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For the Earth and Future Generations
WECAN International/WECC Newsletter
December 29, 2014
From the WECAN Team
Dear Friends and Allies,
As 2014 draws to a close we reflect on a year of immense challenges and exciting progress. This has been an important year for the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN International) and the climate justice movement as a whole, and we want to deeply thank you all for your tremendous support.
WECAN ended the year on-the-ground in Lima, Peru, mobilizing within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP20 negotiations, and in the streets and public spaces outside. At both U.N. and civil society events, WECAN worked to amplify the voices and resistance movements of women, frontline communities, and Indigenous peoples, while calling for just solutions and systemic change. Please click here to see coverage of one of our events on Democracy Now!
This newsletter covers the powerful series of actions and events that WECAN led and participated in while in Lima.
As we close the year, we would be very thankful if you would support us in further amplifying our work and that of our allies by taking a few minutes to encourage friends and colleagues to join us on Facebook and Twitter.
(Pictured top right: Hueiya Alicia Cahuiya Iteca, Huaorani leader from Ecuador. Photo via Atossa Soltani. Top left: women leaders at WECAN event in Lima).
WECAN International in Lima, Peru during COP20
Women Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change-Lima
Patricia Gualinga Kichwa Leader, Sarayaku, Ecuador
, Sonia Guajajara
National Coordinator of Brazil’s Association of Indigenous Peoples, Maranhão, Brazil, & Nino Gamisonia Rural Communities Development Agency, Abkhazia, Georgia
On December 8, a group of extraordinary women leaders gathered in Lima, peru to speak out against issues of social and ecologic injustice, and to share plans of action for building a livable, equitable world. ‘Women Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change’ was organized by WECAN as a platform for bringing the voices of Indigenous women and other Earth defenders to the forefront of discussions at a time when they continue to be marginalized in international policy making.
The three panel sessions and a collaborative strategy circle centered on the experiences and solutions of frontline women land defenders, ways to expand climate justice collaboration between women of the Global South and North, and tools for implementing renewable energy, rights of nature, living forests worldviews, and systemic change. To view a full list of panelist and discussion topics, click here.
Special thanks to Amazon Watch and the Indigenous Environmental Network for participation in this and other events in Lima.
WECAN International is honored that Democracy Now! attended our event and produced the powerful coverage presented below.
Democracy Now! – Indigenous Women: Earth Defenders Speak Out from the Front Lines of Climate Change
Advocacy Work Inside the UNFCCC COP20 Climate Negotiations
Women & Gender Constituency press conference
moderated by Bridget Burns of WEDO.
Inside of COP20, WECAN International co-led a side event on women and youth at the forefront of climate action, presented the Women’s Climate Action Agenda, and engaged in a press conference and advocacy efforts with our incredible allies from the Women & Gender Constituency. Together with the leadership of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization and Women in Europe for a Common Future, we pushed for gender equality, women’s rights, Indigenous rights, and genuine solutions founded in principles of climate justice.
After more than two weeks of negotiations, COP20 came to a close with some, but far too little progress made in addressing the substantive issues that will make or break the global climate agreement to be completed in 2015. No binding commitments were made, wealthy nations historic responsibilities remained undefined, false solutions continued to be promoted, and women and frontline communities remained underrepresented. The Women & Gender Constituency issued a forceful statement in response, which you can read here.
International Rights of Nature
Tribunal
Working to expose violations of the Earth and false solutions to the climate crisis, people from around world gathered at the International Rights of Nature Tribunal in Lima, hosted by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, on whose Steering Committee WECAN serves. Trials were held for 12 specific cases covering issues of fracking, defenders of the land, mining, climate change, oceans, deforestation, and more. The Guardian produced a powerful article on the event, which you can read here.
Domingo Ankuash, Shuar leader from Ecuador led the case against the El Mirador gold mine. He is calling for an investigation of the tragic death of Shuar leader J.Tendentza, killed days before he was to travel to Lima to testify at the Tribunal & other events.
WECAN Executive Director, Osprey Orielle Lake, served as a judge during the Tribunal. You can explore her final climate change case statement here.
WECAN & Allies at the Lima People’s March
On December 10th, more than 15,000 people united at the People’s March in Lima, Peru. Held on International Human Rights Day, and in response to the UNFCCC COP20 climate negotiations, the march stands as the largest ever Latin American climate demonstration. WECAN took to the streets with our allies, calling attention to the devastating impacts of extractive industries, denouncing government inaction on the climate crisis, and demanding acknowledgment of and respect for the rights of the Earth and Indigenous peoples worldwide. Mirroring the People’s Climate March in New York earlier this year, the Lima march was lead by Indigenous peoples and frontline communities. Click here to view more photos from the march.
Marching with Patricia Gualinga, Kichwa Leader, Sarayaku, Ecuador and Eda Zavala of Peru.
Gloria Ushigua, President of the Association of Sapara Women, Ecuador, at the Lima People’s March. Photo via Tantoo Cardinal.
UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mary Robinson, speaks with Gloria Ushingua and Rosa Elvira Gualinga Chuji Guainga of Ecuador.
WECAN Executive Director, Osprey Orielle Lake, and Carmen Capriles, founder of
Reacción Climática, Bolivia,
present the Women’s Climate Action Agenda during COP20.
Women Speak: Climate Justice and Solutions Blog
Join the Movement
Find WECAN on Social Media
Sign the WECAN Women’s Climate Declaration
Visit the Declaration Webpageto read, sign, and share the Women’s Climate Declaration, drafted by more than 100 women leaders from around the world. For Arabic, Spanish, French, and Italian translations, please see the WECAN website.
Start 2015 with a gift in support of climate justice and women’s leadership in climate solutions.
