Whilst political decision makers have been failing to respond to the urgency of the climate crisis during negotiations at COP 23, young people have challenged them from inside and outside the climate conference halls.
A landmark court case kicks off today, as a historic people-powered lawsuit against the Norwegian government for granting new licenses to drill for oil in the Arctic Barents Sea reaches the courts. The plaintiffs, Natur og Ungdom/Young Friends of the Earth Norway and Greenpeace Nordic, argue that the decision contravenes the Paris climate agreement and violates the right to a safe and healthy environment for current and future generations granted by the Norwegian Constitution.
At the beginning of October, I took part in a Model Climate Negotiation game designed by the MIT in Norway. People from countries around the world took part, including India, Fiji, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Syria, Norway, Ethiopia just to name a few. The game simulated the annual discussions at the UN climate talks – or the Conference of the Parties (COP). This happened just weeks before COP23 kicked off in Bonn, where governments from around the world are meeting to discuss how to implement the Paris climate deal agreed at COP21.
Written by Juliana Okropiridse (YFoE Austria), put into proper English by Aidan Ring (YFoE Ireland)
One of the most commonly used active ingredients of plant 'protection' products [1] may finally be about to get withdrawn from the EU marketplace as it should have been a long time ago. Yes, I'm talking about Glyphosate, but what actually is Glyphosate?
On 13th-16th October activists, groups and communities across the world mobilised for climate justice and food sovereignty.
YFoE groups took action in a variety of ways, from spraypainting stencils in the streets to decorating statues in city centres. Some groups organised film screenings and discussions on key issues such as land grabbing and gas extraction. Others protested outside corporations responsible for environmental and social injustices!
See all of this and more in our interactive tour of Europe!
See part one of this blogpost on the risks of glyphosate!
Awareness over the impacts of glyphosate on humans, animals and the environment has grown slowly, but steadily in the last two decades. By now a lot of organisations around the world campaign against the use of this ingredient in herbicides for agriculture and gardening. Moreover, many local or central governments around the world have taken steps to limit its use to various degrees (as well as some municipalities in the UK).
Following a cross-regional event between YFoE Africa and YFoE Europe that took place in Brussels in July, members of both networks worked together to draft this letter to member states of the EU. In it we highlight the injustices and barriers faced by people from the Global South coming to Europe and explain why this is such a crucial obstacle in the fight for climate justice.
Our agri-activism volunteers in Wales are getting stuck into campaigning against harmful agricultural practices. Costas Kaloudis tells us about why they are fighting the herbicide glyphosate in particular.
Every year YFoEE organises placements at Caerhys Organic Farm in Wales, where volunteers get the opportunity to learn about organic, community farming and participate in anti-GMO activism. Tosca Boot, from the Netherlands, is one month into her three month placement.
To mark ten years of Young Friends of the Earth Europe, we spoke to some of the key people who've been involved since it started up in 2007.
From those who set it up and coordinated it from the start to the steering group members and volunteers who bring it to life, we're looking back at the actions, summer camps, workshops and fun that have made this network so special to so many people.
