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World Social Forum 2021: Climate, Ecology and the Environment

Schedule:
Venue: Zoom

The purpose of the Environmental Thematic Day common program is 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 where the first deepens the issue of the current situation in the struggle for system change and not climate change with only young speakers and moderators. Two others sessions ask the question of how the environmental struggle in the countryside and in the city with their different social, ecological and economic conditions can contribute to system change. The fourth session raises the question of how the local and global struggle can be linked to save a planet where humanity can live a fruitful life. These sessions 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.

See more at the Facebook event

Programme:

UTC 13 – 14:45: PLENARY
CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND SPECIES EXTINCTION – RESIST! CONSTRUCT! CELEBRATE!

Languages: 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 Kin 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

More info: https://join.wsf2021.net/panel-activities/3898

UTC 15 -16:45: PARALLEL SESSIONS

Parallel session 1: SYSTEM CHANGE NOT CLIMATE CHANGE!

Languages: English

Chair:
Zeno Bernhard, France, Attac

Speakers:

  • Archana Soreng, India, National Adivasi Alliance
  • Thomas Mourey, Belgium, Young Friends of the Earth Europe
  • Aofie Mercedes, UK, COP26 Coalition
  • Brenda Muronda, Zimbabwe, Zimsoff-Zimbabwe and Via Campesina

Parallel session 2: RURAL ENVIRONMENTAL STRUGGLES 

Languages: English

Chair:
Ellie Cijvat, Sweden, Friends of the Earth

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)

Parallel session 3: URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL STRUGGLES

Languages: 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
  • Aakriti Bhatia, India, People’s Association of Grassroot Action
  • Mariam Nordmark, Sweden, Tensta Green Initiative
  • Sean Sweeney, USA, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, TUED
  • Sherelee Odayar, South Africa, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance

Parallel session 4: LOCAL AND GLOBAL STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE PLANET

Languages: English and Portuguese, additional might be later announced

Co-chairs:

  • Carlos Torres, Canada, Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts
  • Dorothy Guerrero, UK, Global Justice Now! 

Speakers:

  • Juliana Rosa, Brazil, Nature’s Popular Forum – Núcleo Bahia
  • Tord Björk, Sweden, Friends of the Earth Sweden
  • Meera Sanghamitra, India, National Alliance of People’s Movement
  • Lidy Nacpil, Philippines, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development
  • Daniel Gaio, Brazil, environment secretary for CUT

UTC 17 – 18: ASSEMBLY FOR THE ECOLOGY SPACE

Self-organized activity for the Ecology Space to take forward the ideas, initiatives, campaigns, events and declarations emerging from the day’s programme.

Languages: English, Spanish, additional might be later announced

Co-chairs:

  • Marko Ulvila, Finland, Finland Social Forum, Siemenpuu Foundation and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Network
  • Neringa Tumenaite, Lithuania, UNITED for Intercultural Action

Report from the declaration process: Just transition to stop the environmental emergency!

More info: https://join.wsf2021.net/activities/4714

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