Across the world, women are on the frontlines of environmental and social degradation. Now, with ever-greater strength and resolve, they are standing up to reclaim their position at the forefront of movements to protect Mother Earth and revision and rebuild a healthy, equitable future for all.
On September 29, 2015, women from more than 50 countries joined the Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action, rising to make it vividly clear that women's voices and leadership are central to just and effective action on climate change. The Day of Action was called in advance of December's United Nation's COP21 climate negotiations, with the expressed goal of drawing attention to both the disproportionate climate impacts that women's face, and the vital experiences, insights, and action plans they are bringing to the table.
From the Democratic Republic of Congo to Ecuador, from the Marshall Islands to Tunisia, women shared photos, statements and event recaps highlighting the climate impacts felt in their communities, solutions they are proposing and creating, and their demands for committed action from world governments.
Collected in an online action gallery, the messages and actions shared as part of the Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action come together as a powerful weaving of women's voices with a vital message: justice and healing for the Earth and justice and healing for women are inseparable.
On September 29, this message came in many forms, from women in Scotland creating art from ocean-borne trash, to vows of silence on a California university campus, to campaigns to collect signatures on the Women's Climate Declaration, and workshops on environmental and gender justice with women and girls in Colombia.
In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the epicenter of the West African oil and gas industry, more than 120 women from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria united for an exchange and March for Energy, Food and Climate Justice. Walking from the city center to the Rivers State Government House, the women presented demands for an end to government-endorsed corporate pillage of the land and communities across Africa.
As they marched, women sang songs of protest against the environmental degradation and social devastation fueled by extractive industries, and spoke out for unity and solidarity between women across the continent and the world.
Many worldwide participants echoed this call to action with demands for their governments to keep fossil fuels in the ground and immediately finance a just transition to 100 percent renewable energy.
"We want to keep the oil in the ground and to be able to have the free right to express and associate," explained Belen of Ecuador in her action statement about oil drilling in the Amazon basin and the ongoing persecution of land defenders and Indigenous women calling for change.
In the Nainital and Almora districts of Uttrakhand, India, women gathered to save and exchange seeds on the Day of Action – drawing attention to corporate and climate threats, the vitality of local seeds in ensuring food security and sovereignty and the importance of women farmers.
"We will protect our seeds, our forests, our water, our land and we will continue to protect our rights to them," Reetu Sogani of Chintan International Trust asserted.
Pakistani women united to discuss local climate impacts and plant fruit trees as part of a Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action gathering organized by Caritas Pakistan.
"Women in rural Pakistan spend most of their time in doing agricultural activities and collecting water and fuel for their families. Changing weather patterns are constantly affecting agriculture and natural resources including forest and water. As a consequence of these changes, the workload and hardship of women has increased manifold," one of the organizers, Mansha, explained.
Winona LaDuke, Founder of Honor the Earth and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice also joined the Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action with powerful statements for justice and care for people and planet.
The Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN International), organizers of the Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action, held a hub event, "Women Speak: Climate Justice on the Road to Paris and Beyond" in New York City on September 29, which ended with a direct action outside of the United Nations, with world governments gathered inside for the UN General Assembly. WECAN and allies unfurled banners calling for immediate action to keep fossil fuels in the ground and protect the web of life for all generations present and future.
Signatures collected on the Women's Climate Declaration and actions shared as part of the Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action will be carried by WECAN to COP21 climate negotiations this December and beyond.
Emily Arasim is the Communications Coordinator and Project Assistant at the Women's Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN International). She is an avid photojournalist, farmer and native seed saver based out of New Mexico, USA.