MY LIFE AS A… KNOWLEDGE BUILDER

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 realise 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.”

MY LIFE AS A… QUIET PRACTITIONER

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 practise 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.”

MY LIFE AS A… FRONTLINER

Ben Pechey is a LGBTQI+ activist from York.

“So often LGBTQI+ people are seen as a set of statistics. There’s a lot of ignorance around the issues that affect us, so I’ve made it my full time job to raise awareness in the most joyful and fabulous way I can. I am an educator creating content that helps people navigate the difficulties of living outside of the norm. I also do work in the community going into spaces where LGBTQIA+ issues might be scary or unfamiliar and discuss them openly with people.

As a non-binary person, it took me such a long time to accept myself, I feel like I have to make sure nobody ever feels the way I did. But putting myself out there isn’t always easy, because I can’t just switch off my identity. I’ve had death threats from people who have a lot of hate for the work I do. Then again, I’ve had DMs from 15 year olds who felt lost and said my work has made them feel they could talk to their parents about who they are. If one person feels more empowered to live their truth it makes everything worth it.”