be later announced

Co-chairs:

* Amos Wallgren, Finland, Extinction Rebellion

* NN, UK, COP26 Coalition tbc

Speakers:

* Archana Soreng, India, National Adivasi Alliance

* Thomas Mourey, Belgium, Young Friends of the Earth Europe

* Ayakha Melithafa, South Africa, African Climate Alliance

* Varshini Prakash, USA, Sunrise Movement tbc

* Vanessa Nakate, Uganda, Fridays for Future tbc

* NN, Philippines, Climate Justice Cluster - Asia People's Forum tbc

The climate movement is facing a crossroads. After great successes with school strikes in all parts of the world and disruptive actions to draw attention to the climate emergency, the question is how to proceed? In Europe, the climate movement has begun to take action against EU agricultural policy while demanding the fulfillment of the Paris Agreement. The Covid19 pandemic highlights the importance of stopping species extinction posed worldwide by climate activists. More and more people are also beginning to question the military rearmament that takes resources from the social and ecological transformation of society that is needed. How do young climate activists view the current situation and continued work for system change not climate change? How can cooperation with other popular movements be developed?

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Parallel session 2:

THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRUGGLE IN RURAL AREAS AND SYSTEM CHANGE

(UTC 15 - 16:45)

Translation: will be later announced

Co-chairs:

* Ellie Cijvat, Sweden, Friends of the Earth

* NN, Via Campesina tbc

Speakers:

* Ulka Mahajan, India, leading force in the ongoing peasant protests

* Vasna Ramasar, South Africa, Global Tapestry of Alternatives

* György Droppa, Hungary, Danube Circle and Prague Spring 2

* David Bennet, Sweden, Byakademin (Village Academy) tbc

* Elizabeth Mpofu, Zimbabwe, Via Campesina tbc

* NN Chiapas tbc

Looting of nature and land grabbing from the local population threatens the cohesion of our societies and the future of the world. The transfer of rural wealth to a few large companies and banks in the big cities takes from those who work on the fields, in the forest and on the sea and gives to the already rich. Conflicts escalate as the state is used against resistence to the looting. By various means, companies and authorities try to silence opinion, which has increasingly happened with open violence in many countries. A system change is needed that can create power for the rural population over the resources that are the material basis for their lives. What is needed is an equal social, cultural and economic relationship with the urban population. Alternatives such as local forest management, agroecology and food sovereignty can unite urban and rural residents in the protection of healthy food and biological diversity. How can environmental struggle in various issues in rural areas contribute to a system change that leads to a sustainable society?

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Parallel session 3:

THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRUGGLE IN THE CITY AND SYSTEM CHANGE

(UTC 15 - 16:45)

Translation: English, Spanish, additional might be later announced

Co-chairs:

* Miguel Valencia, Mexico, System Change Not Climate Change and Ecomunidades

* Eva Nikell, Sweden, Citizens' Corona Commission

Speakers:

* Gustavo Romero, Mexico, Habitat International

* Akriti Bhatia, India, People's Association of Grassroot Action

* Mariam Nordmark, Sweden, Tensta Green Iniative tbc

* Sean Sweeney, USA, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, TUED tbc

* Sherelee Odayar, South Africa, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance tbc

Privatization of urban life accelerates segregation that makes it difficult for a just transition to a sustainable society. Common public spaces that give everyone access to a dignified life will be closed down and replaced by policing and other authoritarian methods. Therefore, the right to the city needs to be recaptured, healthy workplaces and residential areas where everyone can get housing defended and access to energy and water democratized. Short-term profit interests cannot be allowed to poison those who work in the factories or the surroundings. Public space and urban planning must put human interests at the center and safeguard local civil society and local producers and shops against global monopoly companies. An escalation of authoritarian exercise of power and generous support to large corporations has taken place during the Covid19 pandemic. Small businesses and employees on temporary contracts are disadvantaged. Urban life risks being further impoverished in favor of a culture where people become consumers instead of citizens. Centralization is increasing, and with it the need for transport when what is needed are cities with town districts where everything can be reached within walking and cycling distance and public transport displaces the need for a private car in urban areas. How can this urban environmental struggle in various issues contribute to a system change that leads to a sustainable society?

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Parallel session 4:

LOCAL AND GLOBAL STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE PLANET

(UTC 15 - 16:45)

Translation: English and Portuguese, additional might be later announced

Co-chairs:

* Marcela Escribano, Canada, Alternatives

* Dorothy Guerrero, UK, Global Justice Now! Tbc

Speakers:

* Juliana Grosa, Brazil, Nature's Popular Forum - Núcleo Bahia

* Tord Björk, Sweden, Friends of the Earth

* Meera Sanghamitra, India, National Alliance of People's Movement

* Renier Braun, Germany, International Peace Bureau IPB tbc

* Lidy Nacpil, Philippines, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development tbc

Awareness of the link between emissions in nature and human health arose when the anti-atom bomb movement investigated the presence of strontium 90 in baby teeth. Shortly afterwards, Rachel Carson highlighted how emissions of toxins in nature silenced bird life and through metabolism also reached humans. The modern concept of environment thus arose through an interconnection between nature and health. This at the same time as humanity, for the first time in its history, faced the possibility of extinction. Today, a nuclear war remains the most immediate threat to human survival, while an accelerating species extinction and global warming have emerged. How should these seemingly abstract global threats be connected to the daily lives of human beings around the world? The environmental struggle must ultimately rest on the interest of those who work with people, machines, in the field, in the forest and with fishing. How can we connect the common interest in safeguarding a planet that enables future generations to live a good life with the interests we have in our daily life as common human beings in solidarity?

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UTC 17 - 18

ASSEMBLY FOR SOCIAL, PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS

Self-organized activity organized by System change not climate change, Mexico, Prague Spring 2, SiemenpuU, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, UNITED for Intercultural Action

Translation: English, Spanish, additional might be later announced

Co-chairs:

* Marko Ulvila, Finland, Finland Social Forum, Siemenpuu and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

* Neringa Tumenaite, Lithuania, UNITED for Intercultural Action

Reports from the environmental theme day's various sessions

Report from the declaration process

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SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/events/162911531970159