What kind of changemaker are you?

Emma is a Community Building Social Justice advocate from the UK.

“I study revolutions in history and it’s clear to me that the only successful revolutions always started with grassroots activism. Last year, at the Black Lives Matter protest I was inspired by how many people I didn’t expect came out in support. For some people, issues like climate change can feel too ‘big’ so I start local but with a global outlook. I organize repair workshops in my local town hall to get people thinking about sustainable living.

Anyone can do social media activism, but sometimes the hard work - engaging the community, getting people on board has to happen on the ground. I want to change the system. I think political systems can be messy but they work, that’s why I am pursuing a career in politics. I think we have to work within the systems we’ve got and get organized.”

Fatima is a climate justice advocate from France.

“It is my mission to advocate for The Global South. It is the area most impacted by climate change, but it’s frustrating to me that the issues are always discussed in the West. We talk about smart cars, but all the mining for the parts for those cars is done in low income countries. Who is talking about that?

It goes both ways too. I’m from Niger and, when I go back to speak to farmers, many of them don’t realize their ruined crops are a result of climate change. The more knowledge you build, the better you can share it and rally people around the cause. It’s the only way to bring underrepresented groups into the climate justice movement.

It saddens me to say this, but as a black, African, Hijabi woman living in France, I know that before I open my mouth people have prejudices. I have forced myself to become a knowledge builder so that people take me seriously.

Movements always start with a gut instinct, a feeling that something is wrong, but we need to persuade powerful people to change their minds. To really speak truth to power you need the knowledge.”

Caitlin Newago is an indigenous rights activist from Wisconsin, US.

“I am from the Ojibwe tribe, south shores of Gitchi Gami (Lake Superior). Right now my tribe is protesting the drilling of a new oil pipeline on our native land. This is a sensitive issue because there is a dark history of oil pipelines threatening indigenous ways of life and poisoning the environment. Indigenous people face police brutality, discrimination and constant threats to their food sovereignty. It can be traumatic dealing with these issues on your doorstep.

It’s crazy to me that there are people in America right now who don’t know indigenous people still exist. But I have a chronic illness that prevents me from being on the front line. Instead I live my values and raise awareness for issues that affect my people in my own way. I see it as my duty to keep the Ojibwe language and traditions alive. I have even written a little dictionary of the Ojibwe language. I practice our rituals with my son, we pray and smudge together. I incorporate beautiful Ojibwe floral designs into my art using historical methods like birch bark and porcupine quills.”