Global Changemakers

On Mondays, http://www.global-changemakers.net turns into Speakers’ Corner: members of the network and community have their say on their work and the issues that concern them.

It was the morning of May 12th 2010; I boarded the Air India 187 flight to Toronto and embarked on a journey which changed my life. And the way I perceive things. Forever.

It was a month prior to that when my application to work with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, the largest environmental network in the country was approved and I was called to intern with the organization for a period of two months. I was excited about being given this wonderful opportunity and I knew that a there would be a lot to learn and unlearn in the coming few weeks.

It took me quite some time to get used to the different time zones, post mid-night munching and randomly falling off to sleep between work hours. However, my boss Kimia Ghomeshi under whose mentorship I learned and gained immensely, was wonderfully cooperative and insisted that I take out time to relax and get over my jet-lag.

With time I started getting a better understanding of issues and challenges Canada confronts. I was required to read up immensely on Canada’s climate policies, projects the youth in the network have undertaken which included some incredibly inspiring movements by the CYCC– the Power Shift Canada which mobilized over 1000 people to take stronger action, the Canadian Youth Delegation to COPs, Climate crews.

During this time, I built massive connections and networks with young people, social activists, and brilliant minds, university professors who have taken this challenge and are doing their best to stop the catastrophe which is now hitting our planet.

And thus, with my increased level of interaction of working with people from similar backgrounds, who have been actively involved in the climate movements and extensive reading, I came to understand Canada’s challenges and issues better than ever before.

I also was the G20 coordinator and was required to launch and coordinate events in order to raise consciousness and awareness among people about the policies of the G20 and to push the Canadian government to put climate change as its agenda during the summit.

Here are some highlights of my work with the CYCC:

Toxic Tour – The toxic tour on June 23rd was deemed as the Environmental and Climate Justice Day of Action. Climate justice organizers and campaigners took a toxic tour of Toronto to expose institutions responsible for the environmental and social impacts of Canada’s extractive industries at home and abroad. It was a very colorful demonstration with people coming dressed as corporate zombies, clowns etc and several colorful floats. I myself came dressed in oil sledge to depict the Gulf Oil spill. The tour stopped at various key locations – RBC branch, Canadian Mining Hall to name a few. And there were climate witnesses from Guatemala, Kenya, Alberta, B.C.  who talked about the devastating impacts of climate change and the impact of mining abuses.

People’s Summit – one of the most enriching experiences was the People’s Summit. The 2010 People’s Summit was a civil society’s alternative counter summit to the G8 and G20.  Community organizers, activists, independent media, impacted communities to create a movement and a space for global justice. There were several workshops on climate change issues, human rights, economic issues and with presenters from over 80 organizations. People had flown from across Canada as well as round the globe to attend the summit.

I was one of the panelists at the climate justice session and the talk on climate change through women’s eyes. I shared stories about my experiences of working in India, about the climate vulnerable communities, about the daily water crisis which are only getting more visible day by day, our daily struggles and the youth movement building in India to combat this.

Green Jobs tour speaking tour- I helped organize and was a part of the Green Jobs speaking tour across South- Western Ontario. The objective of the tour was to engage members of each community on the issue of transition to a green economy. We challenged the individuals to define what a green economy and green job would mean to them. During the stop at different cities and the community forums, I was amazed to see how individuals and communities were working within their capacity and outreach to create a change. I felt like Canada had all the resources to make a shift to a greener economy and help inspire other countries in the process.

People’s Assembly; moving from Cochabamba – This event was organized during the week leading to the G20 being hosted in Toronto. Through the several workshops and group discussions, I came to learn about the Conference on Climate Change and Rights of Mother Earth which took place in Cochabamba, Bolivia in April, 2010. As Kimia explained that unlike the disillusioning Copenhagen Accord, the conference which she attended was a space for the world’s indigenous people and poor who were silenced in Copenhagen. It was about them finding a space to voice their concerns as they always get neglected in the decision making process. It was here that a Universal Declaration for rights of mother earth was declared and was submitted to the UN.

This day had such a profound influence and made me realize as to how uniquely interconnected  all our struggles across the globe are, whether it is the poor farmers committing suicides in India due to lack of water or communities having to drink  filthy water and deal with mining abuses.

Reflections

It was prior to G20 that several organizations, networks, social activists, young people came together to launch events and oppose the destructive policies supported by the G20 countries. The week leading to the G20, I witnessed massive movements to resist the destructive policies supported by the G20.

Canada is home to 75 percent of the mining corporations in the world, Tar Sands being the largest and the most destructive industrial project on planet earth. Its impacts on communities, livelihoods and the ecosystem are devastating.

To add to that, the Canadian government spent more than $1.3 billion on security to host the three day summit. The people I interacted with said that they were disgusted to pay taxes which go on to finance high level security events without bringing any advantage to the average Canadian. Three years worth of vastly improved health facilities for women and children, $1000 tuition cuts for every student in Canada, 11,000 new construction jobs is what $1 billion could buy, they tell me.

What I did realize amidst all the meetings, organizational work and interaction, was that every country has its own major issues and problems to deal with. And these issues had to be looked differently and not the way we view the ‘ideal’ developed world from a Third World country. I see the Indian middle struggling and chasing in order to fulfill their Great American dream of bigger houses, more number of cars and an extravagant lifestyle.

I also interacted with grandmothers, with fathers and mothers who were so deeply concerned about the future of their children. Hearing their stories, filled with so much fear and anxiety, I had tears in my eyes.
So what point is the present development if we are just moving backwards since what is increasingly obvious is that nature can live without us but we cannot live without nature.

However, working as a G20 coordinator with the CYCC has opened my eyes to hope.

The people I worked with were among the brightest, most passionate and dedicated individuals I have met so far. Their level of energy and enthusiasm has swept a new hope of inspiration within me. I learnt that science is about facts and the art touches the soul. And we managed to communicate in both the ways.

This opportunity to engage with not just the international climate movement but also the local struggles has led me to believe that we indeed need to focus on the love that binds humanity and not the hatred and anger towards the institutions. The real change indeed comes through people and movements like these not necessarily only through government institutions.
Another world is possible.

- Lavanya Julaniya, Global Changemaker

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